Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

Preparation meetings have recently begun in the lead up to the Bet-Shemesh and Mate Yehuda lab’s ‘Regional Table’ gathering. The aim of these meetings is to clarify the Regional Table’s function in the transition period between the first phase of identifying the region’s unique assets and their transformation into a regional narrative into the second phase of mobilizing support and creating a work-plan.

The Reut team which participated in those meetings supported the need to set measurable goals in the (third) feasible phase and highlighted the importance of taking into account several aspects of quality of life besides purely economic measures. Moreover, we pointed to three functions that the Regional Table may fulfill:

Declaring and Creating Priorities and Focus – The Regional Table should choose the leading theme of the regional narrative in order to focus its resources on relevant initiatives and signal to entrepreneurs which initiatives might fit into regional development.

Networking – The Regional Table may connect entrepreneurs who work on related initiatives in order to foster collaboration and achieve advantages of ‘economies of scale.’ In addition, networking between entrepreneurs may create new ideas regarding new business opportunities and activities.

Identifying and Pointing Out Barriers and Needs – The Regional Table may either identify needs that are common to most entrepreneurs (such as infrastructure, regulation, approvals) or point to barriers that limit regional development. Following this, they can collectively turn to the relevant authorities.

Related Links

Entrepreneurs Meet in Akko and Mate Asher – A Platform for Regional Leapfrogging