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Issue N
50
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December 2007
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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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top of the page
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Life of the Network |
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INSME Annual Meeting 2008 |
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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. |
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APEC SMEIC - INSME MoU |
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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 |
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INSME's Picks in the News |
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Programme MED |
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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 |
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Tenders & Calls |
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EU FP7 new calls |
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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 |
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EUROTRANS-BIO 3rd Call |
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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/
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Call for papers: NANOTEC2008 |
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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 |
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The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 (WEF) |
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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/ |
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OECD Science, Technology and Industry (STI) Scoreboard 2007 |
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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
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EU Competitiveness Report 2007 |
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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 |
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G-NEXID Newsletter |
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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 |
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Highlighted Events |
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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.
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Future meetings, workshops, seminars selected by INSME |
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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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