Idérådet - boosting the flux of ideas in Värmland

Idérådet is a booster for the innovative power of Värmland. That was obvious when the outcome of the effort was evaluated in mid-December. One sure sign is that the municipalities visited by Idérådet have seen a greater increase in the number of business concepts than those without this type of contact.
- For example, Arvika went from five ideas last year to 22 this year, explains Malin Pfeiffer of government-owned business promoter ALMI Företagspartner.

Less than a year has passed since Inova and ALMI Företagspartner started Idérådet (‘the Idea Council') - a roadshow through Värmland to support idea holders on site in their home towns.
- Idérådet makes us visible all over Värmland and lets us establish contact with people that we would probably never have met otherwise. This is a vital initiative for growth in the region, Malin Pfeiffer asserts.

The concept is based on letting people with business concepts book meetings with professional business counsellors from ALMI Företagspartner and Inova. The complete session takes place during an afternoon, and every meeting lasts for about half an hour. If additional support is needed, new meetings are booked. A total of 35 business concepts have received support in conjunction with Idérådet meetings. The spread has been wide as regards business and age as well as gender.
In 2009, the municipalities of Arvika, Torsby, Kristinehamn, Filipstad, Årjäng and Hagfors were visited. They currently represent the parts of Värmland with the greatest increase in the number of business concepts having applied for support. The leader is Arvika, where requests surged by more than 400%.

Idérådet is not just a one-day innovation catapult, but idea holders approach their local authorities even afterwards. These people have then been referred to Inova or ALMI Företagspartner.
- That's exactly how we want it to work! If we co-operate like this, we'll be able to reach even more inventive Värmlanders who wants to build companies, says Malin.

Idérådet will continue its operations in 2010. Ten municipalities are already booked. Both Inova and ALMI Företagspartner are looking forward to the continued search through Värmland for creative entrepreneurs that can enable growth in the region.