Project of the month september 2001


IT Growth Center to Boost Vendsyssel
- The mission of Vækstcenter Nord is clear: We are to establish an entrepreneurial environment for enterprises with a focus on IT, we are to enhance the use of computer and IT technology in the existing enterprises of the region, and, in a collaboration with the NOVI and Teknologisk Innovation, to contribute to the establishing of an innovative environment and provide a breeding ground for further growth in the region.

 

It sounds that simple when explained by Bo Geertsen, trade promotion officer of the Trade Council of Hjørring. But no doubt, bringing this into being is quite an ordeal.
So the Vækstcenter Nord has been granted DKK 1.9 million from the Digital North Denmark, and now, 6 months later, results are beginning to show: The first enterprise from the incubator of Vækstcenter Nord has grown and moved out to stand on its own feet.

Old Vision
The idea of giving an IT boost to the Hjørring area and possibly the entire region of Vendsyssel was not just brought about when the Digital North Denmark began its calls for projects.
- For many years the region has been wanting a dedicated entrepreneurial center. At a point of time the Development Council of Vendsyssel had an analysis made to assess the need for such a centre. And the result indicated a need, explains Bo Geertsen:
- Here in Hjørring we decided to elaborate the idea. The Growth Center project was intended for traditional entrepreneurs – all the while various concepts were brought up for developing the IT industry of the region.
This thought matured as the EUC NORD of Hjørring initiated distance learning in IT – for example in Web design and E-business.
- In time it became natural to merge the entrepreneur project and the IT project, and this is in principle the background for the concept of Vækstcenter Nord. We had all the ideas - but no funds, says Bo Geertsen.
He was among the audience at the 25 year jubilee of Aalborg University and heard the Minister of Research presenting the thought of North Jutland as a possible county for test under Digitale Denmark. And when the first call for project proposals were published a year later a project proposal was in the pile titled "Vækscenter Nord - An IT Incubator and Innovative environment".

Good Start
The grant from Digital North Denmark, and an undertaking to cover losses to a certain amount granted by the municipality of Hjørring were just the help that was needed, and today a team of builders are working away at the Miljøcenter Vendsyssel on Åstrupvej in Hjørring where the Vækstcenter Nord has rented accommodation. Once the builders are finished they should be leaving the locations to a maximum of 10 entrepreneurs with a total max of 40 employees. But at this time already three entrepreneurs are working on the premises, and they don't seem to allow themselves to be disturbed by the builders. And a fourth enterprise, webIT Nord, has already grown strong enough to move out of the Growth Centre.
Apart from the light offices with a lunch-room and a common room the entrepreneurs benefit from the secretariat of the Growth Centre. This is rostered by Mette Bugge, who was appointed secretariat assistant on May 1. She is assisting the entrepreneurs with practical matters.
On June 1. Steffen Widebæk Lund resigned from his job with the EUC NORD to work as an agent to spread IT in the Vækstcenter Nord. He is the guy to be called on by the entrepreneurs if for example applications are to be made for the individual entrepreneurial project. Steffen W. Lund has his office located at the Trade Promotion Office. Bo Geertsen, who is project coordinator, deals with some of the external functions as a contact to the steering committee and the job of providing extra funding.

It will take a lot of elbow grease - and a huge investment - before the Vækstcenter Nord can move into the old grain silo on Åstrupvej in Hjørring. However, Bo Geertsen, trade promotion officer (left) and Steffen Widebæk Lund, IT agent, are hopeful that it may happen in a year and a half.
b>IT Deployment in the Enterprises
The most visible part of Vækstcenter Nord's efforts is the project incubator facilities on Åstrupvej. Still, this is far from being the only one.
- Another significant part of the Vækstcenter Nord is the center for applied IT. In this region a large number of enterprises are not utilizing IT, or they do to a limited extent only. Our goal is to raise the level of IT technology in the region for non-IT enterprises by helping them in establishing and implementing an IT-strategy.
Once we have got them up and running, the intention is to make the enterprises support each other via netvorks – the so-called IT-rings. We have already established the first IT-ring with enterprises exchanging experience and learning from each other, explains Steffen W. Lund:
- And the enterprises of such IT rings can can make contacts to partners who can assist them. This could be educational facilities, consultants etc. We might as well make use of potentials and competences already in based in the region – for the benefit of all.
Whether Vækstcenter Nord or others are are asked to assist the enterpises to get going with the use of IT is no worry of Steffen W. Lund and Bo Geertsen. As long as he goal is fulfilled: That the enterpises of the region will be found on the leading edge in making use of IT tools available.

From Environmental Center to Grain Silo
Moving into the accomodations of Miljøcenter Vendsyssel is only square one in the ambitious plan for the development of Vendsyssels own growth center. The goal is to move to the old grain silo on Åstrupvej next to the upcoming Cinema of Hjørring in a year and a half. At that time the silo is planned to make part of a an attractive refurbished and reconditioned center.
- Here on the Environmental Center vi have around 640 square meters at our disposal. In the silo center we will have around 1,600 square meters – and hence accommodation for more entrepreneurs, says Bo Geertsen, - and he stats that the Trade Office of Hjørring will move to the silo, too.
A lot of fund raising is to be done to make the vision come true. DKK 15 million to be precise. Bo Geertsen is optimistic anyway:
- We'll get there with loans and grants from public and private investors, he assures. Steffen W. Lund seconds:
- The silo will provide a framework for a creative IT environment to entrepreneurs that will support each other. So the criteria for succes is the Vækstcenter Nord becoming a dynamic entrepreneurial environment – and that the enterprises eventually move out and make it on their own.
To learn more about the "Vækstcenter Nord - An IT Incubator and Innovative environment" project, please look here. Or visit the home page of Vækstcenter Nord



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