INSME participated actively during the Entrepreneurship Education Collaboration and Engagement Network (EECOLE) roundtable organised in Toronto, Canada on December 1st. EECOLE is a dynamic hub where higher education institutions (HEIs), policymakers, business leaders, and the entire societal spectrum converge to identify good practices that facilitate the mainstreaming of entrepreneurship education and skills for entrepreneurs and SMEs, in all regions. The Roundtable is a collaborative effort led by the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), OECD and co-chaired by the Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). It represents the second edition following a successful inaugural event in November 2022, and it brought together key stakeholders including policymakers, practitioners, educators, and industry leaders. The focus was on exploring new policies for entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Throughout various sessions, the EECOLE Roundtable provided a platform to discuss evidence, research, and best practices to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems. The emphasis is on tailoring approaches to the specific needs of entrepreneurs, higher education, and research centers. Discussions also focused on the skills required by small businesses and entrepreneurs for the digital and green transitions, aligning with the 2023 OECD Declaration on Enhancing SMEs and Entrepreneurship Policies for Resilience and Successful Transitions.
INSME’s Secretary General Giovanni Zazzerini took the (digital) stage to underline how collaboration between SMEs and startups is a win-win situation. Collaborations between SMEs and startups offer mutual benefits in overcoming innovation challenges. SMEs partnering with startups can address issues like risk aversion, digital skill gaps, limited growth, and small R&D capacities. Conversely, startups partnering with SMEs gain access to distribution channels, financial backing, networking opportunities, and infrastructure support for product development. These partnerships are facilitated by SMEs’ agility, quick decision-making, and shared long-term objectives, making collaborations easier compared to larger firms. Policymakers must foster entrepreneurial ecosystems by nurturing partnerships among SMEs, universities, accelerators, and venture capitalists, recognizing the pivotal role SMEs play in cultivating and sustaining these ecosystems.
Source: INSME Secretariat
