Issue N 50 - December 2007
In this Issue:
Life of the Network
INSME Annual Meeting 2008
APEC SMEIC - INSME MoU
News from the INSME Members
UNCTAD EMPRETEC Business Women Award
EASY Investment Forum
INSME's Picks in the News
Programme MED
Focus on...INSME Members
Torch Center (China)
Tenders & Calls
EU FP7 new calls
EUROTRANS-BIO 3rd Call
Call for papers: NANOTEC2008
Publications
The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 (WEF)
OECD Science, Technology and Industry (STI) Scoreboard 2007
EU Competitiveness Report 2007
Recommended Newsletter
G-NEXID Newsletter
Events
Highlighted Events
Future meetings, workshops, seminars selected by INSME
 
INSMEnews!
Contact the editorial staff
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep up to date on innovation matters with the INSME Association!

INSMEnews is the free monthly newsletter edited by the INSME Secretariat to stay updated about the activities of the International Network for SMEs, its Members and Partners worldwide. Main issues related to SME innovation and competitiveness at international level are tackled as well.

Sponsors and Promoters to translate this newsletter into other languages are welcome among INSME Members and Third Parties.

Enjoy this latest edition and, as always, send us comments and suggestions that can enrich and improve our ongoing work to support innovation intermediaries to the final benefit of small and medium sized companies (SMEs).

Best Season's greetings and happy 2008!

The INSME Secretariat

  

 

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Life of the Network
   INSME Annual Meeting 2008

The next INSME Annual Meeting will take place in China and will be co-hosted by the Chinese INSME Member from TORCH, holding the INSME Vice-presidency since July 2007.

More details about this event will be available for INSME Members and Non Memebrs in the future months.

Find out more about TORCH in the "Focus on..." section of this issue.

 

   APEC SMEIC - INSME MoU

On December 10, 2007, INSME and the International Organisation APEC SME Innovation Center (APEC SMEIC) based in Seoul (Korea), signed in Rome at INSME premises a collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve the reciprocal knowledge, the online and off-line diffusion of information on events, activities and programmes on SMEs.

This agreement is intended to facilitate the mutual exchange of expertise and good practices; to promote the competitiveness of SMEs and SME innovation, technology transfer and technology transfer networks.

The meeting was attended by the INSME President (representing also EBAN), the INSME Vice President from Intrasoft International, the Secretary General of INSME and INNOVA. APEC SMEIC was represented by its newly appointed President and its Director.

As a first follow up to this MoU, two joint international training courses are planned to be held by mid-July 2008 in Seoul, Korea, by APEC SMEIC and INSME in collaboration with some INSME Members.

 Press Release [12 Kb]

 

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News from the INSME Members
   UNCTAD EMPRETEC Business Women Award

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD, INSME Member) launches the EMPRETEC Women in Business Award 2008. The Award Cerimony will take place in Accra (Ghana), in the end of April 2008 at the UNCTAD XII Conference.

This award will be granted the women-owned businesses that have benefited from the business development services of the EMPRETEC Centres in their respective countries and excelled in developing an innovative business idea, providing jobs and income growths in a developing country.

Ms. Marzetti, INSME Secretary General, has been invited by UNCTAD to join the Experts Panel for the evaluation of the candidates.

EMPRETEC - Spanish acronym for emprendedores (entrepreneurs) and tecnolog�a (technology) - is an integrated capacity-building programme of UNCTAD in the area of SMEs and entrepreneurial skills promotion.

Please visit EMPRETEC website for details on the UNCTAD/EMPRETEC Business Women Award:
 http://www.unctadxi.org/templates/News____7231.aspx

 

   EASY Investment Forum


25-26 February 2008
EASY Investment Forum
Milan, Italy


An event organised by META Group (INSME Full Member) in collaboration with IBAN (Italian Business Angels Network) and AIFI (Italian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association) in the framework of the EASY Programme (Early Stage Investors Action for Growth and Innovating Business), a European Commission backed initiative aimed at activating European business angels in trans-national investment activities.

The EASY Investment Forum is an opportunity for European companies in the early stage of their life cycle to get in touch with investors and it is an opportunity for business angels and venture capitalists to invest in internationally focused companies across Europe.

Entrepreneurs interested in participating need to apply by January 10, 2008. Applications requirements are available at:
 http://www.earlystageinvestors.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76&Itemid=30

Investors need to register. For further information and registration:
 EASY Investment Forum Brochure [470 Kb]
 info@earlystageinvestors.org
 http://www.earlystageinvestors.org

 

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INSME's Picks in the News
   Programme MED

A new EU programme to promote transnational cooperation in the Mediterranean region named Programme MED (2007-2013) was launched in Marseille, France on November 22, 2007, by the European Commission.

With a budget exceeding 250M�, this programme invites the coastal and Mediterranean regions of nine EU Member States (Cyprus, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, United Kingdom, Slovenia) and Mediterranean EU candidate countries (Croatia et Montenegro) to participate in calls for projects aimed at setting up effective transnational partnerships in four priority axis:

Axis 1: Strengthening innovation capacities ( Objective1.1: Dissemination of innovative technologies and know-how; Objective1.2: Strengthening strategic cooperation between economic development actors and public authorities).

Axis 2: Protection of the environment and promotion of a sustainable territorial development.

Axis 3: Improvement of mobility and territorial accessibility.

Axis 4: Promotion of a polycentric and integrated development of the Med space.

The first MED call for projects will be launched by February 2008, after the European Commission approval of the Operational Programme, expected by December 2007.

For further information, please visit:
 http://www.programmemed.eu

 

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Focus on...INSME Members
   Torch Center (China)

Administration Center of Innovation Fund for Technology-Based SMEs:
 http://www.innofund.gov.cn/

Established in June 1999 under the steering of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the Torch Center Innofund is a high Technology Industry Development Center aimed at improving the overall environment for innovation and high-tech industry development.

The objective is to facilitate the transformation of R&D results, cultivating technology-based SMEs and promoting the industrialization of new and high technologies.

For further information:
 http://www.innofund.gov.cn/
 Presentation (mission, areas of activity) [1,391 Kb]
 Programme [9 Kb]

 

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Tenders & Calls
   EU FP7 new calls

New round of calls to strengthen research capacity under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for R&TD (FP7) 2007-2013:

FP7-REGIONS-2008-1: Regions of Knowledge - Deadline: 14 March 2008
Topic:
Analysis, mentoring, integration of research agendas and definition of joint action plans
Participants: Consortia of a minimum of two regional research-driven clusters or a cross-border cluster composed at a minimum of six participants from at least two different European countries, consisting of research entities, business entities and regional/local authorities.

FP7-REGIONS-2008-2: Regions of Knowledge - Deadline: 14 March 2008
Topic: Facilitating the emergence of new regional research driven clusters and mutual exchange of information.
Participants: at least 3 participants (one research entity, one business entity and one regional/local authority) coming from the same region for "facilitating the emergence of new research driven clusters" or one research driven cluster (definition on bottom of page) for "exchange of mutual information activities".

Research for SMEs Call 2: Research for SMEs Call 2 - Deadline: 11 April 2008
Aim:
Strengthening the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets by helping them outsource research, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know how, bridging the gap between research and innovation.
Participants: at least 3 SMEs (from 3 different Member States or Associated Countries) and 2 RTD performers (independent from any other participants)

The EC budget is over 92 meuro.

The whole list of FP7's new round of calls is available at:
 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm

 

   EUROTRANS-BIO 3rd Call

EUROTRANS-BIO Third Transnational Call for Proposals to Fund Industrial R&D Projects in Biotechnology:
 http://www.eurotransbio.net/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=206

Funding is intended to support research intensive SMEs and their strategic partnerships in all fields of biotechnology.

Consortia consisting of at least two SMEs (see definition) from two different participating EU countries can apply for EUROTRANS-BIO (ETB) funding.

Participating EU countries/regions in ETB: Austria, Basque Country in Spain, Flanders in Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands.

Stay tuned with EUROTRANS-BIO website for updates:
 http://eurotransbio.net/

 

   Call for papers: NANOTEC2008

Issuer: Italian Association for Industrial Research, Italian Centre for Nanotechnologies (AIRI/NanotecIT)

Theme: "Nanotechnology for Industry 2015" (Venice, Italy, 10-13 March 2008). The focus is on the thematic areas of the Industrial Innovation Projects launched by the Italian Government in the framework of "Industria 2015", the strategy to increase the development and competitiveness of the Italian industrial system.

Deadline for submitting abstracts: 18 January 2008.

Details on specific themes and participations requirements are available at:
 http://www.nanotec2008.it/Homeeng/Call-for-papers/Call-for-papers.html

 

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Publications
   The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 (WEF)

This yearly report, published by the World Economic Forum, (WEF) highlights the key factors that determine economic growth and explains why some countries are much more successful than others in raising income levels and opportunities for their population.

The current edition is characterised by an expansion of country coverage, with a record of 131 economies featured. The report presents a details profile for each of them as well as an extensive section of data tables with global rankings covering over a 100 indicators. The United States tops the overall ranking and Switzerland is in second position followed by Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Singapore, Japan, UK, The Netherlands (view rankings in full).

Explore The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 at:
 http://www.gcr.weforum.org/

 

   OECD Science, Technology and Industry (STI) Scoreboard 2007

Explore the progress of national innovation strategies and recent developments in science, technology and industry in this publication of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Major key findings include:

Investment in new knowledge, notably in R&D, is now growing in line with GDP. This contrasts with the late 1990s when investment in knowledge outpaced growth of GDP;

Skilled workers represents an increasing share of the labour force, notably in the services industries;

Public policies that seek to foster innovation are being progressively reoriented, from subsidies and procurement to alternative instruments such as R&D tax relief and reinforcement of industry-science linkages;

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are taking further steps in many areas of the knowledge economy, most notably in terms of investment in research (in China and India), patenting and trade in high-technology industries;

Research and S&T activities have become more internationalised, in line with the increasing globalisation of value chains.

STI Scoreboard is published every two years and alternates with the OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook.

The Web version of the Scoreboard is available at:
 http://www.sourceoecd.org/scoreboard

Paper copies can be ordered at the OECD online Bookshop:
 http://www.oecd.org/bookshop?pub=9789264037885

 

   EU Competitiveness Report 2007

Edited by the European Commission, this report illustrates recent developments in competitiveness factors - productivity, growth and jobs - at the EU level and of the main economic sectors. It also reviews the state of economic reforms under the Lisbon Agenda from the point of view of their potential of raising productivity. More particularly, it focuses on skills as a factor for competitiveness.

Finally the Report assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of European industries and concludes with a long term vision of European manufacturing so as to put the emerging trends and challenges in perspective and to check whether existing policies are consistent with them.

Commission Staff Working Document:
 European Competitiveness Report 2007 [1.416 Kb]

Communication from the European Commission:
 "Raising productivity growth: key messages from the European Competitiveness Report 2007" [66 Kb]

 

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Recommended Newsletter
   G-NEXID Newsletter

This is the newly published information tool of the Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID), a joint initiative of the Export-Import Banks of India and UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) aimed at expanding financial services in the developing countries to foster trade between them.

G-NEXID newsletter is issued quarterly and includes seminars and conferences of interest for the G-NEXID members, a focus on a financial topic especially dedicated to providing readers with instruments to spur cross border trade in developing countries (in the current issue the Commodity Finance) and news from the G-NEXID members to facilitate the sharing of experience and knowledge.

Read the first issue of the G-NEXID newsletter at:
 http://www.gnexid.org/G-NEXID News Letter.pdf

 

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Events
   Highlighted Events


22-23 January 2008
European Presidency Conference on
INNOVATION AND CLUSTERS
Stockholm, Sweden

Organised in the framework of the PRO INNO Europe Initiative, a European Commission's initiative whose mission is to facilitate trans-national cooperation in the field of innovation policy.

 Programme [401 Kb]


24 January 2008
EUROTRANS-BIO ERA-NET Conference - "Sharing Cost, Risk and Skills of Innovation"
Brussels, Belgium

The conference will present the achievements and experience acquired by the ERA-NET EUROTRANS-BIO in dealing with transnational research collaborations of SMEs in the biotechnology sector.

 Programme [746 Kb]

Participation is upon invitation only.
For registration and information, please contact the ETB Consortium at:
 info@eurobulegoa.com
 


5-9 February 2008
 CEVISAMA 2008
Valencia, Spain

International Trade Show for Ceramic Tiles, Surface Coverings, Bathroom and Kitchen Equipment, Raw Materials, Glazes, Frits Machinery.

   Future meetings, workshops, seminars selected by INSME

29-31 January 2008
The 9th Annual Global Conference - "Security for Development: Responses To Pervasive Threats"
Organised by GDN (Global Development Network).
Brisbane, Australia 

31 January -01 February 2008
ProTon Europe Annual Conference - "Public/Private Partnership"
Torino, Italy 

07-10 February 2008
Innovative Technologies for Manufacturing Expo
Organised by the World Trade Centre Mumbai.
Mumbai, India

12-14 February 2008
2nd International Conference on "Technology And Innovation For Knowledge Management"
Organised by National Productivity Council and sponsored by APO (Asian Productivity Organisation).
New Delhi, India

15 febbraio 2008
"European Fashion and Innovation in tandem with EU Values: a Win-Win Formula"
Organised by the European Commission with the support of the Italian Government.
Milan, Italy

3-5 March 2008
INTED 2008 - International Technology, Education and Development Conference
Organised by the International Association of Technology, Education and Development (IATED).
Valencia, Spain

05-07 March 2008
The 6th Interdisciplinary European Conference on Entrepreneurship Research (IECER) 2008
Organised by the University of Regensburg.
Regensburg, Germany

08-09 March 2008
10th Woibex
Woibex 2008 will bring global business and government women leaders and professionals face-to-face with new trends and challenges in an environment that fosters knowledge building.
Dubai, UAE

10-13 March 2008
Nanotec2008
Nanotechnology for Industry 2015. An international conference jointly organised by Airi/Nanotec IT and Veneto Nanotech with the collaboration of Regione Veneto.
Venice, Italy

18-19 March 2008
INNOVACT - The European Forum for Innovative Growth Companies
Reims, France

24-28 March 2008
MRS Symposium PP: The Business of Nanotechnology
This symposium aims to address the intersections of scientific research and business considerations in the nanotechnology space.
San Francisco, United States

29-31 March 2008
International Conference and Exhibition on Knowledge Parks
Co-organised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Qatar Foundation (Qatar).
Doha, Qatar

31 March - 04 April 2008
The CINet PhD Seminar on Research in Continuous Innovation
Organised by the Continuous Innovation Network (CINet).
Z�rich, Switzerland

 

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