Picks in the News

The JEUPISTE Project Launch Seminar

On the 6th of December 2013, the JEUPISTE project will organize two events in Tokyo  to discuss further enhancement of the Europe-Japan cooperation in Science, Technology & Innovation (STI). In the first seminar to launch the JEUPISTE project, STI policies of the EU and Japan will be summarized and strategic partnership opportunities will be sought through common understanding of the areas for potential cooperation, current collaboration status and future perspectives. On the same day, the 1st Information Day on Horizon 2020 in Japan will be held with practical details and information on Japanese funds that may be combined with Horizon 2020.

The JEUPISTE Project Launch Seminar will be an excellent opportunity for participants to get an overview of the status of EU-Japan STI cooperation and to establish networks with various stakeholders from industry, academia, public authorities, funding organizations and European organizations based in Japan, among others.

Read more about the project launch seminar here.

Heathrow, a new hub to do business

The Heathrow Business Summit is a great opportunity to do business, not only for big companies, but also for SMEs.

The 18th edition of the summit has received positive feedback from important buyers, such as Siemens, Ferrovial Agroman, Morgan Sindall Investments, Ministry of Defence and many more.

In the framework of the Summit the importance of the UK's hub has been highlighted, in particular concerning the relocation of many companies that are leaving Central London area to move close to Heathrow.

The airport area is quickly becoming the vital heart of business for companies from all over the world, thanks to a forward-looking business plan and efficient infrastructures.

Read the article here.

 

Women Powering Work: Innovations for Economic Equality in the MENA Region

GE and Ashoka Changemakers are looking for innovative solutions aimed at increasing opportunities for women in the MENA Region, by enabling them to benefit equitably from economic growth.

Three winners of the “Women Powering Work: Innovations for Economic Equality in the MENA Region” Competition will receive US $25,000 each in unrestricted funding to support their innovations. Winners of the competition will be those who better meet the following criteria:

 

• Innovation: eligible winners should demonstrate a substantial difference from other initiatives in the field;

• Social Impact: the best solutions should demonstrate impact as well as potential for scaling-up and replication;

• Sustainability: the best solutions should describe a clear plan for reaching long-term objectives and securing financial banking. They should also demonstrate that they have strong partnerships and support networks to address ongoing needs.

The deadline for submission is the 6th of November 2013.

Learn more about this initiative here.

Ideas for a new policy following the five-year anniversary of the SBA

Taking stock of five years of implementation of the Small Business Act and in the light of the on-going economic crisis, EUROCHAMBRES put forward a series of recommendations regarding the EU policy for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) based on three pillars: better governance (closer links between the SME Envoy Network and the Competitiveness Council, one Competitiveness Council each year on SME policy), faster delivery (proper and quick implementation of EU legislation and efficient take-up of EU funds) and measures focused on stimulating SMEs to develop and create jobs.

Read the Position Paper here.

Publishing v. patenting

Usually, the two main means to bring technical and scientific knowledge to the public are patent applications and journal publications. With the advent of the internet two alternative means are available: the defensive publications and the open access model.

The European IPR Helpdesk has issued a new fact sheet examining the different aspects of these knowledge dissemination tools, also taking into account the different needs and objectives of research organisations/universities (ROs) and small and medium sized enterprises/industry (SMEs). There is not a general rule to apply when choosing the right means of dissemination, but one needs to ensure that the chosen tools are in line with the overall organisation's strategy.

Read more about it here.

African Development Report 2012-“Towards Green Growth in Africa”

The African Development Bank Group (INSME Member) released a report entitled “Towards Green Growth in Africa” discussing the necessity and feasibility of transitioning to green growth in order to enable sustainable development pathways on the African continent. The Report points out why Green Growth represents an important development paradigm for managing the challenges of the 21st century such as environmental degradation, climate change, population growth, and the transformation of markets.

While Green Growth requires a cross-sectoral approach, it highlights the scope for “greening” agriculture, forestry and other natural resources, clean energy and sustainable transportation. The Report shows that these solutions not only result in environmental benefits, but also contribute to the economic development of Africa and meet social needs.

Download the full report here.

Find out more