In this Issue:

Welcome to our new members: WASME and RUITC!

INSME is delighted to welcome two new Members joining the Network in April:

The World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises - WASME is a global non-governmental organization headquartered at Noida, India, founded in 1980. 

WASME aims at ensuring business cooperation amongst enterprises of developed, developing and least developed countries by facilitating technology transfer and trade promotion.

More information at the official WASME website.


The Russian Union of Innovation and Technology Centres - RUITC was founded in March 2000 to further strengthen the development of innovational centers in Russia. At present it is composed of 27 innovation centers and collaborates with more than 1.500 companies.

Among the projects implemented by RUTIC the key positions are occupied by those aiming at enhancing the collaboration between European business incubators and innovation centers. An important collaboration is going on with the European Business Innovation Centre Network - EBN. 

More information at the official RUITC website.

The INSME Association currently includes 99 Members in 41 countries from 4 continents.

The AfDB launches the Open Data Platforms for 20 African Countries

In March 2013 the African Development Bank - AfDB (INSME Member) launched the Open Data Platforms for 20 African countries. The Open Data Platforms program is part of the AfDB's recently launched "Africa Information Highway" initiative aimed at significantly improving data management and dissemination in Africa. Work is on course to complete platforms for the rest of African countries by July 2013.
 
Through the Open Data Platform, users can access a wide range of development data on African countries from multiple international and national official sources. The platforms intend to offer an opportunity for various users, such as policymakers, analysts, researchers, business leaders and investors around the world, to gain access to reliable and timely data on Africa.
 
More information here.

EU - SMEs: Damaging late payment culture due to end on the 16^th of March

By the 16^th of March 2013 the EU Member States need to have integrated the revised Late Payments Directive into their national law.

The directive obliges public authorities to pay for goods and services within 30 calendar days or, in very exceptional circumstances, within 60 days.

Businesses should pay their invoices within 60 calendar days, unless they expressly agree otherwise and if it is not grossly unfair to the creditor. Enterprises are automatically entitled to claim interest for late payments.
 
The directive reflects the EU's will to recognise the central role of SMEs in the European economy and to solve the serious problem of late payments in their favour.
 
Read more at this page.

Innovation From Failure: Mapping The Process In Developing Countries

This article focuses on the culture of innovation in African communities and - on the basis of the practises in that area - aims at explaining that the greater the level of innovation needed to resolve a challenge, the more tolerance an organization should have for failure and willingness to learn from it.

Read the full article here.

IPR CHINA SME Help Desk:  Research and Development in China for European Businesses (Part 2)

When addressing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues related to research and development (R&D), people often quickly jump to the questions on IPR ownership, licensing, enforcement etc. All of these issues are important; however it is very helpful to examine also other important points.

In the second part of this article the China IPR SME Help Desk (INSME Partner) completes its analysis on the guidelines to have a good "R&D strategy".

Read the article

EIB Institute Social Innovation Tournament

The Social Innovation Tournament established by the EIB - European Investiment Bank Institute seeks to promote the generation of innovative ideas. It covers projects in a wide range of fields, from education and health care to natural or urban environment, through new technologies, new systems and new processes.
 
The Tournament is open to individuals or teams from (or residing in) the European Union Member States, Candidate and Potential Candidate countries and the EFTA countries that submit proposals to be implemented in one or more of such countries.
 
All projects will compete for the General Category 1^st and 2^nd Prize of EUR 25 000 and EUR 10 000 respectively. Projects falling under the Special Category (urban and natural environment) will also compete for the Special Category Prize of EUR 25 000.
 
The final event will be held in Budapest, Hungary on the 17^th of October 2013.
The deadline for submissions is the 15^th of May 2013.
 
More info at this page.

Sustainable Development Goals e-Inventory

The Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future and their partners announced the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals e-Inventory, a new online tool to crowdsource proposals on global goals for the post-2015 period.
 
The Inventory provides all stakeholders with a platform to outline and disseminate their experiences of research on and recommendations for global goals. In addition it will help stakeholders (including governments and intergovernmental organisations) to become better informed about the wide range of proposals, expectations and evidence-based arguments on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other global goals for development being proposed as part of the post-2015 development framework.
 
To find out more, to search existing proposals or make your own submission check this link.

State of the Innovation Union 2012

Against the background of The Europe 2020 strategy, the Innovation Union flagship initiative, aims to create the best conditions for Europe's researchers and entrepreneurs to innovate. In particular this initiative is about creating a vibrant, innovation-based economy fuelled by ideas and creativity, capable of linking into global value chains, seizing opportunities, capturing new markets and creating high-quality jobs.
 
This report summarises the progress at Member State and European levels towards achieving an Innovation Union in 2012 and concludes by outlining areas where the Innovation Union needs to be deepened.
 
Read the State of Innovation Union 2012

The European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis

ESCA - The European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis was established by one of the leading German innovation agencies VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH to offer practical advice to cluster management organizations.

In particular ESCA offers services in two areas: 

• ESCA promotes cluster management excellence through benchmarking and quality labeling of clusters and cluster management organizations;
• ESCA supports cluster policy makers and programme owners with advice on cluster programme development.

Innov Newsletter

The Innov Newsletter, issued by the Smart Practices Innovation Network, provides its readers with updated information on smart practices, initiatives, public policies, programs and research papers on innovation and economic development in OECD countries.
 
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