The INSME Secretariat is pleased to announce that attendance in the upcoming INSME-UNIDO Training Programme is FREE OF CHARGE FOR ANY PARTICIPANT (whether INSME Member or not).  

30 November - 1 December 2006 "Business Start-up and Access to Finance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and New Technology-Based Firms" IPI Headquarters, Rome, Italy  Updated Agenda [256 Kb]  Registration Form [1.633 Kb] Deadline for registering: 20 November 2006.

List of the trainers:
� http://www.insme.org/

Information on the training venue, how to get there and where to stay: 
� http://www.insme.org/

Contact the INSME Secretariat for inquiries: 
 secretariat@insme.it

As part of its commitment to fulfill the Association's mission to promote transnational cooperation on innovation issues, the INSME Secretariat hosts in its headquarters in Rome bilateral meetings with organisations from all geographic regions interested in INSME's activities.

Here are the latest meetings:

• 22 September 2006
  Meeting with a Chinese Delegation from the Shanghai Huangpu District
   
• 20 September 2006
  Meeting with the Chamber of Commerce of Uruguay (CIU)
   
• 4 September 2006
  Meeting with a Chinese Delegation from the China Center for Business Cooperation and Coordination (CCBCC)

Reports of these meetings are available at:
 http://www.insme.org/

 http://www.fashiontofuture.eu

A new information and networking tool now available to support SMEs of the Euro-Mediterranean fashion system in getting ready to participate in future European Research and Technology Development programmes (especially FP7, the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme).

For further information on the F2F project (2006-2008), please contact IPI (Project Coordinator):
Dr. Silvia Grandi or Ms. Francesca Giannotti
 f2f@ipi.it
 info@fashiontofuture.eu

Read more about F2F:
 http://www.insme.org/documents/F2F_Summary_Fiche.pdf

Subscribe to F2F free quarterly newsletter:
 info@fashiontofuture.eu

Australian Manufacturing in China - Deepening Engagement

The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has recently published a report examining the impact China is having on Australian manufacturing activity and competitiveness.

For some companies (over 700 surveyed) gains are being made in terms of additional exports, growth opportunities in China and cost savings from using Chinese supply chains. For others, particularly small firms, these gains are more than offset by financial losses and deterioration of profitability. Innovation, research and protection of intellectual property rights are considered by most companies the best strategies to enhance their competitiveness with regards to China.

You can download the report at:
 http://gfdb1.aigroup.asn.au/pdf/publications/reports/
general_reports/Australian_Mfg_and_China_Aug06.pdf

02 December 2006
IV International SME Congress - "Support to EU Integration"

Organised by the SME UNION of the European People's Party, the Serbian SME UNION and the Serbian SME Association (SASME, INSME Full Member). The INSME Association is among the supporting organisations.

For further information, please contact SASME:
 office@srb-smeasoc.org

Mrs. Heather Ridout is Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), Australia's largest, multi sector employer association with over 10,000 member companies of all sizes throughout the country.

The Ai Group (INSME Full Member) is engaged in developing and advocating public policies, at both the National and State Government level, in support of the national innovation system. It is also involved in building connections between industry and public research institutions.

Read how the Ai Group pursues its commitment to foster innovation among Australian businesses in this interview with Mrs. Ridout:
 http://www.insme.org/

In order to foster collaboration in the framework of the EU co-financed  STREN project (Scientific and Technological Results Exchange Network, 2006-2007), the Italian Institute for Industrial Promotion - IPI (STREN Consortium Partner) is developing a database of European scientific, technological and innovation organisations interested in collaborating with Tunisian counterparts on research and technological development projects.
This database will be made accessible through the STREN website (currently under construction) in the next months.

If you want to take advantage of this match-making tool and have your organisation included in the database, please contact:
Mr. Enrico Callegati, IPI
 callegati@ipi.it 
Phone: +39.06.80972.477
Fax: +39.06.80972.443

About the STREN project:
 Brochure - French version [2.341 Kb]
 Project Presentation

new curriculuM for internatiOnal transfer of technologies for entrepreneurial deVElopment

The MOVE project (2005-2006) aims at training managers, professionals and consultants from European and Asian countries on issues related to selection, management and transfer of technology.

Among key activities, the implementation and testing of a distance learning platform, whose prototype can be accessed at:
 http://151.8.193.227/move-project/Default.aspx?tabid=88

The MOVE project is co-financed by the Asia-Link European Programme, an initiative by the European Commission to promote regional and multilateral networking between higher education institutions in Europe and developing countries in Asia.

For further information:

• read a focus on this project on the INSME portal: 
   http://www.insme.org
   
• contact the project leader at University of Sannio in Italy:
  Prof. Eugenio Corti 
   corti@unisannio.it 
  Phone: +39 0824 305752
  Fax: +39 0824 305753

� Call for papers

Title: 5th International EMAEE Conference on Innovation (European Meeting on Applied Evolutionary Economics): 
"Globalisation, Services and Innovation: The Changing Dynamics of the Knowledge Economy" (Manchester, UK - 17-19 May 2007)

Issuer: Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

Deadline: 1 December 2006

 http://www.emaee.net

� Call for tenders

Title: Structuring Effects of Community Research - The impact of the Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development Network Formation Object: The study sets out to map networks of collaboration in selected areas of RTD, to determine and assess the contribution and the impact of EU research policy directed towards initiating and facilitating networking activities, to determine and assess the extent of the embeddedness of the major actors of the Member States in European networks, [more...].

Issuer: European Commission, Directorate-General for Research

Deadline: 13 November 2006

 http://ted.europa.eu/

� Call for papers

Title: Regional Impact of Information Society Technologies in Africa: IST Africa 2007 Conference & Exhibition (Maputo, Mozambique, 9 - 11 May 2007).

Thematic areas: eHealth, Technology Enhanced Learning and ICT Skills, Open Source Software, ICT for eInclusion and eAccessibility, eInfrastructures, ICT for Environmental Risk Management, ICT for Networked Enterprise, eGovernment and eDemocracy.

Deadline: 30 November 2006.

 http://www.ist-africa.org/Conference2007/default.asp

The full list of calls selected by the INSME Secretariat is available on the INSME portal at: 
 http://www.insme.org/

By the end of the year, following the approval of the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP), the European Commission will launch a call for tenders to continue and improve services in support of business, innovation and technology transfer, currently provided by the Euro Info Centres (EIC) and the Innovation Relay Centres (IRC) Networks.

The EU Commission is oriented towards the establishment of a single network offering integrated business support services. Improved access to information and services for SMEs will be an important pillar, inspired by the no wrong door concept.

Stay tuned with the Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS) for future developments: 
 http://cordis.europa.eu/en/home.html
 http://cordis.europa.eu/innovation/en/policy/cip.htm

Edited by the European Business Angels Network, this guide includes information for public decision-makers, entrepreneurs and angel investors on the role of business angels and their networks, also showing best practices promoting the development of the informal venture capital industry in different European countries.

 http://www.insme.org/documents/EBAN_BA_Aug2006_EN.pdf

In this study, Milken Institute's researchers examine the biotechnology transfer process taking place at universities, from knowledge creation to technology transfer and early-stage commercialisation. A key focus of the investigation is the crucial role played by technology transfer professionals in the successful conversion of knowledge to the private sector.

Read INSME's review of this study at: 
 http://www.insme.org/

This guide by the European Commission's Regional Policy Directorate General is meant to help regional and national decision makers to develop and improve their approach to innovation. Examples of good practice drawn from 15 years of experience with innovative regional strategies and actions are aimed at inspiring new ideas and improve the quality of public intervention.

Download the guide from: 
 http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/2007/index_en.htm

Additional guidebooks on practical strategies to help increasing know how on innovation policies are available on the INSME portal at: 
 http://www.insme.org/

"Clusters in the EU-10 New Member Countries"
 http://www.insme.org/documents/eucluster.pdf

The first systematic mapping and analysis of regional clusters across the 10 new Member States, prepared by Europe INNOVA, an initiative funded under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).
 
One of the main conclusions of this report is that the lack of regional specialisation might be an important factor explaining the European competitiveness gap with leading global peers.

To complete the mapping of regional clusters across the EU-25, a similar study of the EU-15 regional clusters will be conducted in the next year. View the mapping and analysis plan:
 http://www.insme.org/documents/in9str4.pdf

04-05 October 2006
EPO Online Services Conference
Lisbon, Portugal

Organised by the European Patent Office. This event showed how the EPO's Online Services are setting new technical standards worldwide in order to make the patent procedure more efficient and cost effective.

 Opening Address [89 kb]
 Conclusions [53 kb]

21-22 September 2006
6th Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Industry - "EU and Mediterranean Enterprises Facing the Challenge of Globalisation"
Rhodes, Greece

The conclusions adopted concern the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter on businesses, the promotion of investments, the facilitation of trade of industrial products, innovation and the future of textile and clothing industries.

On this latter issue, the Conference welcomed the recent launch of the EURO-MED Innovation and Technology programme, underlining the importance that this programme may have in stimulating exchanges in the field of innovation across the Mediterranean region and with the EU.

Download the full text of the conclusions:
 English version [103 kb]
 French version [98 Kb]

November 2006

3-11 November 2006
"Come to Qingdao" - First Italian-Chinese Meeting on Innovative Technologies for SMEs
INSME supports this event organised by AISCRIS (Association of Italian Consulting Firms on Research, Innovation and Development) and AISM (Italian Marketing Association) in the framework of the Year of Italy in China.
Qingdao, China

5-10 November 2006
Second Global Forum on Business Incubation: "Empowering Economies through ICT, Innovation and Entrepreneurship"
Organised by InfoDev (Information for Development Program), the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Hyderabad, India

6-8 November 2006
BIO-Europe 2006 International Partnering Conference
BIO-Europe brings together international decision-makers from the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and financial sectors, offering networking opportunities, workshop participation, and private, pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings.
Dusseldorf, Germany

6-8 November 2006
Patent Information Conference 2006
Organised by the European Patent Office (EPO), in co-operation with the Intellectual Property Section of the Register of Companies and Official Receiver (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus).
Paphos, Cyprus

8-9 November 2006
Training Programme on "Knowing and Managing Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Tunisia and the European Union" - First Module
Organised in the framework of the STREN Project (Scientific and Technological Results Exchange) funded under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme.
Tunis, Tunisia

9 November 2006
"Sharing Knowledge for Stronger Business Cooperation - The Case of Central and Eastern Europe"
Organised by the Cross Border Connect Project (CBC), the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN) with the support of INNOSTART (Budapest Business & Innovation Centre).
Budapest, Hungary

11-15 November 2006
Training Programme on Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation
Organised by the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University. Main theme: starting and building new businesses and ventures in new fields such as Bio Technology, Electronics and Information Technology.
Doha, Qatar

15-17 November 2006
RICUBO 2006 - "Looking for Innovation Investors and New Enterprises"
Organised by ASTER (Science Technology Enterprise), INSME Full Member.
Bologna, Italy

21-23 November 2006
IST 2006 - "Strategies for Leadership"
Organised by the European Commission DG Information Society & Media. Information Society Technologies 2006 (IST 2006) includes a high-level conference, an exhibition of cutting edge research results and a programme of networking sessions and workshops.
Helsinki, Finland

23 November 2006
Fifth EBAN Winter University
Organised by EBAN (European Business Angel Network). Themes: early stage informal venture capital, European policies in favour of business angels and their networks, innovative initiatives at European level.
Brussels, Belgium

23-24 November 2006
2nd European Conference on "Financing Innovation and Creation of New Technology Based Firms"
Jointly organised by the Andalusian Institute of Technology (IAT) and the Agency for Innovation and Development of Andalusia (Agencia IDEA), in collaboration with the Network of Technological Areas of Andalusia (RETA).
Seville, Spain

26-28 November 2006
Europe INNOVA Conference 2006 - "Re-innovating Europe"
Organised by the European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry) with the support of the Region of Valencia.
Valencia, Spain

27-28 November 2006
"The European Legal Framework for e-Business and Innovation"
Conference organised by the Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General of the European Commission.
Brussels, Belgium

28-29 November 2006
3rd Conference on Financing Regional Development in Acceding Countries, Candidate Countries and Potential Candidate Countries
Organised by the European Finance Convention (INSME Full Member).
Bucharest, Romania

29 November-1 December 2006
World SME Expo 
Organised by the Trade Development Council - TDC (Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region).
Hong Kong, China

December 2006

4-8 December 2006
UNIDO PHAROS Training Workshop on "Measuring, Benchmarking and Managing of Industrial Enterprise with UNIDO Pharos Software Suite"
Organised by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in collaboration with GOLEM IMS GMBH (INSME Full Member), Austria.
Vienna, Austria

7-8 December 2006
Science Alliance's Fifth Annual Conference: "Best Practices in Science Based Incubators
Organised by Science Alliance in close cooperation with Symbion Science Park, Gate2Growth Incubator Forum, the City of Copenhagen and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Denmark.
Copenhagen, Denmark

14-15 December 2006
BELIEF's eInfrastructures Conference - "Bringing Europe's eLectronic Infrastructures to Expanding Frontiers"
A special session is dedicated to eInfrastructures for enabling business, particularly with regards to SMEs.
New Delhi, India

January 2007

9-12 January 2007
ISPIM-Asia 2007 Conference - "Innovation and Knowledge Management of Social and Economic Issues: International Perspective"
Organised by ISPIM (International Society for Professional Innovation Management, INSME Member) in collaboration with Singapore Management University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, Ministry of Information Technology, Government of India.
New Delhi, India

29-30 January 2007
BIO-Asia 2007
The 4th Annual BIO-Asia Partnering Conference is a customised partnering forum between U.S. and European business associations for drug development and Asian biotech and pharmaceutical companies organised by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).
Tokyo, Japan