Record number of applications for Regional Entrepreneurship Competition

32 projects of young entrepreneurs living in the Azores have applied for the 2009 edition of the Regional Entrepreneurship Competition (CRE). The business plans submitted develop ideas, ranging from tourism and accommodation and services to support companies and individuals to aquaculture or residue management and recycling. The jury of the CRE will analyse the applications until the end of September and will award the three best business plans based on their innovation, on the plan itself and the success probability of the business in the market. The jury is composed by representatives from the University of the Azores, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores, the Regional Directorate for Science, Technology and Communications, the Regional Directorate of Youth, the Regional Directorate for Labour, Vocational Training and Consumer Defence and the Regional Directorate for Support to the Investment and to the Competitiveness. The award-winning projects will be made public at the Entrepreneurship Gala, where five thousand Euros will be awarded to first place, four thousand Euros to the second place and three thousand and five hundred Euros to the third best business plan. The Regional Secretariat for the Economy annually promotes the CRE with the purpose of stimulating the participation of youngsters in the economic activity, through the creation of innovative business plans that are feasible and adequate to a market need. This competition also intends to raise the society’s awareness for entrepreneurship, to captivate youngsters for the creation of companies and to encourage an approach to entrepreneurship in the educational system. The Regional Entrepreneurship Competition is addressed at youngsters aged between 18 and 35, who may compete individually or in groups by filing and sending an electronic form. The first three editions of the CRE received 13 applications in 2006, 20 in 2007 and 22 in 2008.

(In GACS/SF)