The CONNECT concept links entrepreneurs,through voluntary efforts by serviceproviders/experts, with the financial,technical and business developmentresources they need to create and develophigh growth companies by performingregional, national and trans-nationalactivities.Connect Baltic Sea Region “CBSR” wasapproved as an INTERREG III B project inspring 2002. A major objective of the projectwas to expand and establish Connectorganizations and networks throughout theBaltic region, and especially in the BalticStates. The objectives in the Baltic Stateshave been reached, but one major regionis still to be included in order to completean overall Baltic network; the City ofSt. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast.This project supports establishment of aConnect St. Petersburg/Northwest Russiawith the support of Connect Latvia anddevelopment of Connect Latvia by creatinga better access and links to the Russianmarket, research and development andcapital.Main activities are setting up a networkof experts and members in St. Petersburgsupporting a viable Connect St. Petersburgand develop strong Baltic-Russia links forcontinuous collaboration. This is done byinitiating a range of promotion activities in St.Petersburg/Leningrad Oblast region and jointevents such as springboards and businesscases.