FEM was an Interreg III B Baltic Sea Region project running from August 2004 till August 2007, co-financed by the EU Regional Development Fund.The aim of FEM was to strengthen the structures that support women’s entrepreneurship through co-operation and the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the participating countries.

The participating countries were Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
Activities in FEM focussed around five (5) work-packages, which were presented differently but they were connected and interacted with each other very closely and thus also contribute to the mail goal.
The work-packages:
WP 1. Creating transnational networks of Resource Centres and Meeting Places
to strengthen the role of women in society and in local and regional development
WP 2. Networks of training and exchange of experience for the advisers
WP 3. Mentorship Program for women entrepreneurs
WP 4. Networking in Network Credit Groups and other financial solutions for women entrepreneurs
WP 5. Internationalisation of women’s entrepreneurship.

This Guide gathers together facts and tales about the path of internationali sation of women entrepreneurs in the FEM countries. The Guide moves on step by step to international markets from an idea to the growing international businesses. We look at the process from the aspect of a single entrepreneur. The steps of internationalisation take us to different countries and to the different situations of them.
This guide is meant to both entrepreneurs and advisors.
The book can be used as a handbook and in the same time the task of guide is to develop the policy structures. To an entrepreneur this guide offers information, advice and business ideas. The stories of entrepreneurs describe what kind of capacities are needed in the processes of internationalisation. The guide gives concrete examples of problems, needs and themes for advising as well as the presentation of the well functioning processes.

Dowland the guide: Sevensteps_final.pdf