Transform innovation in key areas of public interest VOICE aims to define and offer a virtual, open innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem based on open innovation, crowd-sourcing and co-creation principles. Innovation and Entrepreneurship are key drivers towards a number of areas of social interest including: - Job Creation Start-ups to result from the VOICE ecosystem will actively contribute to new employment opportunities for the EU and the world. High-paid jobs are to be created since technology- oriented companies typically employ highly skilled employees. Increased Entrepreneurial Activity The innovative and international character of the Virtual Incubator, will create awareness of entrepreneurs and offer an easily accessible and friendly online environment that supports collaborative business creation across all incubation phases including the yet unexplored Interest phase. - Entrepreneurial Business Development Networks - The growing international entrepreneurial network of individuals, start-ups, universities, mentors, investors, government, and all other network stakeholders including the community, will stimulate the establishment of long-term, strong-ties and relationships that can create on-going business opportunities for all involved parties Accelerate the transfer of innovative applications and services to the market VOICE delivers its value proposition virtually via the Internet. This will enable it to provide its service offering to the international B2C, B2B and B2G targeted market segments in a fast, efficient and cost effective way, considering its strategic reach and impact. The VOICE ecosystem enables individuals that aspire to become entrepreneurs to tap into the collective intelligence of the crowd. Students, women, unemployed, individuals residing in remote areas will be offered the capability to engage and collaborate with entrepreneurs and mentors across the world in a friendly and engaging way. Deployment of services sustaining the European and global social model of an inclusive, cohesive information society for all, stimulating new activities leading to job creation; improving the competitiveness of European enterprises, in particular SMEs and strengthen the internal market VOICE provides an innovative virtual platform that will facilitate open community collaboration towards entrepreneurship. As such VOICE bridges the gap between entrepreneurial need and action, reducing barriers to entry for both individuals and embryonic start-ups. VOICE ecosystem provides business, technical and community services so as to enhance start-up growth and maximize their chances of survival. At the same time VOICE will act as an innovation marketplace and a global investment opportunity ecosystem for the B2B community (i.e., investment community, companies); as well as a medium for universities consulting companies and individuals to offer their services. By fulfilling these goals and supporting individuals and companies, across all stages from the need, to intellectual property ownership and control, to start-up creation, this virtual incubation ecosystem will thus contribute to the creation of jobs and wealth across the broader community. VOICE serves as inclusive, social entrepreneurship ecosystem that will offer an easily accessible online environment to support collaborative business creation. The online character of the VOICE will stimulate further the entrepreneurial and innovation activity by weakening existing imbalances for entrepreneurs between urban and rural areas by offering equal opportunities to individuals that do not live in major cities, to women and community groups with disabilities.