As part of the international programme Erasmus plus - strategic partnerships, a Project aimed at achieving useful innovations for students and business (The Applied Innovation for Students and Business - AISAB) took place at the University of Primorska – Faculty of Management (UP FM) and Korona plus, d.o.o., the Institute for Innovation and Technology. At the UP FM students worked on the "student" pillar of the Project (students for business), while the second pillar was implemented in Partner Company, Korona plus, d.o.o.
The Institute for Innovation and Technology led this part of the Project and was active mainly in IO3 (Education and consulting in the introduction and/or upgrading of the innovation process in companies) and IO4 (Development of business intervention approaches to improve innovation practices in SMEs).
At the beginning, we prepared a training programme and materials for students, mentors and participating companies. Diagnostic tools were also designed, which represented the basis of consultancy process. Initially, undergraduate and graduate students were trained for counselling work and equipped with the necessary competencies, instructions, and materials. We then launched six student innovation consulting projects at the UP FM. As part of these, our students visited reputable Slovenian companies (Casino Portorož; Hotel Delfin; Alpina; Nest Campers; Ljubljanske mlekarne and Mini dekor, floristry and arranging) and advised them on the possibilities for improving business processes. The partner company Korona plus has also attracted quite a few reputable Slovenian companies, such as Mlekarna Krepko, Kele & Kele, d.o.o., EFOS informacijske rešitve, d.o.o., UNIKA TTI d.o.o., ORO precizne CNC obdelave d.o.o., etc.
The companies that participated in the Project were extremely satisfied with the results of students’ consultancy work and the outcome of the workshops and business intervention process. At the same time, students, mentors and trainers/coaches are very proud that some of the proposed solutions have come to life in daily entrepreneurial practice (please see the examples of good practice presented below).
The company UNIKA TTI d.o.o. joined us at the final conference/multiplier event of the AISAB Project in Slovenia, which took place at the University of Primorska – Faculty of Management (UP FM), and contributed to the successful conclusion with their experience and practical challenges. It should also be mentioned that both students of the Faculty of Management and the Faculty of Humanities also participated in research and development part of the preparation of activities and AISAB – APPLIED INNOVATION FOR STUDENTS AND BUSINESS materials of the international project. Among the most important was the translation of two manuals (see AISAB Toolkit), and the translation work was coordinated by Dr. Martina Paradiž, also from the Faculty of Humanities.
All participants also received appropriate international certificates and awards, which is an important international reference in the further career of an individual.
Team: Korona plus d.o.o.
The story of the Krepko Dairy began in 1992, when the Kelečević brought live kefir grains from the countries of the former Soviet Union and began producing traditional kefir at the small dairy in Laze near Logatec.
After nearly 20 years of operation, the Krepko Dairy has become a modern dairy company that respects the highest milk processing standards. However, it still remains devoted to producing kefir in the traditional way from kefir grains. The Dairy is also distinguished by a strict certification for the processing of organic milk into BIO/organic dairy products (controlled by KON-CERT, SI-EKO-001).
From previous visits to the company, interviews with employees and management and on the basis of a completed self-diagnostic test, we clearly defined the challenge and continued to find possible creative solutions and suggestions for improving innovation culture within the company (collecting employee ideas, handling ideas, rewarding employees
for their innovation). The management was satisfied with the presented solutions and will implement them in the company, and we were invited to visit them again in a year, when we will review the improvements in the state of innovation in the company.
More information about the project:
- Project's web site
- Innovation cooperation of University of Primorska FM students
- AISAB – a Project joining students and companies