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Issue N
28
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December 2005
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 Dear INSMEnews Readers,
as the year comes to an end, it's time to take stock of INSME's main achievements in 2005. This has been a busy and fruitful year for the life of the Association: we have reached the high goals set for the Network's membership, we have carried out several activities and started new initiatives. So where are we now?
INSME Membership: 73 Members and growing steadily
INSME Membership has increased by 50% since December 2004. With this month's new Member from Armenia - the Foundation for Small and Medium Businesses, who we welcome warmly - the INSME Association has Members from 34 countries all over the world. In line with our expectations, the share of organisations from countries outside the European Union has increased, enlarging the geographical reach of the Network. Moreover, the share of the INSME Members that are private organisations is on the rise, accounting now for more than 60%. The fact that there are more private than public organisations among our growing membership testifies to the increasing effectiveness of our activities.
INSME Activities: Making innovation happen in SMEs. What have we done?
We have created opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing and exchanging best practices and methodologies (for instance through the INSME Award 2005, the organisation of the First INSME Annual Meeting in Barcelona, the diffusion of this newsletter to over 10,000 readers each month, the constant updating of the INSME portal, the implementation of the INSME newsfeed services, etc.). We have kept on pursuing our primary mission, that of supporting public and private intermediaries and their networks in better assisting SMEs in their innovation efforts, above all through the organisation of international thematic training programmes. This activity has been especially successful: nearly 200 representatives of public and private innovation and business support organisations from 25 countries (most of them extra-European) participated in the three training courses organised in 2005. Building upon this positive outcome, we will further develop this activity in 2006, relying increasingly on the involvement and close collaboration of our Members and Partners for the organisation and success of the courses.
INSME Association: the best is still to come!
We are aware that there is still much more to be done, but there is no doubt that a solid foundation has been laid through the efforts of all those involved in the Association. We are confident that next year will be even more rich in opportunities and mutual learning for all of us. Thanks to all those that have trusted and supported us in this start up phase. Your satisfaction and preference is the best reward for our work. Ad maiora!
We send you our best Seasons Greetings and wish you all a happy and successful 2006.
Ms. Simona Marzetti & the INSME Secretariat Team
INSME Association
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top of the page
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INSME Activities |
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Register for the INSME Annual Meeting 2006 (Montevideo, 24-26 April 2006) |
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 Don't miss the second Annual Meeting of the INSME Association!
24-26 April 2006
"Boosting Innovation by Bridging the Knowledge Gap:
a Developer-User Approach"
Montevideo (Uruguay), Radisson Hotel
 Download the provisional agenda [365 kb]
Applying before February 20, 2006, entitles you to a reduced registration fee. Discover Montevideo, check fees and register online at:
 http://www.annualmeeting2006.insme.org/?pg=Location
http://www.annualmeeting2006.insme.org/?pg=Registration
Besides INSME Association Members, participation is also free of charge for Uruguayan registrants, media representatives, speakers at the conference and INSME Sponsors.
For further information, please visit the 2006 INSME Annual Meeting website:
http://www.annualmeeting2006.insme.org
or contact the INSME Secretariat:
 insme2006@insme.it
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INSME at the WIPO-Italy International Symposium on IPRs (Caserta, 30 Nov.-2 Dec. 2005) |
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Over 200 representatives of the world's leading fashion houses as well as of governments, academic and trade circles, coming from 40 countries from all geographic areas, gathered in Caserta, Italy, on 30 November - 2 December 2005 to review the status of the textile and clothing sectors and stress the importance of the tools of the Intellectual Property (IP) system to these sectors, whose success nowadays strongly depends on technological innovation, innovative designs and creativity expression.
The role of the IP system in establishing and consolidating the market position of SMEs in the textile industry was examined and illustrated by keynote speakers from the Italian government (central and local) and from important law firms and organisations specialising in IP-related issues. Major fashion houses, such as Benetton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gianni Versace, ZARA, Miroglio, and Suberis contributed to the debate, presenting concrete experiences and successful case studies.
View the list of the speakers and download their presentations at:
http://www.insme.org/
 Download the press review on the event (IT)
View the photo galleries of the WIPO-Italy International Symposium:
http://www.insme.org/
The INSME Association was among the supporting organisations of this Symposium, organised by IPI (INSME founding Member) together with the Italian Ministry of Productive Activities (Italian Patent and Trademark Office) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO, SMEs Division).
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INSME-API Training Programme |
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The INSME-API Training Programme on Supporting the Creation and Development of Innovative Enterprises concluded successfully in Tunis on December 15, 2005.
Download the final agenda [486 kb]
View the list of Participants [139 kb]
40 professionals from public and private organisations, including service centres, banks and development agencies from 4 countries (Canada, Congo, Romania and Tunisia) took part in the course.
We would like to thank again the Tunisian Agency for the Promotion of Industry (API), hosting organisation and co-organiser of this training programme, and all the partner institutions and the prominent speakers involved in this initiative that contributed to its success.
Speakers presentations (mainly in French, some in English) are available for free for all INSME Association Members in the INSME portal Members Area by logging in at:
http://www.insme.org/
A photo gallery of the event is available at:
http://www.insme.org/
For further information on the INSME-API training programme, please visit:
http://www.insme.org/
Are you interested in partnering with INSME for the co-organisation of future Training Programmes? Increased visibility is not the only benefit you will have by partnering with the INSME Association in this activity. In case you are not yet a Member of the INSME Association or have to renew your annual membership, you will be granted a 1 year free Full Membership as a compensation for your financial commitment in carrying out the joint training initiative.
Click here for further information about INSME Training Programmes.
Contact the INSME Secretariat to make a proposal for partnering with the INSME Association in this activity.
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News from the INSME Members |
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Intellectual Property Panorama (WIPO) |
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 The SMEs Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO, INSME Observer Member) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) are jointly developing a business-oriented multimedia product on Intellectual Property (IP) for Small ans Medium-sized Enterprises. Called "Intellectual Property Panorama", this tool deals with patents, trade secrets, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, patent information, marketing, licensing, e-commerce, IP audit and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
Once completed, this multimedia product will comprise 10 modules, each of 30 to 40 minutes duration. The first overview module, IP Panorama 01, is available at:
http://www.wipo.org/sme/en/multimedia/flash/module_1/intro.htm
For further information on "Intellectual Property Panorama", please visit:
http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/multimedia/index.html
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EBN as partner of the LINK Project |
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 EBN, the European Business and Innovation Centres Network (INSME Associate Member) is one of the 6 networks of SME intermediaries which are involved in the LINK Project. This is an initiative aiming at facilitating access by Small and Medium sized companies to the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) Research and Development projects, primarily Specific Targeted Research Project (STRePs) and Integrated Projects (IPs).
Through LINK, innovative and research capable SMEs working in plastics and electronics industries will be able to participate and add value to FP6 STREPs and IPs as direct participants in the core research activities.
LINK is supported within the framework of the Stepping up Economic and Technological Intelligence actions of the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission.
For further information, please visit www.link-eu.org or contact EBN:
ebn@ebn.be
Phone: +32 2 772 89 00
Fax: +32 2 772 95 74
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INSME's Interviews |
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Mr. Andersson (INSME Vice President) on the INSME Annual Meeting 2006 |
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 Following the example of our last interview with Mrs. Maria Callejon (INSME President), in this interview Mr. Andersson - one of the Association's Vice Presidents - highlights the importance for potential participants of the next INSME international conference in Montevideo and explains its concrete usefulness.
Mr. Thomas Andersson is President of the International Organisation for Knowledge Economy and Enterprise Development (IKED), based in Sweden. He is Vice President of the INSME Association since its establishment in February 2004. Read INSME's interview with Mr. Andersson at:
http://www.insme.org/
Read also the interview with INSME President, Mrs. Maria Callejon, on the same issues:
http://www.annualmeeting2006.insme.org/?pg=objectives_callejon The archive of INSME's Interviews is available at:
http://www.insme.org/  Would you like to be interviewed by the INSME editorial staff about your experience in the field of innovation and technology transfer to SMEs? Proposals for new topics or people are welcome! Please, contact the INSME Secretariat in this regards:
Ms. Francesca Arra
arra@ipi.it
Phone: +39 02 43440.205
Fax: +39 02 43440.222
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Focus on...INSME Members |
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Innovation & Technology Transfer Salzburg (ITG Salzburg, Austria) |
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 Innovation & Technology Transfer Salzburg (ITG Salzburg, Austria) - founded in June 2004 - is a non-profit oriented organisation owned by the Salzburg government, the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce, the Salzburg Chamber of Industry, the University of Salzburg, the Polytechnic University of Salzburg, Salzburg Research, the Techno-Z Verbund and the StandortAgentur Salzburg.
Its mission is to stimulate commercial and research activities in Salzburg with a focus on supporting cooperation and coordinating the technology- and innovation-related policies of the local government.
The ITG Salzburg is comprised of three areas:
- Innovation and Technology Transfer (projects strengthening cooperation between local research institutions and enterprises)
- Media and Creative Industries (projects aimed at developing enterprises in the media and creative industries; two of the main focus topics are digital media and product design)
- Consulting EU framework (consulting services for the EU framework programme for research and development)
ITG Salzburg has been a Full Member of INSME since October 2005 and is represented within our Network by Mr. Christian Prucher (ITG Salzburg Project Leader).
Read further about ITG Salzburg's mission, activities and services in the following presentation:
../file-e-allegati/newsletter_documents/ITG-Presentation_231105.pdf [kb 77]
Do you want to be the next INSME Member to be presented in the "Focus on..." section?
Contact us:
Mr. Mariano G. Cordone
secretariat@insme.it
Phone: +39 06 80972.472
Fax: +39 06 80972.443
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Tenders & Calls |
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Call for posters for the Fashion Net Conference 2006 |
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 Fashion Net, a European network promoting innovation and technology transfer to SMEs of the fashion system, launches a call for posters to be presented during dedicated sessions at its final international conference on Fashion, Textile & Innovation: the future now (Artimino-Prato, Italy, 23 March 2006).The objective of these sessions is to foster and promote matchmaking opportunities and partner search among companies, product developers and research institutions by exhibiting and presenting research results and innovative industrial products/applications in the textile and fashion industry.
To participate, please follow instructions at:
http://fashionnet.insme.org/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&btitle=CE&mid=&ceid=52
The deadline for sending applications is January 30, 2006.
To stay updated, subscribe to FN-News, the free quarterly Fashion Net newsletter.
For further information, please contact Fashion Net staff:
Ms. Valentina Milazzo
milazzo@ipi.it
Phone: +39 06 80972.517
Fax: +39 06 80972.443
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Reminder: ISPIM 2006 Conference - Networks for Innovation |
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11-14 June 2006
XXVII ISPIM Annual Conference on "Networks for Innovation"
Athens, Greece
The International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) invites contributors to submit papers on the following key themes:
- Academic-industry networks for innovation
- Learning and the entrepreneurial mindset
- Managing knowledge tools and teams for distributed innovation
- SMEs: opportunities & threats
- Diversity management: women in innovation, working across cultures
- Public policy to stimulate networks
Deadline to present paper abstracts: 27 January 2006
Description of the themes to be developed and details on how to apply can be found on the ISPIM Conference website at:
http://www.ispim.org/ispim2006.html
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Call for papers for the IASP World Conference 2006: deadline postponed |
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 The International Association of Science Parks (IASP) has extended the deadline for submitting paper abstract for its World Conference 2006 to January 20, 2006.
The new dates for notification to authors and submission of full papers can be found at:
http://www.iasp2006.sciencepark.com/page.php?page_id=22
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OSEO ANVAR and MATIMOP: Call for Proposals for French-Israeli Joint Industrial R&D Projects |
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 OSEO-ANVAR (French Agency for Innovation) and the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) of the Israeli Ministry of Industry Trade and Labour have launched a call for proposals for joint industrial R&D projects to be carried out in the framework of the Program for French-Israeli Technological Cooperation.
French and Israeli SMEs are invited to submit joint research projects in any industrial research and development areas.
The deadline for presenting proposals is February 1, 2006.
For information on criteria to meet and how to apply, please refer to:
 http://www.franceisrael.org/CALL for proposals.doc
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Interesting Initiatives |
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WAINOVA (World Alliance for Innovation) |
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The International Association of Science Parks (IASP) has launched the idea of creating an alliance of the major associations of Science Parks and of technology-based Business Incubators in the world (national associations as well as regional and worldwide).
This alliance, called WAINOVA - World Alliance for Innovation will stimulate international co-operation, will focus on strengthening the labels "Science Park", "Technology Park", "Technopole", etc. and will strive to increase the prestige and visibility of the Parks, as well as to gain strength and weight in our lobbying around the world for the benefit of all our members.
WAINOVA will be officially presented at the next IASP World Conference (Helsinki, 6-9 June 2006) IASP acts as world co-ordinator of this new Alliance.
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Events |
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Highlighted events |
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Upcoming workshops, seminars, meetings |
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12-15 January 2006
USASBE/SBI Annual Conference 2006 - "The Changing Entrepreneurial Landscape"
Organised by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Tuscon, United States
27 January 2006
Innovative Actions towards Regional Policies
Jointly organised by Piedmont Region, in cooperation with IANIS+ (the Innovative Actions Network for the Information Society - Plus).
Turin, Italy
25-27 January 2006
Training Programme on Fundamentals of Technology Transfer
Organised by the Association of European Science and Technology Transfer Professionals (ASTP) and PRAXIS (UK University Technology Transfer Training Programme).
Copenhagen, Denmark
25-27 January 2006
Training Programme on Strategic Marketing of Intellectual Property
Organised by the Association of European Science and Technology Transfer Professionals (ASTP).
Copehagen, Denmark
22-24 February 2006
IPTEC 2006 - "Intellectual Property of Technology" Exhibition and Conference
Marketplace for the Transfer of Patent Protected Technology.
Cannes, France
23-24 February 2006
CELTIC 2006 - Telecommunication R&D Conference and Exhibition
The event will be part of EUREKA's 20 Year promotion (Europe-wide Network for Market-Oriented R&D and Innovation).
Dublin, Ireland
15-18 March 2006
Human Capital and Innovation Expo
Organised by "Compagnia delle Opere", "Fondazione per la Sussidiariet�", Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Unioncamere and Lombardy Region. INSME is among the supporting organisations of this event.
Milan, Italy
Presentation (EN) [662 kb]
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