EBN is a network of over 250 organizations which mission is to boost innovative entrepreneurship in the areas they serve. It is a multifaceted reality which can rely on a wide range of expertise in the many fields concerning innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as related matters (clustering, incubation, internationalization, etc.).

One of the main key expertise for sure is in BIC management and set-up. The capability of assisting a local area in setting up a specific BIC through its design, its engineering and its modeling, in compliance with the EC-BIC Quality Mark Criteria, is an expertise which hardly can be found elsewhere, as well as that of managing the BICs as vital organizations within the regional innovation systems.

This is the BIC model, a 25-years old (young) standard known for its seriousness, its capacity to adapt itself in time and places, as well as its “rigid” flexibility. This is the EC-BIC trademark, a brand that is more and more associated to quality within the  entrepreneurial communities in Europe and beyond.

Here at EBN we think this fantastic expertise (your expertise!) can be widely mobilized, better valorized, and that the more organized we are the better results can be achieved. Let’s build a smarter talent-pool!

A talent pool for spreading around the EC-BIC model/label and field expertise

EBN frequently enters into technical assistance agreements where it is asked to support local organizations in elaborating feasibility studies and/or business plans and/or to support existing organizations in re-organizing themselves to comply with the EC-BIC criteria.

EBN manages the EC-BIC Logo on behalf of the European Commission  through the implementation of a Quality Process which has been activated, in the current set-up, more than 5 years ago. To ensure compliance, and to enable the sharing of pragmatic experiences, a fundamental segment of the process is related to on-site evaluation visits performed by EBN experts, who have the duty of compiling comprehensive reports to be submitted to the BIC Quality Mark Committee, which will ultimately verify the compliance to the EC-BIC Criteria, and decide upon the granting and the withdrawal of the EC-BIC label.

EBN often enters into project and contracts where the “BIC” expertise is an asset with a growing demand especially in neighboring and emerging countries where Europe-Aid supported projects are running. Furthermore EBN is increasingly asked to provide “ad-hoc” experts within other EC (DG Trade, DG Research, DG Enterprise, DG Regio, etc.) or UN Schemes (World Bank, UNDP, etc.) for short-term (5 to 15 days) missions, and sometimes for larger-term assignments.

Basic requirements

• Hold a senior position within a BIC or have held a senior position within a BIC during the last 10 years.
• Have an excellent command of the English language (written and spoken).  Knowledge of languages, other than English, will be considered an asset.
• Be fully acquainted with the EC-BIC criteria.
• Be motivated by the idea to deliver one, two, three (maybe more) missions, with an "EBN ambassador style".

• Attend an experts' training event 
  or
• Perform a "Quest-for-the-best" mission organized to scout and disseminate within EBN network the best practices
  or
• Have performed at least 2 evaluation visits within the framework of the EC-BIC Quality process since January 2008.
  

All experts must be available to promptly answer the questions coming from the "Ask EBN" section in EBN's website (soon available) and accept to disclose their names and expertise in the EBN website.

All the experts who fulfill satisfactorily the abovementioned requirements will be invited to take part in the BIC’s expert’s training event that will be held in Brussels within the EBN premises on 28 September 2010, just before the next BIC Master Class Workshop on 29 – 30 September 2010 (detailed information coming soon).

Please note that, as part of the overall effort to rebuild and update EBN’s Talent Pool, we are requiring that all experts interested in integrating the Talent Pool, must submit her/his CV. This database of standardized CVs will help us to react quickly to any contract opportunity, and it will equally constitute a valuable tool for you.

For further information please contact the Quality Team:

Mr. Giordano Dichter E-mail: Giordano.Dichter@ebn.eu Tel.: +32-2-76 11 83

Mr. Gonçalo Reis Email: Goncalo.Reis@ebn.eu Tel: +32-2-76 11 82

EBN.Quality