The INSME Secretariat is pleased to announce that the next INSME Annual Meeting will be held in early/mid March 2005 in Spain.

The meeting will be a three-day international event structured as follows:

• Day 1: Second INSME Board Meeting; INSME General Assembly Meeting (for Association Members only) including the election of the Governing Bodies for 2005-2006; INSME Award 2005 Ceremony
• Day 2: International Forum on innovation and SME related hot topics, including thematic workshops (open to Members and non-Members)
• Day 3: Site visits to the region's relevant innovation intermediaries and service centres/networks (open to Members and non-Members)

All interested organisations are invited to attend this event which is free of charge for INSME Association Members, INSME Partners and Sponsors, INSME 2005 Award Jurors and INSME Think Tankers.

For other participants the registration fee is 200 Euro and includes information pack, meals, transport, etc. For details and to receive a personal invitation, contact the INSME Secretariat:

Mr. Mariano G. Cordone
 secretariat@insme.it
Phone: +39.06.8097272
Fax: +39.06.80972443

A Spanish version of the 3 minute promotion video of the INSME Association has just been released.

Enjoy it at:
 http://www.insme.org/insme_video_spa.asp

The English version is available at:
 http://www.insme.org/insme_video.asp?version=aux (spoken version) 
 http://www.insme.org/insme_video.asp?version=txt (under-titled version)

The INSME Association was represented by its Secretary General, Ms. Simona Marzetti, in the last Conference of the World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME) on "Promoting SMEs for Global Competitiveness" co-organised by the Nigerian Ministry of Industry.

On this occasion, the main developments of the INSME Network were presented so as to encourage more participation from African countries. Moreover, INSME and WASME had a chance to reinforce their partnership and discuss further ideas for future co-operation in 2005.

INSME congratulated Mrs. Marie Lou Guerrero for being elected the new President of WASME for 2004-2006.

Download the Abuja Final Declaration:
  Promoting SMEs for Global Competitiveness

View a photo gallery of the event and download some interesting presentations made at the conference:
  http://www.insme.org/

After the launch of the FASHION NET website (www.fashionnet.org ), the most relevant event concerning the project is the upcoming international conference dedicated to "Innovation, Research and Technological Intelligence. Experiences and Perspectives for the Fashion Industry", to be held in Madrid (Spain) on September 28-29, 2004, in the framework of the Textilmoda fair.

The conference will see the participation of SME representatives, academics, researchers and experts that will introduce the most recent trends in the field of research and innovation in the textile and clothing sector, presenting successful case studies and bringing their direct experience in the use of instruments of economic and technological intelligence. This will be also the occasion to show SMEs the opportunities offered by EU's Sixth Framework Programme in order to submit research and development projects.

If you are interested in taking part in the conference please fill in the pre-registration form and send it to info@fashionnet.org.

For further details on the event, please visit the FASHION NET website:
  http://fashionnet.insme.org/conferences.html

or contact the INSME Secretariat:
Ms. Valentina Milazzo
  milazzo@ipi.it
phone: +39.06.80972517
fax: +39.06.80972443

The  RésIT project ( Réseau Italo-Tunisien d'Intermédiaires pour approcher les marchés internationaux - Italian-Tunisian Network of Intermediaries to Approach International Markets), implemented by IPI - Italian Institute for Industrial Promotion and the Tunisian Ministry of Industry and Energy, aims at fostering Technical Centres (TCs) capacity to provide specialised and market-oriented services internationally, with a view to developing relationships within the Mediterranean basin.

Following a Co-operation Agreement signed last June in Istanbul, the project is entering its implementation phase. On July 7, 2004, the kick-off meeting between IPI and Tunisian project leaders took place in Tunis. Between the end of July and September two technical field missions to the four Tunisian centres involved in the project (CETTEX, CNCC, PACKTEK and CETIME) will be undertaken by Italian experts. Technical missions involve an assessment activity and SWOT analyses, made in close cooperation with Tunisian staff, with a view to draw up an action plan for the internationalisation of Tunisian TCs.

Other activities will include a survey on the potential expressed and unexpressed demand for innovation services, to be carried out within a selected group of African Countries, and a survey on the possible sources of funding made available by national and international donors to finance co-operation projects.

Finally, with a view to strengthen the partnership, a special event among Italian, Tunisian and other interested countries' intermediaries on innovation will be organised in Tunis in December 2004 to facilitate the undertaking of joint initiatives.

If you wish to know more or be involved in the survey activities of the RésIT project, you can contact:
Ms. Francesca Giannotti
  giannotti@ipi.it
phone: +39.06.80972519
fax: +39.06.80972443

Enabling entrepreneurs to start and grow their business can create jobs, income, innovation, consumer choice and funds for public expenditure.
This idea inspires the new Cross-Topic Special on Entrepreneurship launched on July 12 by the Development Gateway.

The Special examines the link between a dynamic private sector and poverty alleviation, the barriers to entrepreneurship, and initiatives underway to improve the odds for entrepreneurs in the developing world.

The Development Gateway is a platform for knowledge-sharing on development issues and is a Partner of INSME.

 http://www.developmentgateway.org

In his official announcement, OECD's Secretary General, Mr. Donald J. Johnston, pointed out that "fostering entrepreneurship remains at the top of policy-makers' agenda, as a thriving SME sector is essential for job creation, social cohesion, innovation and growth.  This work is by definition horizontal, requiring that different areas of specialisation treated by many OECD Directorates be brought together.  It also calls for policy action at different levels of government and for international co-operation".

The Centre will be directed by Mr. Sergio Arzeni, Head of the LEED Programme and Secretary-General to the LEED Partners Club 4 Fora, and his Deputy, Mrs. Marie-Florence Estimé, former Head of the DSTI SME Unit.

Read full news at:
 http://www.insme.org

Presentations of organisations involved in the INSME Network as Members of the Association or of its Advisory Group continue. After KOSGEB, the Small and Medium Sized Industry Development Organization from Turkey and API, the Tunisian Agency for the Promotion of Industry, both presented in issue n° 9 of INSMEnews, a focus on CzechInvest, the Business Development Agency of the Czech Republic (Member of INSME) is featured in this issue.

We invite INSME Members or interested stakeholders wishing to reach the community of INSMEnews readers to contact the INSME Secretariat in order to have the presentation of their organisations and initiatives included in the INSME Newsletter:
 secretariat@insme.it

CzechInvest is a Business and Investment Development Agency.

Main objective
Advising and supporting entrepreneurs and foreign investors

Activities
Up until recently, the primary task of CzechInvest was to promote the Czech Republic as the ideal target location for foreign investment and to support the inflow of foreign direct investment into the country. On January 2, 2004, a merger with ARP, the Agency for Business Development, and CzechIndustry, the Agency for Industrial Development, brought into existence the new CzechInvest as the Business and Investment Development Agency. Its primary task is now to support and advise entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic. Given the fact, though, that CzechInvest is exclusively authorized to file applications for investment incentives at the competent governing bodies, it will continue to play its crucial role in the field of attracting direct foreign investment. CzechInvest will also continue to provide current data and information on the business and investment environment in the Czech Republic. As a new responsibility, CzechInvest will now act as agency for the implementation of Phare 2003 and selected development programmes funded by the EU.

Download a presentation of CzechInvest services and activities: 
  CzechInvest Profile

A few updates regarding the INSME-WASME International Training on "Management of Innovation and Technology Transfer" (12-15 October 2004, New Delhi, India):

• Location: the course will be held in the conference hall of APCTT building, located in Qutab institutional area, New Delhi (India).
   
• Deadline for sending applications: September 15th, 2004. Application forms have to be sent to the WASME Secretariat.
   
• Trainers are representatives of the following organisations: FITT (Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer, Indian Institute of Technology), INNOVA, INSME, SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd., UN APTTC (United Nations Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology), WASME (World Association for SMEs), WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) and WITT (Waterfalls Institute for Technology Transfer).
   
• New brochure released:
    INSME-WASME Training Course brochure

For more information regarding the INSME-WASME training course and for sending applications, contact the WASME Secretariat:
Mr. R. Kapil
Plot 4, Sector 16A
201301 Noida (INDIA)
Fax: +91-120-2515243
 wasme@vsnl.com
 rkapil@wasmeinfo.org
Web: www.wasmeinfo.org

Peculiarities of a business angel's job are investigated in this second interview carried out by INSME editorial staff with Dr. Sten Verland, President and CEO of Biolink Capital, a combined incubator and business angel investment company based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and specialised in making investments within specific areas of the lifescience sector.

Business Angels are private investors who contributes money and experience to businesses in very early stages of development (typically innovative enterprises in their start-up phase and with a rapid and high growth potential).

Learn how a Biotech Angel approaches innovative business ideas and positions himself in the system of innovation finance:
 http://www.insme.org/

If you are interested in an interview with INSME, contact the INSME Secretariat:
Ms. Francesca Arra
  arra@ipi.it
phone: +39.02.43440205
fax: +39.02.43440222

A sample of 22 showcases demonstrating the relevance of e-business, eCommerce and eWork technologies for SMEs are featured in this publication, edited in 2003 by the European Commission's Directorate-General Information Society with the collaboration of IBM.

In the words of Mr. Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society, "the cases are testimony to the adoption of e-business research and to technological results being turned into reality by entrepreneurs and how e-business is effectively penetrating all industry sectors".

This publication is thus a useful reading for businessmen that, after the hype of the dotcom phase, want to grasp the original essence of e-business (according to IBM EMEA General Manager, "Technology can enable businesses and institutions to change their processes and increase the value of their products: this produces productivity increases") and an evidence to European policy makers that technology implementation activities are the key success factors to making Europe one of the most competitive knowledge based economies.

European e-business showcase is available for download at:
  http://europa.eu.int/information_society/ecowor/

Research and Innovation for Sustainable Regional Development is a guide for regional policy-makers, prepared by ELANET (European Local Authorities' Telematic Network) and issued by PRELUDE (Promoting European Local and Regional Sustainability in the Digital Economy), a project funded by the European Commission under the IST Programme.

The guide emphasises the importance of implementing an effective innovation policy at regional level capable of producing a positive impact on the economic and social spheres of the territory, of reducing disparities and creating high-quality jobs and thus increasing the regional competitiveness.

Its main objective is to help political decision-makers in setting up an effective regional innovation policy by offering them step by step all the stages that should be undertaken to start a regional innovation policy.

Furthermore the guide aims to be a substantial contribution to the achievement of the Lisbon Summit's strategic goal to make the European economy the most competitive and dynamic in the world.

  Download the report

Become a sponsor of the INSME Association and you will receive visibility, recognition and public relations through INSME portal, events and publications.

Event sponsorship opportunities include the INSME Annual Meeting and the INSME Award Ceremony, scheduled for March 2005.

Click here for more information on:

 Sponsorship Benefits
 Sponsorship Levels for the INSME Annual Meeting

For further information, please contact the INSME Secretariat:
Ms. Carla Fritz
 fritz@ipi.it 
Phone: +39.06.80972.497
Fax: +39.06.80972.443

Take advantage of our free email notification service of events related to innovation, technology transfer and SMEs issues.
To subscribe to the INSME E-mail Alert go to:
 http://www.insme.org/

The E-mail Alert related to the Events Section will be sent once a week.

For further information contact the INSME Secretariat:
Mr. Alessandro Sisti
 sisti@ipi.it 
Phone: +39.06.80972225
Fax: +39.06.80972443

1. Innovation Habitats, Regional Integration and Sustainable Development
   IASP Latin American Conference on Science and Technology Parks
   Foz do Igua�u, Brazil
   28-30.07.2004
   
   
2. The 5th International Strategic Partnership and Business Networking Trade Fair for SMEs
   "Globalization and SME Development"
   Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
   12-14.08.2004
   
   
3. EuroScience Open Forum 2004
   Stockholm, Sweden
   25-28.08.2004
   
   
4. International Conference on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: Strengths - Weakness - Opportunities - Threats
   Organised by the Athens Institute for Education and Research
   Island of Lefkada, Greece
   30.08-01.09.2004
   
   
5. 4th WTA General Assembly and Conference
   "Regional Development Strategies built on Cooperation between Business, Science and Society"
   Organized by the World Technopolis Association (WTA)
   Uppsala, Sweden
   01-03.09.2004
   
   
6. Turku Development Forum 2004
   "Science Park as a Tool for Regional Development: Possibilities and Limitations"
   Organised by the City of Turku
   Turku, Finland
   01-03.09.2004
   
   
7. Technology for Sustainable Development
   WAITRO (World Association of Industrial and Research Organisations) Biennal Conference
   Nairobi, Kenya
   06-11.09.2004
   
   
8. Baltic Dynamics - Innovation and Development of Knowledge-Based Entrepreneurship
   International Conference
   Riga, Latvia
   09-12.09.2004
   
   
9. The Science Based Region - From Science and Technology to Growth and Employment
   First annual conference of the Technopolicy Network
   Grenoble, France
   16-17.09.2004
   
   
10. International Design Innovation Forum & Exhibition
    Organised by the Shanghai Centre for Scientific and Technological Exchange with Foreign Countries
    Shanghai, China
    16-18.09.2004
    
    
11. TECNOTRANSFER 2004
    Organised by GeProp (Centro de Gerencia de Programas y Proyectos) and the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment
    La Havana, Cuba
    20-25.09.2004
    
    
12. XXI IASP World Conference on Science and Technology Parks
    "Regional Attractiveness in the Knowledge Economy"
    Ms. Simona Marzetti (INSME Secretary General) and Ms. Silvia Grandi from the INSME Secretariat will attend this conference.
    Bergamo, Italy
    21-23.09.2004
    
    
13. Innovation Management in a Global Environment
    8th International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation
    Moscow, Russia
    22-24.09.2004
    
    
14. "Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer. A Challenge for European Universities"
    Deans' European Academic Network Annual Conference 2004
    Porto, Portugal
    26-28.09.2004
    
    
15. 10th Annual Innovation Convergence
    "Building and Sustaining Innovation for Growth"
    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    26-29.09.2004
    
    
16. Building Innovative Clusters for Competitive Advantage
    The Competitiveness Institute 7th Global Conference
    Ottawa, Canada
    27.09-01.10.2004
    
    
17. The Gulf Enterprise Meet 2004
    Organised by the Oman's Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE). This two-day UNIDO-supported event will look at issues related to business innovation and entrepreneurship.
    Muscat, Oman
    27-28.09.2004
    
    
18. Textilmoda Fair
    This fair will feature an International Conference on Innovation, Research and Technological Intelligence. Experiences and Perspectives for the Fashion Industry", organised by ADEI, one of the Spanish partners of the FASHION NET Project. Ms. Silvia Grandi and Ms. Francesca Giannotti from the INSME Secretariat will attend this fair.
    Madrid, Spain
    28-30.09.2004