Issue N° 96 - February 2012

In this Issue:

INSMEnews!

Contact the editorial staff

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

"INSMEnews" is the main communication tool for INSME members and partners providing a monthly panorama of current activities, trends and priorities of the INSME Association and issues related to innovation and technology transfer on an international scale.

All INSME members benefit furthermore from a dedicated and tailor-made email alert system with regards to their priorities and interests on a frequent basis helping to concentrate on the essential to minimize time-consuming and maximize impact.

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Enjoy your reading!!

Ms. Christin Pfeiffer

INSME Secretary general

Supporting organisations:

Updates on the life of the INSME Network

INSME turns 8

The INSME Secretariat is very pleased to celebrate the Eighth Anniversary of the INSME Association on February 17th !

The Network has arrived at this important stage with 83 Members from 33 countries in 4 continents and with several achievements under its belt.

We would like to tribute special thanks to our Members and Partners worldwide for the support and trust they have demonstrated and for the energy they continue to provide the Secretariat with to fulfill its goal - making innovation happen in SMEs.

We very much look forward to presenting you, innovation stakeholders around the globe, INSME's latest results and to sharing viewpoints on its future goals on May 22nd -25th 2012 in Daejeon (Rep. of Korea) during the 8th INSME Annual Meeting on "Sustainable Growth with Innovation: Building Competitive SME Networks".

Attendance for INSME Members is for free and a dedicated registration procedure is already available.

Please check the INSME Annual Meeting website at: www.annualmeeting2012.insme.org

8th INSME Annual Meeting: INSME - UNESCO International Training Programme

On the 25th of May 2012 in Daejeon (Rep. of Korea), during the 8th INSME Annual Meeting, the INSME Association and UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization jointly organize an international training programme on "Managing the innovation-economy: challenges and opportunities for SMEs".

Attendees in the INSME-UNESCO International Training will receive a certificate of participation.

The training will be on a fee basis for all participants, including INSME and WTA members, partners and sponsors.

Further details are available on the INSME Annual Meeting official website at: http://www.annualmeeting2012.insme.org/index.php/training-agenda-may-25/

If you are interested please contact the INSME Secretariat at: insme2012@insme.it

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News from the INSME Members

EIF : EU Financial Instruments for SME Competitiveness and Innovation

On January 25, 2012, the European Investment Fund (EIF), in close cooperation with the European Commission, held a Conference in Luxembourg to discuss current financial instruments to support competitiveness and innovation in Europe.

The event was organised in close cooperation with the European Commission and was attended by a broad range of external stakeholders, amongst them a substantial number of National SME Envoys from the EU-27 member states, high-level representatives of SME associations, financial intermediaries and policy makers.

"This was a truly unique event as it gathered over 120 key actors dealing with SME finance in Europe", Richard Pelly, Chief Executive of the EIF and Daniel Calleja Crespo, Deputy Director General and SME Envoy of the European Commission, highlighted.

The conference featured two workshops which were dedicated to discussing the effective-ness, achievements and opportunities of current financial instruments, particularly the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) which the EIF manages on behalf of the European Commission. In addition, the event also gave an overview of the financial instruments that are envisaged for the next programming period from 2014-2020.

Download the presentations of the event at:
http://www.eif.org/news_centre/events/2012_financial_instruments.htm

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INSME's Picks in the News

EIT Entrepreneurship Awards

EIT - European Institute of Innovation & Technology, in collaboration with its three Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs): Climate-KIC, EIT ICT Labs and KIC InnoEnergy, is organizing the first EIT Entrepreneurship Awards competition:

The EITs 2011/2012 Entrepreneurship Competition highlights and encourages entrepreneurial ventures within the EITs three thematic areas: climate change adaptation and mitigation, the future of information and communication society and sustainable energy. It

The contest culminates in a conference and awarding ceremony to be held on February 21, 2012 in Brussels, where a high-level jury will select one winner from each of the three KICs.

Find out more at: http://www.eitawards.eu/Index.aspx

Focus on…INSME Members

Sverdlovsk Regional Small Business Support Foundation (SRSBSF)

Sverdlovsk Regional Small Business Support Foundation - SRSBSF is a private non- profit foundation based in Russia which aims at supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and developing the infrastructure of supporting system of Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship on the territory of Sverdlovsk Region (Russia).

SRSBSF became INSME Member in January 2012

Read more at: http://int-center.ru/ (available only in Russian)

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Tenders & CallS

EU: Intelligent Energy - Europe II Programme ("IEE II")

Organiser: Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) under powers delegated by the European Commission

Call Identifier: CIP-IEE-2012

Applicants: All applicants must be legal entities, whether public or private, established in the territory of the EU Member States, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Croatia, or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Objective: to contribute to secure, sustainable and competitively priced energy for Europe, by providing for action:

  • to foster energy efficiency and the rational use of energy resources;
  • to promote new and renewable energy sources and to support energy diversification;
  • to promote energy efficiency and the use of new and renewable energy sources in transport.

Total Budget: EUR 67 million

Deadline: 8th May 2012 (Except for the BUILD UP Skills Initiative which has different deadlines)

Find out more at: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/

United States Patent and Trademark Office: 2012 Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) - Award

Organiser: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Applicants: individuals, teams (up to four individuals), companies or divisions of companies for their outstanding contributions to America's economic, environmental and social well-being.

Objective: to recognize those who have made lasting contributions to Americas competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of life through technological innovation, and to recognize those who have made substantial contributions to strengthening the nations technological workforce.

Deadline: 31st of March 2012

Find out more at: http://www.uspto.gov/about/nmti/index.jsp

EU: The 6th Call for Proposals CIP - ICT Policy Support Programme

Organiser: European Commission

Call identifier: CIP-ICT PSP-2012-6

Applicants: organizations from all EU member states and other countries having a specific agreement to participate in ICT PSP (include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Croatia, Turkey, Montenegro and Serbia. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is expected to join in 2012).

Objective: to wider uptake and best use ICT and digital content by citizens, governments and businesses, in particular SMEs.

Topics: ICT PSP supports pilot actions and networking activities in areas such as:

  • ICT for health, ageing and inclusion
  • ICT for smart cities
  • Digital content, open data
  • ICT for improved public services
  • ICT for trusted eServices

Total Budget: EUR 127 million

Deadline: 15th of May 2012

Find out more at:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/ict_psp/participating/
calls/call_proposals_12/index_en.htm

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Interesting Initiatives

New UK innovation strategy acknowledges the role of clusters

In February 2012 the new UK Innovation Strategy has been officially launched. The document makes numerous references to the role of clusters and also indicates a number of concrete steps the UK government aims at undertaking in 2012 to "encourage new collaboration and remove obstacles that inhibit clusters from growing."

Download the Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth, presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (December 2011).

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Publications

The Atlantic Century II: Benchmarking Asian, EU, and U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness

In July 2011, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), in conjunction with the European-American Business Council (EABC), released The Atlantic Century II: Benchmarking EU & U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness, which provides benchmarks Asian, EU, and US Innovation and Competitiveness.

The report benchmarks 40 countries and 4 regions on 16 key indicators of innovation competitiveness. The 16 indicators are grouped into six categories: human capital, innovation capacity, entrepreneurship, information technology (IT) infrastructure, economic policy factors, and economic performance.

The report recognizes that countries that implement effective and well-constructed innovation strategies are successfully able to influence and to increase their innovation capacity and competitiveness. Because of this, policy makers must understand that the countries at the frontiers of innovation shift dynamically.

The authors found out that a gap in innovative activity remains between the world's most innovative economies and other innovator countries.

To download the full report, please click here.

The White House: Investing in Innovation is Crucial to Economic Growth and Competitiveness

The report, one of the periodic updated provided by the White House, focuses on the Competitiveness and Innovative Capacity of the United States, fulfilling an important requirement under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 which President Obama signed into law one year ago.

As the report emphasizes, innovation has been a key driver of U.S. prosperity and competitiveness throughout our history.

The way towards a plan for enabling the jobs and industries of the future by doing what America does best, investing in the creativity and imagination of people, is pointed out in detail.

Read more at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/06/new-report-investing-innovation-crucial-economic-growth-and-competitiveness.

OECD: Financing High-Growth Firms "The Role of Angel Investors"

This report, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), covers seed stage financing for high growth companies in OECD and non-OECD countries with a primary focus on angel investment. It provides an overview of angel financing, including a description of how it has evolved in OECD and non-OECD countries and policy interventions taken within some countries.

It reviews developments around the world and identifies some of the key success factors, challenges and recent trends. It also discusses policy measures for promoting angel investment, with examples from countries which have been active in this area.

To download the executive summary text, please click here.

Read more at:
http://www.oecd.org/document/30/0,3746,en_2649_33703_49309726_1_1_1_1,00.html

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Recommended Website

Go Beyond rebrands with a new website

The early-stage investment expert "Go Beyond" supports individuals, families and corporations in building, managing and exiting a portfolio of Small and Medium Enterprises.

The portal offers the possibility to receive guidance for optimum pitching and presentations to capture investors' interest; gain access to angels and angel funds throughout Europe and America and help syndication; access a unique private deal collaborative platform with potential investors; ensure all potential investors receive the same level of information.

It comprises a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and general managers who now act as Business Angels. Brigitte Baumann, EBAN President, is the CEO/Founder of Go Beyond. She highlights that the way to win at angel investing, is to invest in the right SMEs.

See the website at: http://www.go-beyond.biz/

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Recommended Newsletter

International Research Update

This monthly newsletter issued by the European Commission - Research and Innovation DG, has the aim to provide an "Info Flash" on International Cooperation Activities.

It includes information on national and regional research and innovation programmes, as Europe wants to play a leading role in the world's research arena and help to build a safe future.

It contributes to the creation of the European Research Area by developing the conditions for researchers and knowledge to circulate freely, and supports European organizations and researchers in their cooperation at international level.

It can be considered as one of the tools to raise awareness of the importance of international research cooperation in maintaining European research excellence and competitiveness.

Find out more at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=newsletter#

Read the latest issue of the International Research Update Newsletter here.

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Events

Highlighted events

Highlighted events

26th -27th of March 2012
Technology Transfer Beijing Conference 2012 (ITTC2012)
Beijing, P.R. China

The International Technology Transfer Beijing Conference 2012 (ITTC 2012), is co-organized by the International Technology Transfer Network (ITTN) and Beijing Technology Exchange & Promotion Center (BTEC), and co-hosted by Torch Center Innofund (INSME Member). The event holds the purpose of building a platform of international cooperation in technology transfer for overseas tech offer and Chinese tech request.

ITTC2012 focuses on 5 tech sectors: Green Building, Agro-biotech & Green Food, Digital Content & 4G Tech, Life Science & Pharma Industry, High-end Equipment.

It provides special session for tech request release by Chinese companies as well as tech offer presentation by overseas participants.

INSME is a partner of this event.

Special benefits are available for INSME Members. They are welcomed to participate and give speeches in certain sections of ITTC2012!

To learn more about the event, please click here.

12th - 13th of April 2012
Policies for Innovation and Knowledge-based Development in the 21st Century: Building Strategies for Regions of Innovation
Geneva, Switzerland

This Applied Policy Seminar, organized by UNECE - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (INSME Member) is addressed to policymakers, innovation practitioners and representatives of international organizations, industry associations and academia

For further details please read the flyer here

2nd - 4th of December 2012
Izdehar SME Conference
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The INSME Association is pleased to announce its involvement as partner of the Izdehar SME Conference 2012, the premier exhibition and conference supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Saudi Arabia, organized by Informa Saudi Arabia and National Exhibitions Co. and supported by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The event, which includes an SME and Entrepreneurship Summit, will support the growth and development of the SME sector by providing a platform for businesses, entrepreneurs and SME stakeholders to engage with the individuals and organizations that can help SME businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs drive their business forward.

Visit the Conference website for further updates at: http://www.izdeharsme.com/.

INSME Members will benefit from a 15% discount on the Conference fee (15% off US$ 150).

In case of interest, please contact INSME Secretariat at: secretariat@insme.it.

Future International meetings, workshops, seminars selected by INSME

28th of February 2012
FINANCING ECO INNOVATION FORUM "Brought to You by Chamber of Eco Commerce"
Organized by the Chamber of Eco Commerce
Atlanta, Georgia, United States

5th - 6th of March 2012
2012 EFMD Entrepreneurship Conference "Entrepreneurial Value Creation in Businesses, Families and Institutions. A view from Educators, researchers, Policy makers and Entrepreneurs"
Organized by EFMD-European Foundation for Management Development and hosted by Maastricht University, School of Business and Economics
Maastricht, The Netherlands

5th - 7th of March 2012
SME Invest Exhibition and Conference "Invest Local, Grow Global"
Organized by the by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

9th - 16th of March 2012
Global Entrepreneurship Congress - GEC 2012
Hosted by Liverpool Vision, Global Entrepreneurship Week and The Kauffman Foundation
Liverpool, UK

8th - 9th of March 2012
Successful R&D in Europe: 4th European Networking Event
Under the Patronage of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of the State North Rhine Westphalia
Düsseldorf, Germany

14th - 17th of March 2012
AUTM 2012 Annual Meeting
Organized by the Association of University Technology Managers
Anaheim, California, United States

18th - 22nd of March 2012
IAMOT 2012 - Managing Technology-Service Convergences in the Past-Industrialized Society
Organized by the International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT)
Hsinchu, Taiwan

19th - 21st of March 2012
7th European Annual Symposium - EU Funds 2012
In cooperation with the European Commission
Berlin, Germany

19th- 23rd of March 2012
AURP Spring Training "Professional Development for Research Park Executives"
Organized by AURP - Association of University Research Parks
St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

16th - 18th of April 2012
World Economic Forum on Latin America 2012 "Regional Transformation in a New Global Context"
Organized by the World Economic Forum
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

20th - 23rd of April 2012
World Investment Forum "Investing in Sustainable Development" (WIF 2012)
Organized by UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (INSME Member)
Doha, Qatar

23rd of April 2012
EMPRETEC Women in Business Award 2012
Organized by UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (INSME Member)
Geneva, Switzerland

23rd - 24th of April2012
12th Annual EBAN Congress & 7th Award Ceremony "Access to finance to fuel entrepreneurial growth"
Organized by EBAN - The European Trade Association for Business Angels, Seed Funds and other Early Stage Market Players (INSME Member)
Moscow, Russia

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