IPI, the Italian Institute for Industrial Promotion (hosting the INSME Secretariat), is co-organising of the upcoming 5th Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Industry, which will take place on October 3rd and 4th in Caserta (Italy). The meeting will gather Industry Ministers from the 35 EU countries and the partner Mediterranean countries, as well as high-level representatives of the main international organisations involved in the region.

The conference should mark an important moment for the relaunch of the Euro-Mediterranean Industrial Partnership. In particular, the adoption of a Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise (on the model of the European Charter for Small Enterprises) during the conference will provide a common framework for developing policies to improve business competitiveness and support the development of the private sector in the region. The results of the MED BEST Initiative will also be discussed.

More about the EUMED Conference:
  http://www.ipi.it/en_inside.asp?t=1&id=56&pag=1&id_class=&livello=10&id_modu=726&area=
  Download the Conference Agenda

Synergies between business incubation and venture capital are being investigated in a recent survey carried out by a study group among some INSME Members, composed of researchers from the Institute for Industrial Promotion (IPI) and the International Organisation for Knowledge Economy and Enterprise Development (IKED).

The survey was inspired by the discussion originated in the INSME Thematic Working Groups on Venture Capital and on Innovative Enterprises. Data collection was based on a questionnaire distributed to 50 incubator managers worldwide, chosen from both IPI and IKED's consolidated contacts or new contacts from the INSME Newsletter.

26 questionnaires were filled out and sent back by business incubators representing 13 countries: Cyprus; Denmark; Germany; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Romania; Singapore; South Africa; Sweden; Tunisia; Turkey; United States. We thank them all for giving their valuable contribution to this study.

The working paper is expected to be released in November 2004.

For further information, please contact the project officers from IPI and IKED:

Mr. Enrico Callegati (IPI)  callegati@ipi.it phone: +39 06 80972.477

Ms. Glenda Napier (IKED)  glenda.napier@iked.org phone : +39 02 43440.203

An updated INSME Association brochure has been recently released in a new larger format and lay out, which we hope eases consultation and reading.

We encourage all interested readers to download and diffuse it:
  INSME Brochure (EN)

Contact us if you would like to receive by mail a full information package and/or hard copy forms of the brochure!

We are pleased to offer this opportunity to INSME Association Members and Partners: a special reduced registration rate of only 300 euro (instead of the regular 1,800 euro) to attend the Global Forum 2004, which will take place on November 4th and 5th, 2004, in Malmö, Sweden.

Organised in conjunction with the city of Malmö, ITEMS international and the Sophia-Antipolis Foundation, the Global Forum will be attended by 250 senior government officials, policy makers and industry leaders from Europe, North America, the Pacific Rim and other countries and will focus on The Broad Convergence: Promoting Services & Applications for Businesses & Communities.
 
Contact the Global Forum 2004 for further details:
Mrs. Sylviane Toporkoff
  stoporkoff@items-int.com
Tel: +33 (0) 1 46 42 48 76
Fax: +33 (0) 1 41 08 94 27
  www.items-int.com

Would you like to promote your event among our worldwide Members offering special conditions? Then send your proposals to:
  secretariat@insme.it

The INSME Association is pleased to be one of the promoters of the European Day of the Entrepreneurs (EDE) in Croatia, which will take place on October 5th and 6th in Zagreb.

The European Day of the Entrepreneurs is an event launched as a pilot project by Eurocities and the European Commission's PAXIS programme and is aimed at popularising successful models for creating and developing new enterprises.

This two-day event in Croatia will focus on "Fostering Social Cohesion through Social Entrepreneurship" and will unite the efforts of all the parties involved in defining innovative methods for developing entrepreneurship in that country. Best ideas and results of local and European partners, as well as other countries in the neighbourhood, will be analysed in order to attain this goal.

The European Day of the Entrepreneur in Croatia is organised by UMIS-SMEA (Member of the INSME Advisory Group).

Read the programme: 
 http://www.azelija.hr/ede/en/programi.html

Find out who is involved:
 http://www.azelija.hr/ede/en/index.html

INSME is among the co-organisers of the 3-day International Conference and Exhibition for Small & Medium Entrepreneurs taking place in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) on December 12-14, 2004. Other co-organisers are the Seagull Group, the Dubai Economic Development Board (Government of Dubai), the Council of Arab Business Women and WASME (World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises).

The conference will gather internationally acclaimed speakers, economists and industrialists from reputed organisations and will be an opportunity for INSME to become more visible and known in the Middle East region, establishing new contacts in the Gulf area. INSME Secretary General, Ms. Simona Marzetti, will participate as a speaker presenting the Association's activities and achievements.

We are pleased to have an opportunity for INSME to get closer to the Middle East region, which is increasingly becoming a key area in the new geo-politic scenario. Therefore, we look forward to this event in December with a view to meeting new partners and establishing new forms of collaboration for mutual benefits.

For further information:
   Visit http://www.ismedubai.com/
  Read the Press Release
  Contact info@seagull.ae

This month's "Focus On..." is on a newly associated organisation, the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (SEBRAE), which we welcome in the Association.

Read on to know more about this organisation (its mission, activities and contact details).

We remind INSME Members that this section is especially designed to provide them with an additional opportunity to reach the growing community of INSMEnews readers (over 6.200 receivers to date) with a view to establishing new contacts and finding partners. We believe in Innovation through Co-operation!

So take advantage of this opportunity: contact the INSME Secretariat now to propose the presentation of your organisation and initiatives to be included in the next INSME Newsletter:
  secretariat@insme.it

SEBRAE - Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service

Main objective
Promoting and supporting the competitiveness and sustainable development of the Brazilian Micro and Small Businesses.

Activities
Established in 1972, SEBRAE is one of Brazil's most important organisations for the  support of micro and small enterprises. It is a non-profit private institution, which works in close collaboration with the private sector and with organisations for international cooperation.
 
SEBRAE aims to enhance the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture and achieves this through regular seminars and training thus providing advice and information on credit and capital, entrepreneurial culture and both local and sectoral development. SEBRAE seeks to provide Brazilian enterprises with improved access to information and knowledge especially in the areas of management, finance, technology and marketing.
 
Its central nucleus is located in Bras�lia, but through its 27 units spread out throughout the Brazilian Territory, SEBRAE provides services to all the 27 states. This broad network is geared toward a very clear objective: to support and consent micro and small enterprises have the finest conditions for sustainable development. Through its Innovation and Technology Unit, SEBRAE facilitates access to technology for SMEs, providing them with technical solutions, enhancing their innovative capacity and giving added value to their products and services. In short, it works as a great articulator, motivating and catalysing different social and economic segments in favour of micro and small enterprises.

Download a presentation of SEBRAE services and activities:
 SEBRAE Presentation

The deadline to apply for the INSME Award 2005 - "Innovation for Success: Locally adopted, Globally replicable" has been postponed to November 15th, 2004.

Winners of the INSME Award will receive, in addition to a medal, the following benefits:
- free participation in the INSME Annual Meeting 2005;
- free INSME membership for 2 years;
- high visibility through the INSME web portal, the INSME monthly newsletter and means of information (web sites, bulletins, newsletter, etc.) made available by the numerous organisations the Association has relations with.

The Award Ceremony will take place on April 11, 2005, on the occasion of the next INSME Annual Meeting in Barcelona, Spain.

Detailed information on eligibility, award categories, evaluation procedure, prizes and how to apply are available on the INSME portal at:
 http://www.insme.org/

The first INSME-WASME International Training Course on "Management of Innovation and Technology Transfer" is about to start. Registrations were closed in mid September.

It is our pleasure to aknowledge that on October 12-15, 2004, about 30 representatives of  intermediary organisations dealing with innovation and technology transfer to SMEs coming from Asia, Africa and Europe will gather in New Delhi to attend the course.

We are sorry that we are not able to take further registrations and look forward to welcoming trainees at the UN Asia Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology, in Delhi.

Download the final agenda of the course:
 INSME-WASME Training Course Final Agenda

Given the great interest in this training programme, the INSME Secretariat is considering holding similar editions in 2005 in other geografical areas. Should you be interested in attending or becoming a local partner for the co-organisation of the next training programme, please let us know:
  secretariat@insme.it

We have selected the topic of Design and the role of Designers for this month's issue. By doing so, we hope to raise awareness on the key role that design can play to foster the innovation process also in SMEs in both low and high-tech sectors, thus supporting their competitiveness.

We welcome proposals for new topics or people to interview. If you are interested, contact the INSME Secretariat:
Ms. Francesca Arra
  arra@ipi.it
phone: +39.02.43440205
fax: +39.02.43440222

Read INSME's Interviews:
  http://www.insme.org/

This reference guide by the Office of Technology Policy (OTP) of the Technology Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce is intended to assist Science and Technology policy makers, planners and business professionals in formulating policy that will enable greater commercial S&T activities and more productive relationships between public and private sector S&T entities.
Download it at: 
 http://www.technology.gov/Reports/TechPolicy/S&T/04Guidebook_I.pdf

This Whitebook combines two functions: firstly, it constitutes the proceedings of the 6th Global Conference of The Competitiveness Institute (TCI), which was held in Gothenburg, Sweden, the 17-19 September, 2003 on the theme Innovative Clusters - A New Challenge.  Secondly it aims to structure the opportunities and challenges for policymaking raised by cluster development.

The Cluster Policies Whitebook provides a framework and approach to help bridge the gap between the general understanding of cluster policies and what could and should be done under specific circumstances. While focusing on the policy challenge, the Whitebook emphasizes that important contributions to clusters are made by multiple actors.

It is devided in two parts: Part I structures the policy issues that arise in the development of clusters, whereas Part II presents some of the rich material developed for the Gothenburg event, such as more detailed summaries of the mini forums and learning workshops that took place.

The Cluster Policies Whitebook is edited by IKED, the International Organisation for Knowledge Economy and Enterprise Development, INSME Full Member since early 2004.

A pre-print version of the report is available for download by registering your contact information at the IKED website:
 http://www.iked.org/default.asp?id=27&mnu=27#

This book presents some of the major contemporary innovations and challenges in achieving corporate sustainability and demonstrates the importance and complexity involved in building and innovating towards corporate sustainability - at the level of policy and governance, through to industrial and corporate strategy, human and environmental capacity building and finally in assessment of sustainable technologies and methods.

Implications for managers, policy makers, teachers and researchers are discussed.

Go through its table of contents:
  Corporate Sustainability -Table of contents

Further information at:
 http://www.innovation-enterprise.com/vol6_2.php

Take advantage of our sponsorship opportunities and reach policy makers, intermediaries and SMEs in 50 countries through:

• The 2005 Annual INSME Association Meeting, a 3 day international event to take place in April in Spain, that will be attended by INSME Members and non Members (around 250 representatives from public and private organisations from all over the world are expected to participate);
   
• The INSME Award 2005: Innovation for success, a prize awarded to intermediaries, or their networks, to honour activities and initiatives they have undertaken at international, regional, national or sub-national level.

We welcome:
- finacial sponsors;
- technological, in-kind sponsors;
- media sponsors;
- institutional sponsors;
- moral sponsors.

Click on the links below for more information on:
  Sponsorship Benefits
  Sponsorship Levels for the INSME Meeting 2005
  Sponsorship Package for the INSME Award 2005

For further information, please contact the INSME Secretariat:
Ms. Carla Fritz
 fritz@ipi.it 
Phone: +39.06.80972.497
Fax: +39.06.80972.443

Stay informed about major world events related to innovation, technology transfer and SME issues by subscribing to our free email notification service:
 http://www.insme.org/

The E-mail Alert related to the Events Section will be sent once a week.

For further information contact the INSME Secretariat:
Mr. Alessandro Sisti
 sisti@ipi.it 
Phone: +39.06.80972225
Fax: +39.06.80972443

The E-Mail Alert is also available for the Thematic Working Groups and other Discussion areas in the Intranet.

Textilmoda Fair
This fair will feature an International Conference on:
Innovation, Research and Technological Intelligence. Experiences and Perspectives for the Fashion Industry", organised by ADEI, one of the Spanish partners of the FASHION NET Project. Dr. Silvia Grandi, Ms. Francesca Giannotti and Ms. Valentina Milazzo from the INSME Secretariat will attend this fair.
Madrid, Spain 28-30.09.2004

Stimulating SME Involvement in FP6 in New Member States and Candidate Countries
Organised within the framework of the DETECT-IT project, supported by the Stepping up Economic and Technological Intelligence (ETI) actions of the FP6, co-funded by European Commission's DG Research
Bratislava, Slovakia
01.10.2004

Top Class Business Support Services: a Key to Success for Small Enterprises in Europe
Organised by the European Commission and the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry
Brussels, Belgium
01.10.2004

V Euro-Mediterranean Industry Ministers Conference - "Competitive Enterprises in the Mediterranean Region"
Royal Palace of Caserta (about 30 km from Naples airport), Italy
03-04.10.2004

APEC SME Forum
Organised in the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation SME Ministerial Meeting (28 September-07 October 2004)
Santiago, Chile
04-05.10.2004

Innovact 9th Edition The European Forum for Innovative Growth Companies
Reims, France
05-07.10.2004

EDE-The European Day of the Entrepreneur - "Fostering Social Cohesion Through Social Entrepreneurship"
Organized by UMIS-SMEA (Small and Medium Entrepreneurs' Association)
Zagreb, Croatia
05-06.10.2004

Strategically Managing Innovation in New Product Development 
"Streamlining your business process management strategy to enhance and accelerate the success of new products"
London, England
06-07.10.2004

Research, Innovation and Economic Performance - What do we know and where are we heading?
Organised by the European Commission, the Oslo University and the Oxford University Press to mark the launch of the Oxford Handbook of Innovation, an outcome of project TEARI (Towards a European Area for Research and Innovation)
Brussels, Belgium
08.10.2004

World Knowledge Forum 2004 - "Partnership for Renewed Growth"
Seoul, Korea
11-13.10.2004

INSME-WASME International Training on Management of Innovation and Technology Transfer
An intensive training course organised by INSME and WASME (World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises), offering insightful knowledge on the marketing of innovation, the financing of the innovation projects and more.
New Delhi, India
12-15.10.2004

Building for a European Future
Or