University College of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Management "Nikola Subic Zrinski" (UCEEM-NSZ) conducts a project "Supporting Entrepreneurship by engaging Ambassadors to inspire Croatian women to become entrepreneurs" under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) by the European Commission. Acronym of the project is „EntrepreneurSHEp Croatia".

The overall objective of the project is to enhance female entrepreneurship. The specific objective is to set up a network of ambassadors in Croatia that will inspire women to become entrepreneurs and to set up their own businesses, as well as creating public awareness about women entrepreneurship. The project is coordinated by Croatian Chamber of Economy. Partners in this project are UCEEM-NSZ, Tera Tehnopolis Ltd. - Osijek and Technology park Varaždin Ltd. UCEEM-NSZ is a partner responsible for selection of ambassadors, creation of curriculum and training for female entrepreneurship. The duration of the project is 24 months. Croatian Chamber of Economy has become, along with its project partners, a member of prestige European network of female entrepreneurship ambassadors.

The aim of the Ambassadors Network is to have successful entrepreneurs campaigning on the ground to inspire women of all ages to become entrepreneurs and to set up their own businesses. The Ambassadors help to raise confidence necessary for setting up and creating successful businesses. They are also role models to inspire other women to become entrepreneurs by "telling their own story".

The Ambassadors promote entrepreneurship among women by engaging and speaking to groups in schools, colleges, universities, community groups and the media, as well as addressing conferences, business networks and employment initiatives.

The Network is made up of around 270 entrepreneurs who act as ambassadors of female entrepreneurship across Europe.

The ambassadors come from the following countries:

Albania, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden and United Kingdom. In Croatia, 30 female ambassadors of entrepreneurship are chosen from 5 different regions.

The groups targeted through this project are women from different backgrounds, in particular unemployed women, students and female university graduates, working women with an interest and potential to set up their own business, women returning from a baby break, women working with and/or interested in innovation, manufacturing and research and development.

Related links:

http://www2.hgk.hr/en/   -  Croatian Chamber of Economy

http://www.tera.hr/en/    -  Tera Tehnopolis Ltd. – Osijek

http://www.tp-vz.hr/?lang=en  -  Technology park Varaždin Ltd.

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/women/ambassadors/index_en.htm European Commission    -   The European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors