Issue N 62 - January 2009
In this Issue:
Life of the Network
V INSME Annual Meeting 2009
INSME Portal Survey
News from the INSME Members
EBAN becomes the European trade association for early stage investors
INSME Handbook on Innovative Thinking available into Korean
INSME's Picks in the News
OECD: SME financing in the global financial crisis
European Year of Creativity and Innovation: the official launch
Focus on...INSME Members
ALADI
Tenders & Calls
SEED Awards 2009 for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development
EUROTRANS-BIO opens the 4th joint call for transnational projects
5th ERA-NET EraSME call now open!
7th joint CORNET call now open!
Interesting Initiatives
EU: Report on the Implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise
Publications
OECD: Innovating to Learn, Learning to Innovate
OECD: Fostering Entrepreneurship for Innovation
EU: The European Competitiveness Report 2008
Recommended Websites
INNOVERSIA Portal
EURADA website restyled
CORDIS homepage restyled
Recommended Newsletter
PRO INNO Europe
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 at international level are tackled as well.

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

Enjoy our first 2009 edition. We thank you for your comments and suggestions and we appreciate if you join now our on-line INSME Portal Survey to help us provide you a better service.

Let's keep on networking around the world to help SMEs for mutual benefits.

Have a good start in 2009, the European year for creativity and innovation.

Looking forward to meeting you in Dubai in April,

Ms. Simona Marzetti

INSME Association Secretary General
 




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Life of the Network
   V INSME Annual Meeting 2009

20-23 April, 2009 - Dubai, UAE

Join us in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) at the next INSME Annual Meeting on Building a Knowledge based eco-system for SMEs: Finance, Innovation, Technology and Networking to be held for the first time in the Gulf region.

Participation in the Conference is free of charge for all registered participants.

In order to pre-register, please contact the INSME Secretariat at:
 insme2009dubai@insme.it

 Learn more about the main co-host: Dubai Institute of Technology (DIT) - Dubai TechnoPark.

 Download the provisional flyer.

To stay updated on the 2009 INSME Annual Meeting, visit the dedicated website:
 http://www.annualmeeting2009.insme.org/

   INSME Portal Survey

Please participate in the on-line INSME Portal Survey to help us better understand your priorities. It will take you only a few minutes to fill in the online questionnaire about the INSME services.
Your collaboration is important to improve our work in 2009. Thanks to all those that have already contributed so far!

 Fill in the questionnaire.

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News from the INSME Members
   EBAN becomes the European trade association for early stage investors

The European Business Angel Network (EBAN) has extended its reach to seed funds across Europe to become the voice for early stage investors active in bridging the equity gap. This represents a great opportunity for business angel groups and early stage funds to get to know each other better and start collaborating across borders.

Early stage and seed venture capital funds interested by this opportunity should contact:

Claire Munck
 claire.munck@eban.org

 Download the press release regarding EBAN which becomes the European trade association for early stage investors.

More information at:
 http://www.eban.org

   INSME Handbook on Innovative Thinking available into Korean

The INSME Handbook on Innovative Thinking is now available into Korean language. The book, edited by INSME in collaboration with external experts, was translated by APEC SME Innovation Centre and provides an overview of several creative thinking methodologies and technological intelligence tools for all those organisations committed to stimulating innovation and technology transfer to enterprises.

To receive a copy into Korean, please refer to the APEC SME Innovation Center:

Mr. Su-Hong KIM
 ksh2146@tipa.or.kr

The English hardcopy of the handbook is available, upon request to the INSME Secretariat, with contribution for postage (free postage for INSME Association Members):
 secretariat@insme.it

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INSME's Picks in the News
   OECD: SME financing in the global financial crisis

In a world troubled by a global financial and economic crisis, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are particularly vulnerable to the credit crunch due to their heavy dependence on bank credit and limited recourse to financial markets. In this scenario, the OECD report on SME financing in the global financial crisis suggests a number of measures to be adopted to deal with the immediate adverse impacts of the global crisis.

Read more about the OECD report at:
 http://www.oecd.org/document/

 For more detailed information on the global crisis, download the OECD strategic response to the financial and economic crisis: contributions to the global effort.

   European Year of Creativity and Innovation: the official launch

The official launch of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (EYCI 2009) was held in Prague, Czech Republic, on the 7th January 2009 during the Czech Presidency of the EU with the slogan Imagine. Create. Innovate.. The main objective of the EYCI 2009 is to promote the importance of creativity and innovation as key competences for personal, social and economic development. In particular, the Year aims to help European citizens and entrepreneurs face the challenges of the globalisation.

 Download the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009).

 For further details on the official launch of EYCI in Prague, click here.

For further information on EYCI and its initiatives please visit the official website at:
 http://create2009.europa.eu/index_en.html

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Focus on...INSME Members
   ALADI

The Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (the Latin American Integration Association known as ALADI or, occasionally, by the English acronym LAIA) is an International Organisation based in Montevideo, Uruguay since 1980. Its main objective is the establishment of a Latin-American common market, in pursuit of the economic and social development of the region. In particular, it encourages economic cooperation among its 11 members - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

ALADI is an INSME Member since 2006.

Read more about ALADI at:
 http://www.aladi.org/

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Tenders & Calls
   SEED Awards 2009 for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development

 Call for submissions

The SEED Initiative (Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development) has recently launched its call for proposals for the 4th edition of the 2009 SEED Awards for entrepreneurship in sustainable development. This award welcomes innovative ideas from any group in a developing country or country in transition worldwide, which is working in partnership with others to generate environmental and social benefits in an entrepreneurial way. The award consists of support services, worth up to $40,000, to help Award Winners to scale-up.

The Award Ceremony will take place in New York, U.S.A. in May 2009.

The deadline for submission is 16th March 2009.

 Download the call for submissions.

For additional information as well as to set your application, please refer to:
 http://www.seedinit.org/

   EUROTRANS-BIO opens the 4th joint call for transnational projects

 Call for proposals

The 4th EUROTRANS-BIO 8ETB) call for proposals Funding of Industrial R&D Projects in Biotechnology is now open. Funding is intended to support research intensive SMEs and their strategic partnerships in all fields of biotechnology.

Consortia consisting of at least two SMEs from two different countries participating in the ETB 4th call can apply for funding.

Participating EU regions/countries in ETB: Austria, Basque Country, Catalonia, Belgium-Flanders, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Madrid, The Netherlands, Belgium-Wallonia.

 Download the announcement of the 4th ETB Transnational Call 2009.

The deadline for submitting the project proposals is 27th April 2009.

The ETB Consortium commits to a minimum of 30 million � of national/regional funding.

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

   5th ERA-NET EraSME call now open!

 Call for proposals

The 5th call for trans-national projects of the ERA-NET EraSME initiative partnership will be open until March 31, 2009 with 12 participating funding projects from the following regions/countries: Austria, Belgium/Flanders, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy/Tuscany, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain/Madrid, and Sweden.

The call is intended to support transnational collaboration between SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and RTOs (Research and Technology Organisations) in all technological areas, enhancing the competitive capacity of European SMEs.

For detailed information and relevant documents see section "Help Desk" at:
 http://www.era-sme.net/

   7th joint CORNET call now open!

 Call for proposals

The 7th Joint CORNET Call for Transnational Collective Research Project proposals is open since 22 January up to 30 April 2009. Consortia of SMEs associations, federations and trade associations from at least 3 European countries or regions participating in CORNET (see the list of Countries and Regions) are entitled to submit project proposals. Any industrial sector or research subject is eligible.

CORNET is an ERA-NET funded by the European Commission. It aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of collective research policy and practice in Europe by means of coordination of national and regional funding programmes in Europe (see also: http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/era-net.htm).

For more information on CORNET and the 7th Joint Call please visit:
 http://www.cornet-era.net/

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Interesting Initiatives
   EU: Report on the Implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise

Since its adoption in 2004, the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise has been guiding MED governments' policy towards enhancing private enterprise sector development. Following an eight-month pilot project assessing the status of implementation of the Charter in Med Countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Tunisia), the European Commission, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - OECD, the European Training Foundation - ETF and the European Investment Bank - EIB, has recently published a report providing a comprehensive overview of enterprise policies underlining the importance of a further close cooperation in the Med region.

 Download the Report on the Implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise (EN) (FR).

For further information please consult the following website:
 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/ind_coop_programmes/med/charter.htm

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Publications
   OECD: Innovating to Learn, Learning to Innovate

Published by the OECD, this book summarises and discusses, with concrete examples in OECD countries, key findings and principles derived from the learning sciences, research-based innovations, the experience and lessons of alternative schooling and the innovative cases in the field that can be used to redesign classrooms to make them highly effective learning environments.

Non-subscribers can purchase the PDF e-book and/or paper copy via Online Bookshop.

Learn more on Innovating to Learn, Learning to Innovate at:
 http://www.oecd.org/document

   OECD: Fostering Entrepreneurship for Innovation

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has recently released a report on Fostering Entrepreneurship for Innovation which analyses the role of entrepreneurship policies in support of innovation in Korea, Mexico, Norway and Turkey. In particular, it assesses how entrepreneurship and firm creation have long been recognised as vital forces driving innovation, science and technology, contributing efficiently to sustainable economic growth and employment creation.

 Download the OECD report on Fostering Entrepreneurship for Innovation.

   EU: The European Competitiveness Report 2008

Edited by the European Commission - Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General, this report focuses on recent changes of the EU's productivity growth and analyses different factors that may have an impact on competitiveness and on a sustainable industrial policy.
This year, the report also examines, more deeply, SME competitiveness as one of the most important segment of European economy.

 Download the European Competitiveness Report 2008 for free.

For further information please visit the website at:
 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/

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Recommended Websites
   INNOVERSIA Portal

Innoversia is the new portal of Universia, the most important network of universities in Latin America, and Neos, the first private technology transfer office in Chile, conceived to increase and promote in Latin America the technological development and innovation. This portal aims to bring together SMEs, researchers and industrialists working in the field of innovation in order to provide solutions to technological and innovation problems.

For further information on the Innoversia Portal, visit the website (available only in Spanish) at:
 http://innovacion.universia.net/inicio-0.html

   EURADA website restyled

EURADA - European Association of Development Agencies (INSME Member) has recently restyled its website both in design and in content.

In particular, a new Member login section has been introduced.

For further information visit the site at:
 http://www.eurada.org/

   CORDIS homepage restyled

The new CORDIS homepage has been restyled with an easier and more SME-friendly access and with new important sections providing updated information on services on-line offered by CORDIS.
In particular, the new interface focuses on the 7th Framework Programme and the related initiatives. A partner search tool is also available.

 To learn more, please visit the new CORDIS homepage.

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Recommended Newsletter
   PRO INNO Europe

This monthly newsletter issued by PRO INNO Europe, an initiative of European Commission - Directorate General Enterprise and Industry, aims to keep readers informed about the latest news on innovation and technology development across Europe, with a section dedicated to future relevant meetings and conferences which will be held within the framework of European initiatives.

Read more on PRO INNO EUROPE newsletter at:
 http://www.proinno-europe.eu/

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Events
   Highlighted events

30-31 January 2009

Seminar on SME Financing "SME Finance - Challenges and Opportunities"
Tunis, Tunisia

The Seminar, organised by the Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-Nexid - Member of INSME) and Small and Medium Enterprise Financing Bank (BFPME), will focus on the SME financing techniques and aspects related to resources and risk management. INSME will be represented by Mr. Eric Chataigné, Intrasoft International Luxembourg (Member of INSME).

Read more about the Seminar on SME Financing in Tunis at:
 http://www.gnexid.org/index.asp

02-04 February 2009
International Forum "Cleaner Technologies for Economic Development"

Manama, Bahrain

This Forum, organised by United Nation Industrial Development Organisation - UNIDO (Member of INSME), in collaboration with the Kuwait Finance House, aims to promote sustainable development through policy dialogue promoting the application of cleaner technologies and investments in "Green Industries".

Learn more about the UNIDO Forum at:
 http://www.unido.it/eng/

   Future meetings, workshops, seminars selected by INSME

9-13 February 2009
1st ICT Enterprise Forum
Organised by Inform�tica 2009 in collaboration with the Cuban Information and Communications Ministry
Havana, Cuba

16-17 February 2009
Regions For Economic Change - Networking for Results
Organised by the European Commission's Regional Policy Directorate General
Brussels, Belgium

20-21 February 2009
Mediterranean Investment Forum
Organised byMedInvest 2009
Beirut, Lebanon

24 February 2009
The Corporate Venture Capital Summit
Organised by the YoungStartup Ventures
Cambridge, Massachuttes

26-27 February 2009
2009 EFMD Entrepreneurship Conference
Organized By EFMD - European Foundation for Management Development
Barcelona, Spain

2-3 March 2009
Practical Seminar EU Funding for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
Organised by the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law
Berlin, Germany

2-3 March 2009
Conference - Exhibition: Creativity & Innovation - Best Practice from EU Programmes
Organized by the European Commission - Directorate General for Education and Culture
Brussels, Belgium

16-18 March 2009
BIO-Europe Spring 2009
Organised by EBD Group
Milan, Italy

18-19 March 2009
Innovations in Textiles 2009
Organised by the Institute of Nanotechnology (IoN)
London, UK

19-20 March 2009
2nd Annual Microfinance Forum "Implementing innovative tools and opening new horizons"
Organised by Uniglobal Research
Vienna, Austria

23-25 March 2009
3rd Annual Tech Policy Summit
Organised by SageScape LLC
San Francisco, United States

23-27 March 2009
Innovation in Small Countries How Small Places Change the World
Organised by Fulbright Academy for Science and Technology
Skopje & Ohrid , Macedonia

24-25 March 2009
WBT Showcase "World's Best Technologies"
Produced by Development Capital Networks, LLC
Arlington-DFW, United States

24-25 March 2009
13th European forum for Young Innovative Enterprises
Organised by INNOVACT
Reims, France

25-28 March 2009
The 10th Mediterranean Research Meeting
Organised by the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
Florence, Italy

31 March - 3 April 2009
NANOTEC2009.it: competitiveness & innovation for the industrial growth
Jointly organised by AIRI/Nanotec IT, the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and Veneto Nanotech
Rome, Italy

20-23 April 2009
V INSME Annual Meeting Building a Knowledge based eco-system for SMEs: Finance, Innovation, Technology and Networking
Organised by the INSME Association with the Dubai Institute of Technology (DIT) - Dubai TechnoPark
Dubai, UAE

27-28 April 2009
9th EBAN Annual Congress: "Celebrating risk taking: the contribution of business angels and early stage investors" and 4th EBAN Annual Award Ceremony
Organised by EBAN - European Business Angels Network

Madrid, Spain

6-14 May 2009
First European SME Week - Launch event
Organised by the European Commission
Brussels, Belgium

10-12 May 2009
3rd Conference on Micro Evidence on Innovation in Developing Economies - MEIDE
Organised by the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), in collaboration with UNU-MERIT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

13-14 May 2009
Small Business Act for Europe: Entrepreneurship without Barriers
1st European SME Week Closing Conference and European Enterprise Awards
Prague, Czech Republic

1-4 June 2009
XXVI IASP World Conference on Science and Technology Parks "Future Knowledge Ecosystems"
Organised by IASP - International Association of Science Parks
Raleigh, United States

21-24 June 2009
XX ISPIM Conference - The Future of Innovation
Organised by the International Society for Professional Innovation Managememnt (ISPIM) and supported by DANUBE - European Programmes for Training, Research and Technology and Ratio Strategy & Innovation Consulting
Vienna, Austria

24-26 June 2009
18th EBN Annual Congress 2009
Organised by the European BIC Network (EBN)
Fez, Morocco

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