South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (SEECEL)

The South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (SEECEL) is an initiative providing for structured co-operation among participating countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey) on lifelong entrepreneurial learning. SEECEL has been functional since October 2009 with the support of the European Commission (receiving IPA funds 2009-2010) and the Croatian Government.

In order to secure the sustainability and further development of SEECEL's activities, a dedicated physical facility was required. Its construction would make it the first European institution of this kind established in the Western Balkans. The SEECEL centre will be located in Zagreb and the anticipated size of the centre's building has been estimated to be 14,506 m². It will comprise the following functional units: learning and training centre, centre of expertise, technology & innovation park, administration, dormitory, restaurant, and other general utility areas. The facility will be a low energy consuming (green building), using renewable energy. Office space, working and meeting rooms, conference rooms, hospitality facilities, and the dormitory will also be built to satisfy high user requirements and high-quality standards.

 The beneficiaries of the project are the citizens of SEECEL member countries who will benefit from the SEECEL programme that includes assistance with policy alignment and practice of lifelong entrepreneurial learning to that of the EU. In addition, SEECEL is expected to support activities related to identifying global models that may enhance the role of entrepreneurial learning in the context of knowledge-driven, small enterprise-dominated and highly competitive economies of the SEE member countries.

SEECEL's mission is rooted in the EU policy framework for SMEs and aimed at the development of entrepreneurship in general. It has already set the precedent for wider international and regional cooperation for enterprise-education, a key recommendation in all relevant EU documents, most notably EU 2020 and EU 2030 strategy.

The WBIF has provided two EU grants for a total of €2.7 million in order to support the preparation of the feasibility study as well as the implementation of the project, through construction supervision and training services. The study was completed in April 2014 by the Infrastructure Project Facility 2. The construction supervision services are being provided by the Infrastructure Project Facility 4. 

Construction is ongoing and due for completion in 2017.