Issue N° 113 - September 2013
The non-members subscribers will receive this newsletter at least two weeks after its official launch

In this Issue:

INSMEnews!

Contact                 the editorial staff

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

Dear INSMEnews Readers,

September, time for creativity and new ideas!

Our network is steadily growing and our expectations to reach the magic 100 members mark again seems to be a realistic result to be achieved by end of 2013!

We will continue on our path to success by considering ;-) :

Intro September image
*courtesy of: http://www.etsy.com/listing/83244364/good-girls-go-to-heaven-bad-girls-go



..and now as usual enjoy your reading!


Ms. Christin Pfeiffer

INSME Secretary general



The INSME Team welcomes your comments and inputs for further improvement of this service.

Subscribe to INSMEnews and you will receive it via e-mail as soon as it is available for non-Members (two weeks after its official launch).

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Supporting organisations:

Updates on the life of the INSME Network

Welcome to four new members!

We are delighted to announce that four new members joined the INSME network!

Zubair Logo The Zubair Small Enteprises Center, based in Oman, is a private non-profit organization and it was founded as one of the initiatives which emanated from the "Zubair Group" CSR strategic vision towards the Omani society. The Centre’s vision is to provide comprehensive support to Oman’s promising small enterprises, acting as an incubator and a one-stop-shop in order to help them succeed and grow.

See more details at this page

COSPAE LogoCOSPAE - the Private Sector Council Educational Assistance -  is a private  non-profit organization based in Panama and founded in 1984 by a group of four entrepreneurial and civic organizations, all committed with the future of Panama. The Council aims at serving as the medium to unite and represent the Panamanian private sector in its efforts to raise the educational level of the population - specifically, its productivity and job competences.

See more details at this page

AFE LogoThe Association Free Entrepreneurship, based in Poland, is a private non-profit organization and it was founded in 1995 implementing various projects supporting micro, small and medium enterprises as well as persons willing to start their own companies. It aims at delivering solutions in order to increase competitiveness of SMEs by offering above all information, consulting and training.

See more details at this page

Riyadah LogoThe National Entrepreneurial Institute (Riyadah), a public institute based in Saudi Arabia, was established as one of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) strategic partnerships. It aims at developing entrepreneurship programs to foster and promote successful entrepreneurs by focusing mainly on training, consultations, mentorship, incubation and financing attainments.

See more details at this page


The INSME Association currently includes 94 Members in 43 countries in 4 continents!

New partnership with ISSME from India

ISSME Logo INSME and the International Society for Small and Medium Enterprises - ISSME have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the purpose of creating synergies by strengthening knowledge, networking, growth and the technological base of SMEs at a national, regional and international level.

The two organizations also welcome to take part in joint project initiatives to buttress the vibrant SME sector in every part of the world and to improve the economic research in small business and dissemination of findings through seminars, conferences, trainings and publications.

Learn more about the International Society for Small and Medium Enterprises here

INSME projects and initiatives

FP7 logo INSME has recently kicked-off one of the FP7 projects where the network contributes as a partner.

The acronym MIRRIS (FP7 - Socio-economic sciences and Humanities project) stands for “Mobilizing institutional reforms for better R&I systems/institutions in Europe” and aims at encouraging a better exploitation of European Research and innovation programmes participation in the European Research Area of 13 target countries (Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia).

The Consortium is composed of universities, international networks and development agencies intends to reach this purpose by setting up a process of analysis, dialogue and mutual learning among key concerned stakeholders, namely research, innovation and institutional actors.

Check all information about the MIRRIS project on the on the official website

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News and contributions from the INSME Members

"If I say Innovation you say: change" - Exclusive interview with Ms. Fau (META Group)

Emma FauThe INSME Secretariat met Ms. Emma Fau, Business Development Consultant at META Group (INSME Member), on the occasion of the MIRRIS kick-off meeting on the 1st and 2nd of July 2013.

In this interview Ms. Fau gives precious insights about her personal view on the main obstacles economic players encounter whenever dealing with innovation and comments on how networks might help diverse organizations to foster innovation in favour of SMEs.

Read the interview here

UNECE to develop standards and recommendations on Public-Private Partnerships

UNECE logoUNECE (INSME Member) - through its International Public Private Partnership  Centre of Excellence (ICoE) - intends to develop standards and recommendations on Public Private Partnerships aimed at remedying governments’ lack of clear models to base their own projects and programs on.

The recommendations will also target developing infrastructure in order to deliver social services in sectors such as transport, water management, water and wastewater, broadband/ICT, renewable energy, green PPP, schools and health, the renovation of public buildings as well as legal practices.

Learn more about the initiative here

The NBS Model for Sustainability Headed to South Africa

NBS logoThe Network for Business Sustainability (INSME Member) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) at the University of Pretoria (Johannesburg) and the Graduate School of Business (GSB) at the University of Cape Town for the first regional affiliate of NBS in South Africa.

“NBS South Africa” will adapt NBS’s successful model for bridging academia and business. This initiative serves as an innovative hub of academics and business leaders focused on addressing business sustainability issues within an African context while underscoring NBS core values of purposeful collaboration.

Check all details at this page
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INSME's Picks in the News

EU: Missions for Growth

MissionsEuropean Commission’s Vice President Tajani is organizing missions for Growth in European and third countries to enhance cooperation between EU and other countries and regions of the world in areas of mutual interest of Enterprise & Industry Policy. Countries as Russia, Brazil, China or India offer a huge untapped market potential, which is estimated will account for about 60% of world GDP by 2030. At present, these markets are only served by less than 10% of exporting European enterprises. According to Vice-President Tajani, major non-EU markets with strong growth rates represent significant opportunities for European enterprises and so helping them to better exploit their potential in the global arena is a clear priority to boost competitiveness and create employment.

The Missions for Growth are usually linked to renowned international brokerage events. The participation in these initiatives will offer a unique opportunity to meet and network with important political decision makers, local authorities, major companies and entrepreneurs.

Find all the details and register for the upcoming events on the official Missions for Growth website.

EU: 2013 SME Assembly in Lithuania

2013 SME AssemblyThe 2nd EU SME Assembly is scheduled to take place in Vilnius, Lithuania on the 25th and the 26th of November 2013. The event brings together SMEs, business organisations, European, national and regional governments, academia and the media to discuss how to encourage a Europe of Enterprise.

The initiative will take place in the framework of the European SME Week from the 25th to the 30th of November 2013. The main event aims at providing information on what the EU and national, regional and local authorities are offering as support to micro, small and medium-sized businesses, promoting entrepreneurship and giving recognition to entrepreneurs for their contribution to Europe's welfare, jobs, innovation and competitiveness. To serve this purpose the  conference will  feature the presentation of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards Ceremony aiming at recognizing innovation and rewarding the success of public bodies and public-private partnerships in promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship at a national, regional and local level.

To register your interest please contact the SME Assembly Secretariat at smeassembly@lowassociates.co.uk. Please note that entry to the conference is by personal invitation from the European Commission only.

More information here
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INSME's Picks in the Web

Scaling Up Female Entrepreneurship

WomanEven in the U.S., the gender gap in entrepreneurship is still evident, as the average rate of entrepreneurial activity for men from 1996 to 2012 was equal to 0.37 percent, while it was substantially lower (0.23 percent) for women.

This article tries to identify the key-factors to revert this trend, showing evidence from interesting studies, as for example the Gender GEDI (Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index).

Read the article

Reverse Thinking and Innovation

Reverse BrainHave you ever wondered about how to discourage people from using proper websites?

This article aims at showing the utility of reverse thinking in order to find innovative solutions.

Read the article here

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About IPR...in China

IPR CHINA SME Help Desk: Protecting your intellectual property in China through contracts: Part 1

China IPR SME Helpdesk Since trade secrets and confidential information are critical to company’s business operations, it is also essential to include provisions protecting them in contracts with third parties.

However no protection is afforded to "confidential information" under the Chinese law, unless it is otherwise specified in a contract.

In this article, the China IPR SME Helpdesk (INSME Partner) shows the best way to protect intellectual property in China.

Read the article

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Tenders, Calls & Consultations

Connecting Australian-European Science and Innovation Excellence (CAESIE)

CAESIE LogoCAESIE is a bilateral partnership initiative programme between the European Union and Australia. It is specifically targeted to establish science and technology collaboration and partnership between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and researchers in Europe and Australia.

As part of facilitating initial collaboration arrangements between SMEs and research organisations, an initial Priming Grant of AUD 5,000 or EUR 4.000 (depending on current exchange rates) will be made available to eligible SME applicants to develop their relationship with researchers or research organisations in general. Once a collaboration proposal is agreed in principle, CAESIE might provide a further Priming Grant of AUD 5,000 or EUR 4.000

Stage One Priming Grants are now open for applications, until Friday 11th of October 2013.

More information at the official CAESIE page

Innovation Prize for Africa

IPA logoThe African Innovation Foundation has recently launched the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2014 call for applications. The IPA 2014 competition focuses on five priority areas, namely manufacturing and service industry, health and well-being, agriculture and agribusiness, environment, energy and water and ICTs.

Eligible innovations must be submitted by Africans for Africa. Africans in the Diaspora are also allowed to apply if their innovations are significant for Africa. In addition the innovation or associated business must be registered in Africa.

The 2014 IPA will consist of three Prizes (First Prize: $. 100,000, Runner-up Prize: $ 25,000, Special Prize for Social Impact Innovation: $ 25,000).

The deadline to submit applications is the 31st of October 2013.

More information at the official website

Asia Social Innovation Award

ASIA logoSocial Ventures Hong Kong (SVhk)  has launched the Asia Social Innovation Award 2013, that aims at inspiring a social innovation culture in the region. SVhk welcomes the public to generate and present any innovative idea addressing one of the three social issues for this year: 1) Ageing Population; 2) Poverty and 3) Parenting.

Evaluation results shall be released in early November. Each of the six winners is expected tp be awarded with a prize money and the winning ideas will be published on the SVhk website.

Candidates can submit their ideas in 200-500 words here by the 6th of October 2013 (Asian participants) and by the 13th of October 2013 (Hong Kong participants).

More information here

European Capital of Innovation Award – iCapital

EU logoThrough to the European Capital of Innovation Award, the European Commission intends to acknowledge the outstanding achievement of a city in building up an innovation ecosystem, i.e. a system which links the citizens (People) with a built environment (Place) and public organizations and policy-makers (Public) through business (Private).

The contest is open until the 3rd of December 2013. The award of EUR 500.000 will be granted to the winning city to scale up its achievement. The experts will examine and select the "Capital of Innovation" which is supposed to be announced in spring 2014.

Read further at this page

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Interesting Initiatives

SMEs in Horizon 2020: European Commission Information Days

EU FlagIn Autumn the European Commission will host two Information Days on SME participation to Horizon 2020, specifically directed towards SME support organisations (governmental and non-governmental).

The events will take place on the 18th of October and the 25th of November, in Brussels, Belgium. Additional dates for Information Days may be announced in September.

All details here

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Publications

Study on trade secrets and confidential business information in the internal market


CoverThe European Commission contracted the law firm Baker & McKenzie to carry out a study on the role of trade secrets and confidential business information as possible drivers for innovation, competitiveness and economic growth in the EU.

This study incorporates a survey covering 537 companies, including 323 small and medium size companies (less than 250 employees) undertaken at the end of 2012. It also provides a detailed review of the legal frameworks governing trade secrets in the 27 Member States, the United States of America, Japan and Switzerland.

Read and download the report here

Unleashing the power of innovation

CoverBased on a survey of 246 CEOs from around the world, this report – issued by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) - explores the changing role and nature of innovation in today’s businesses.

To see how innovation is evolving, the findings are compared to a similar study carried out in 2009. What emerges from the latest survey is that CEOs are now taking personal responsibility for directing and inspiring innovation as it becomes an ever more vital element of business survival and success, but organisations are not always ready to take advantage from new ideas.

Find the report at this page

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Recommended Website

Center for Data Innovation

CDI Logo The Center for Data Innovation, developed by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, conducts high-quality, independent research and educational activities on the impact of the increased use of information on economy and society.

In addition, the Center for Data Innovation formulates and promotes pragmatic public policies designed to enable data-driven innovation in the public and private sector, create new economic opportunities and improve quality of life. The Center for Data Innovation also sponsors the annual Data Innovation Day.

Check further details at Center for Data Innovation official website

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Recommended Newsletter

OECD Green Growth Newsletter

OECD Green Growth logo

Green growth means promoting economic growth while reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, minimising waste and inefficient use of natural resources, and maintaining biodiversity. It also means improving health prospects for populations and making investment in the environment, a driver for economic growth.

The OECD Green Growth Newsletter keeps OECD Committees and other stakeholders informed about the activities of the OECD in this key field of modern economies (new publications, events, calls and so on).

Subscribe to the newsletter at this webpage

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Events

Highlighted events

Delhi18th to 21th of October 2013
ISSME World Conference 2013

Delhi, India

The Conference, organised by the International Society for Small and Medium Enterprises – ISSME (INSME Partner), will open with a Public Agency Forum on "Fostering Sustainable Development of SMEs worldwide", where policies, best practices and case studies to identify areas of concern to the SME sector will be shown and discussed.
After the Inaugural Ceremony, the Conference breaks out into three Plenary Sessions, 10 parallel workshops and a Symposium including debates on a wide range of themes.
One of the highlights of this event is the ISSME Global Awards, as recognition to the outstanding achievements/contribution of global businesses, entrepreneurs and eminent personalities, institutions or organisations to the development and promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
INSME will actively intervene at the Conference represented by its Secretary General Ms. Christin Pfeiffer.

Check the official website of the event

KF Logo8th to 9th of October 2013
Abu Dhabi Entrepreneurship Forum
Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Abu Dhabi Entrepreneurship Forum (ADEF) 2013 is an opportunity to network with all entrepreneurship influencers and actively contribute to the shaping of a roadmap for entrepreneurship in the UAE.

Organized by Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (INSME Vice-President), the ADEF 2013 will include a program of inspiring presentations, conversations, debates and workshops in addition to an exhibition and an award ceremony introducing successful UAE small and medium-sized enterprises.

More information about the event here

Future International meetings, workshops, seminars selected by INSME

1st – 2nd of October 2013
Sustainability Applied 2013
Organized by The Bloom Centre for Sustainability
Mississauga, Canada

2nd – 3rd of October 2013
EBAN Winter University
Organized by EBAN
Moscow, Russian Federation

7th – 8th of October 2013
Innovation Days 2013
Organized by Universal Medica Group
Paris, France

10th of October 2013
International Entrepreneurship Symposium
Organized by the Anima Investment Network, Sophia Business Angels and the Foundation Sophia Antipolis
Nice, France

11th of October 2013
Launch of the 2nd European Social Innovation Competition
Organized by the European Commission in partnership with the UniCredit Foundation
Milan, Italy

22nd - 24th of October 2013
EPO Patent Information Conference
Organized by European Patent Office and the Italian Ministry of Economic Development
Bologna, Italy

24th – 25th of October 2013
Innovation For Financial Services 2013
Co-organized by ISPIM and Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT)
Singapore

2nd – 3rd of November
International Workshop on Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development
Organized by the World Network of Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs
Vihti - Helsinki Sub-region, Finland

4th – 6th of November 2013
10th Annual Conference on Innovation Based Regional Development
Organized by the The Technopolicy Network and King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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