The overall objective of CBSR project was to stimulate creation of new firms and jobs in knowledge intensive sectors by linking entrepreneurs and innovators with R&D, service providers and venture capitalists. A short term goal was to establish Connect organisations or networks in all the countries participating in the project (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany). Connect Baltic Sea Region supports entrepreneurs to attract venture capital. Through the voluntarily help of experts working in various business sectors, R&D institutions and service providing companies, entrepreneurs get the chance to validate their business in panel debates (springboard). Achievements: Connect has created an arena for evaluating business plans. Organising so called springboards was one of the main activities of the Connect organisations and project partners. At these springboard events, entrepreneurs got the chance to validate their business plans in panel debates through the voluntarily help of experts working in various business sectors, R&D institutions and service providing companies. The aim is to help the entrepreneurs to develop business plans that in the end will attract venture capital. At financial and partnership forums the same objectives were promoted. In total, 1227 springboards and pre-springboards have been organised focusing on 1227 business plans. The number of participating companies was approx 850.Connect organisations are now established in Sweden (22), Denmark (3), Norway (5), Estonia (1), Lithuania (1) and Latvia (1). Connect Nordic, an umbrella organisation for all Connect activities in the Baltic/Nordic region has been established in order to secure and promote linkages between the regions/countries, secure best-practise procedures and knowledge transfer. The total network of experts in the various regional Connect organisations counts some 4300 persons in addition to a considerable number of member companies /sponsors /organisations (including the Baltic countries).