HOW EUSBSR STAKEHOLDERS CAN BETTER ENGAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THEIR ACTIVITIES?

Reaching out to the private sector is something that many EUSBSR stakeholders are in fact succesfully doing already, but it is also a topic that many would like to have some advice on, and how to improve further private sector involvement. In this section, the aim is to highlight the results of a survey "Reaching out to Business" conducted by Baltic Development Forum in 2017, and to provide tips and recommendations for succesfully involving the private sector. More information on business involvement in EUSBSR can be found also on the EUSBSR blog and Facebook page.

 

ESTABLISHING CONTACTS & INVOLVING BUSINESSES

Based on the survey results, the most common way to contact and communicate with the private sector is through intermediary organisations (industry and business associations, regional development agencies, networks). Direct contacts and personal networks were also mentioned. Thus, connecting to individual business is important, but the clarity of EUSBSR within industry associations is also key to attract business and it should be cleraly translated what the added value is to them.

The chart below shows that almost all the respondents of the survey have involved the private sector in their activities, for example, by inviting them to seminars, workshops, matchmaking events etc. Another common way to reach out to businesses is through information material. Private sector representatives can also be involved as partners in projects.

 

 

EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN EUSBSR ACTIVITIES:

• Pilot case development & implementation
• As project consultants to supplement capacity
• Stakeholder conferences
• Individual speakers at seminars
• Project output consultations
• Compiling best practice case lists
• Surveying and data collection of business interest / needs

 

KEY POINT: Importance of providing clear objectives, clear relevance and tangible results
for companies.

 

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR STRENGTHENING THE COLLABORATION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR:

• Mapping of companies and business associations across countries and sectors
• A guide with real life cases on how to engage business and how to tailor “business language”
  for projects
• Information about best practices of private-public collaborations
• More support for companies