The meeting took place in Tianjin on January 19-27, 2007, and aimed at facilitating the transfer of knowledge and innovative technologies among Chinese and Italian intermediaries and SMEs.

Scientific and technological cooperation agreements were signed by oustanding institutions in the field of logistics, environmentally friendly services for urban development, industrial design. The Italian Business Park in Tianjin and the Gorizia University Pole were important players in promoting the settlement of Italian innovative SMEs in China and viceversa.

For further information, please contact the INSME Secretariat:
 secretariat@insme.it

DETECT-it is a European network of incubators (26 partners in 15 countries, including 17 European Business Innovation Centres) detecting new FP7 opportunities for SMEs.

Based on the experience from the former DETECT-it 1 project, which successfully helped over 100 SMEs participate in research proposals, the project priority areas are ICT, Energy and Biotechnology.

EBN (the European BIC Network, INSME Associate Member) is the project coordinator.

For further information:
 DETECT-it 2 at a glance
http://www.detect-it.org
E-mail: info@detect-it2.org

This conference, organised by IPI in the framework of the FUTEX Convention on Technical Textiles (Lille, 11 January 2007), highlighted the role of the European Technology Platforms on textiles, clothing and footwear in helping defining the strategic research needs of the fashion sector. Textile entrepreneurs were given information on how they can benefit from European funds for R&D thorugh the Coperation and Capacities programmes of the EU FP7.


Speeches and presentations of the conference are available at:
 http://www.fashiontofuture.eu/

Subscribe to F2F free quarterly newsletter:
 info@fashiontofuture.eu

This call is addressed to individuals for the establishment of teams of independent experts to assist the INNO Learning Platform consortium (PRO INNO Europe initiative 2007-2009, European Commission) in the development and promotion of trans-national innovation policy cooperation activities.

Deadline for submission of applications: 9 February 2007.

 http://www.proinno-europe.eu/lp-call-eoi.html

Upcoming transnational call to be launched in the framework of the CORNET initiative (COllective Research NETworking - part of the ERANET scheme) to support transnational collective research projects by means of coordination of national and regional funding programmes in Europe. Consortia of industry associations from at least 3 different European countries or regions (Members of CORNET) are entitled to participate. Any industrial sector or research subject is eligible.

Opening date of the call: 1 February 2007.
Closing date: 31 May 2007.

 http://www.cornet-era.net/index.php?seite=third_call_introduction

The African Union Summit on "Science, Technology and Research for Africa's Development", currently taking place in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), is expected to launch programmes to promote science and technology across the continent, among which a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organisation. Agreement on investment of at least 1% of countries' GDP in R&D and innovation strategies for economic growth is also foreseen.

Learn more at:
 http://www.africa-union.org/root/AU/Conferences/Past/2007/January/summit/summit1.htm
 http://www.africa-union.org/

On January 16, 2007, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Microsoft jointly announced the launch in partnership of a new programme to provide Internet access, integrated solutions, instruction in technology and entrepreneurial skills to micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) across rural Uganda.

Technological support to MSMEs will be provided through 6 District Business Information Centres, which will increase in number in the second phase of the project.

For further information, read the full press release:
 ../file-e-allegati/newsletter_documents/UNIDO_MS_Uganda_160107.pdf

The vision is to undertake research that can facilitate the set up of an efficient entrepreneurship and innovation policy as a basis for sustainable economic growth across Europe, addressing several of the core targets of the Lisbon strategy, especially the focus on young researchers and women entrepreneurs.

EU co-funded project, IPREG is coordinated by the Swedish Foundation for Small Business Research (FSF) and is open to collaboration with other European players in academy, policy and business.
 
For information:
 info@ipreg.org

What are the most innovative places in the world? Worldmapper.com helps you to locate them at the speed of...link!

This is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest. Though not specifically focused on innovation, it shows maps for patents granted, growth in scientific research, research and development expenditure.

Based on a research involving hundreds of innovation decision makers and global corporate leaders, Payback analyzes the innovation problem and uses scores of detailed examples to show that companies can get beyond "innovation intoxication" and gain a clearer picture of innovation efforts from which to make smart decisions and align key players.

 http://www.bcg.com/publications/Payback/payback_introduction.html

Presentations made at the PRO INNO Europe Official Launch Event last month in Copenhagen are available at:
 http://trendchart.cordis.lu/ws_paper.cfm?ID=12

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2007

30-31 January 2007
3rd Global Congress on "Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy"
Organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Geneva, Switzerland

1-2 February 2007
UKSPA Conference 2007 - "Maximising the Value of the Global Knowledge-Base, Are We Doing Enough?"
The Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Science Park Association (UKSPA). This conference will focus on technology-transfer, SME internationalisation, science parks' development.
Edimburgh, United Kingdom

1-2 February 2007
Meeting of Innovative and Highly Performing SMEs
Organised by the Salon des Entrepreneurs and CapInTech with official partnership of OSEO and CDC Entreprises (French Agencies for the financing and support of SMEs) and the French Ministry of Research.
Paris, France

2 February 2007
International Meeting on the JEREMIE Initiative
Organised by EURADA - the Associations of Regional Development Agencies, in co-operation with the European Investment Fund and the Regional Policy DG of the European Commission.
Brussels, Belgium

11-14 February 2007
8th International Research Conference on Quality, Innovation and Knowledge Management
Organised by Monash University in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology and Institute of Management Technology.
New Delhi, India 

13-14 February 2007
4th International Congress on "Financing Infrastructures, Municipalities and Authorities"
Organised by the European Finance Convention (INSME Member).
Istanbul, Turkey

14-15 February 2007
Forum Life Science 2007
Organised by Bavarian Clusters Biotechnology, Food, Medical Technology and Chemistry with the support of the Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology.
Munich, Germany

15-18 February 2007
InnovAction Fair 2007 - "Knowledge, Ideas and Innovation"
The second international fair on innovation for global competitiveness, jointly organized by Udine Fiere and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.
Udine, Italy

21-24 February 2007
Global SMEs Expo & Summit 2007
Organised by the India International Trade Centre and the Small & Medium Business Development Centre of India.
Mumbai, India

28 February - 03 March 2007
IPTEC 2007 - "Business Development Through Technology Transfer"
International conference and marketplace focused on business creation and technology transfer.
Cannes, France

MARCH 2007

4-7 March 2007
IPI-ConfEx - International Patent Information Conference & Exposition
Best Practices in Patent Information Management and Searching.
Sorrento, Italy

11-14 March 2007
BioVision 2007 - The World Life Science Forum
Organised by a group of French regional government authorities (Conseil Régional Rh�ne-Alpes, Conseil Général du Rh�ne, Le Grand Lyon, Ville de Lyon).
Lyon, France

21-22 March 2007
27th PODIM Conference on Entrepreneurship and Innovation - "Nurturing Champions of Innovation and Entrepreneurship"
Organised by IRP Institute for Entrepreneurship Research, Business Daily Finance, the University of Maribor and the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investment.
Maribor, Slovenia

26-27 March 2007
TrendChart Conference on "Innovation and Market Access Through Standards"
Organised by the European TrendChart on Innovation, an initiative financed by the EC, DG Industry.
Berlin, Germany

27-28 March 2007
Innovation Forum 2007
Italian 'learning show' on technological innovation. Organised by IDC Italia.
Rome, Italy

29-30 March 2007
Conferences on "Small and Medium Enterprises in the Internal Market"
Organised by ERA (Academy of European Law).
Trier, Germany

APRIL 2007

1-4 April 2007
21st Annual International Conference of NBIA - "Meeting Point for the Business Incubation World"
Organised by NBIA (National Business Incubation Association).
Seattle, WA United States

18-20 April 2007
BIONOVA - "International Biotechnologies and Bioengineering Exhibition"
Jointly organised by the Italian Ministry of Environment, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade.
Padova, Italy