ABOUT – REGIONAL INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Project partner
Regional Innovation and Development Agency (KIRA) has been established for the purpose of preparation and implementation of innovative and development projects for Trnava Self-Governing Region (TTSK) and organizations in its jurisdiction. The main priority is the implementation of projects aimed at improving the quality of life of the population, including activities aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with emphasis on developing their innovation and export potential. Through its activities KIRA seeks to motivate and assist entrepreneurs operating in the region, linking the public and private sectors, bringing and introducing innovative approaches, services and products that have the potential to improve the quality of life and services. In line with its intention to support SMEs, the strategic document “Strategy for Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises in the Trnava Region” has been developed to create a coherent and comprehensible programme of support for SMEs in the region in response to the existing demand, taking inspiration from similar successful programmes at home and abroad. The ambition of the 17-member team of KIRA is also to participate in improving the conditions for the arrival of high value-added investment and job creation.
KIRA represents a public organization founded by the Slovak regional authority responsible for regional development especially the development of digital skills by helping to identify skill gaps and dissemination of the project results within the region, as well as the regional acceleration program for the SMEs. In addition, every year, KIRA collaborates with the youth organization DASATO on the project of the Region with the youth, in which innovative ideas and projects are produced. In addition, KIRA is preparing business incubator and accelerator projects that will, among other things, use the results of European cooperation projects under the Erasmus+ programme that focus on soft skills – the Key Competences project running from September 2022, focusing on the methodology of their assessment and mutual recognition, and the upcoming project Entrepreneurship as a career change (working title), which will focus on the development of training modules for people 50+ to support their entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurship.
Regional Innovation and Development Agency team:
Victor Maroši
Victor Maroši, director of the KIRA has served as a state secretary in the ministry of economy in the past, where dealing with the legislation related to the entrepreneurship. Mr. Maroši is the head of the development agency in charge of the development and implementation of the SMEs support strategy, behind the idea of the regional acceleration program for entrepreneurs in Trnava Region. Having experience directly from the entrepreneurship field, Mr. Maroši is the managing director of the SME focused on marketing, researches and public opinion polls. Within the Krajinka s.r.o. company he has dealt with the development and implementation of several impact studies, evaluations of projects and NGO grant programms. Apart from that, Mr. Maroši is experienced in the online sales and marketing.
Marek Krnáč
Marek Krnáč has extensive experience with the regional development activities within the organisation, preparation and implementation of the SMEs support strategy of the Trnava region as well as coordination of several projects including the up- and reskilling in the field of entrepreneurship. Mr. Krnáč has helped to develop and implement several projects calls in the region in field of entrepreneurship and SMEs, for example “From regions to the world”, “Innovation Days” in cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and hackathons focused on development of the region and civil society.
