What is the Innovation Camp all about ?
We have borrowed some famous words from JFK in his inaugeral adress :

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

In the PIPE project we say:

"Ask not what the community can do for you, but ask what you can do for your community"

The general idea behind the Innovation Camp is to stimulate young people, the schools and the authorities in communities and regions around the Baltic Sea to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. The future for many small towns, which are the main target group for the PIPE project, lies within the possibilities to change. Not only to change the industrial life by the creation of new jobs, even if this is a very important goal, but also to develop the towns so that people find the towns attractive for dwelling and business.

By the creation of youth enterprises, the students can learn how to establish and manage a company. In all the PIPE partner regions there are lots of good examples from this. The Innovation Camp will give a chance to compare and learn form each other, maybe even to create new relations and businesses building on the existing ideas.

Culture, environment, jobs, infrastructure and education are strategic areas where innovation are necessary for all small towns. Entrepreneurship is also an attitude, a way to think about own life and the potential of personal resources. The time when all people could find a job in the local companies are history. Today and in the future the creation of jobs will come from small and medium sized industries. The best way to gain sustainability in a town is to teach the citizens how to create jobs. To train the young generation in entrepreneurship is a good beginning. In the PIPE project we like to stimulate entrepreneurship, but also the community spirit in general.

Welcome to the Innovation Camp in Cesis.

By Alf S. Johansen
PIPE project manager