About us

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About us

Network of Smart Caffes was created in 2017 within the project Fostering University-Enterprise Cooperation and Entrepreneurship of Students via Smart Caffes/Acronym: SMART/585620-EPP-1- 2017-1-ELEPPKA2-CBHE-JP, co-funded by the European commision within the Erasmus+ Programme 2014-2020

Currently, this Network of Smart Caffes has expanded and cover 13 Smart Caffe established at the premises of 5 HEIs represented in 4 Eastern Partnership Countries: 5 in Moldova, 2 in Belarus, 3 in Armenia, 2 in Georgia

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We are supported by 9 Higher Education Institutions from European Union

Fostering University-Enterprise Cooperation and Entrepreneurship of Students via Smart Caffes
Acronym: SMART/585620-EPP-1- 2017-1-ELEPPKA2-CBHE-JP, co-funded by the European commision within the Erasmus+ Programme 2014-2020
International Hellenic University (Greece)
University of Paderborn (Germany)
Catholic University of Murcia San Antonio (Spain)
Higher School of Management (Bulgaria)
Vives University of Applied Sciences (Belgium)
Connecting universities-industry through smart entrepreneurial cooperation and competitive intelligence of students in Moldova, Georgia and Armenia
Acronym: CONNECT/, 617393-EPP-1-2020-1-MD-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP, co-funded by the European commision within the Erasmus+ Programme 2014-2020
Caragiale Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography (Romania)
RISEBA University of Business, Arts and Technology (Latvia)
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (Finland)
Anthology Management (Bulgaria)

Key Factors About Us

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we created an infrastructure for start-ups learning, co-working and networking of more than 600 m2 among 13 Smart Caffe;
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we elaborated multi-stage extracurricular training and development program for young entrepreneurs, both for those who are just thinking about business and for those who are already developing it, but still need support;
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co-financed within 2 Capacity Building in the Field of Higher Education projects, ERASMUS + Programme: 585620-EPP-1-2017-1-EL-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP and 617393-EPP-1-2020-1-MD-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP

Concept of the Network of Smart Caffes

Network of Smart Caffe is it is both a physical and a virtual space.

As a physical space, SMART CAFFE are a combination of an incubator and a business accelerator, providing young people with creative or business ideas with:
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infrastructure for our pre-star-ups and start-ups (residents): workspace equipped with furniture, computers, office equipment along with the sharing spaces for meetings, trainings, networking, conferences etc organised by our members of SMART CAFFE.;
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workspaces for co-working and networking, collaboration and communication with peers, companies, investors, mentors due to innovative hubs created within 13 Higher Education Institutions in Moldova, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia;
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assistance in business launch and development (from developing ideas to entering the market) for our pre-star-ups and start-ups (residents) due to multidimensional extracurricular training program adjusted to the real market requests and needs;
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mentorship and involvement of external specialists in supervising and start-ups development activities though thematic seminars, trainings and advises etc;
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joint creation of solutions by individuals and start-ups on operational efficiency, production costs, new products creation, innovations creation, building of strategic partnerships and collaborations etc. (open innovations/problem-based learning);
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assistance in attraction of financing for our pre-star-ups and start-ups development;
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“packaging” projects for investors: design and preparation of presentation materials, organization of different networking events, including exhibitions and presentations (pitches) of projects and other services.
In order to streamline the activities carried out in the physical spaces, a virtual extension of the Network of Smart Caffe was created through the SMART Channel (www.smartchannel.org) platform, it allows to effectively strengthen the collaboration between all actors involved in the process of generation, validation and implementation of innovative ideas.
www.smartchannel.org represents a reflection of physical spaces not limited by the borders of one country and allow us to:
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boost knowledge exchange and learning due to multidimensional extracurricular training programs
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targeting business development by youth;
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create joint open innovations due to design of solutions by individuals and start-ups on operational efficiency, production costs, new products creation, innovations creation with companies, strategic collaborations;
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improve involvement of external specialists due to mentorship activities in start-ups development;
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practice new techniques and improve old ones, learn new things from the best mentors and experts;
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attract the financing for start-ups creation, growing and scaling up;
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improvement of the real-time collaboration on topics of joint interest and discussion about innovative ideas and general trends in the industry;
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assurance of valuable and useful information from experts’ articles and thematic podcasts;
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support in search of ousorcing solutions;
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interact through co-working and communication channels;
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participate in networking and collaboration events.

Our mentors within the Network of Smart Caffes

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Samvel Hovhannisyan

Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Chair on Education Management and Planning

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Mariam Karapetyan

Lecturer at the Chair of English Communication and Translation

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Ani Hovsepyan

Career Center Specialist, Lecturer at the Chair on Education Management and Planning

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Heghine Kharazyan

Lecturer at the Chair of English Communication and Translation

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Siranush Ghazaryan

Lecturer at the Chair of Pedagogy and Langauge Teaching Methodology

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Robert Khachatryan

Head of the Chair, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Chair on Education Management and Planning

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Ani Shahinyan

Ph.D., Senior Lecturer at the Chair on Education Management and Planning

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Erika Avakova

Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Chair of Russian and Slavic Languages

DISCLAIMER: The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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