Issue N° 130 - March 2015
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In this Issue:

INSMEnews!

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

Dear INSMEnews Readers,

here comes a warm invitation to our 11th INSME Annual Meeting at Cape Town/South Africa!

Great speakers have already confirmed their participation and we are looking forward to celebrating together 11 years of successful collaboration!

INSME in this period has tried to do its best!
But let me - in this regard - share the following:

"It is not enough to do your best;
you must know what to do, and then do your best"

(W. Edwards Deming)



Courtesy of: http://www.provenzafrancia.it

...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.

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Updates on the life of the INSME Network

High-level speakers confirmed their attendance to the 11th INSME Annual Meeting

INSME together with OSIBA Management (INSME Board Member from South Africa) are excited to announce that high level speakers confirmed their attendance to the 11th INSME Annual Meeting on "Technology and Innovation for Inclusive Growth" taking place from the 26th to the 28th of May 2015 at Cape Town, South Africa. Abstracts and further information are currently being collected and displayed at www.2015.insme.org.

The International Conference will be enriched by international representatives from the OECD, the University of Cape Town, South Africa; the Kinawataka Women Initiatives, Uganda; the Fund for Development of Youth Projects, Oman; Springfellow, Sweden; Saint Petersburg National Research University, Russia; the International Growth Center, UK/Kenya; the Ministry for Economic Development, Italy (tbc); EU-Japan Center for Industrial Cooperation, Japan; International Business Development, USA and many others.

With a special focus on Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship under the wider theme of inclusive innovation, the Annual Meeting will also take advantage of internationally recognized experts who will share their insights during the training initiative taking place on the 28th of May 2015 in the afternoon. Given the interactive nature of the training, only 50 seats are available.

The organizers are also pleased to offer discounted hotel rates to participants of the Annual Meeting. For any further information on how to get access to those special rates, please have a look at the location section of the website, at the following link.

The early bird registration deadline is approaching, please make sure to reserve your participation by the 6th of April 2015 and join the INSME Team at Cape Town!

For any further information about the provisional Meeting and Training Agenda, please click here.

INSME President at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress

Mr. Andrea Di Anselmo, INSME President, participated at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress that took place from the 16th to the 19th of March 2015 at Milan, Italy.

Organized by the Global Entrepreneurship Week, META Group (INSME President) and the Kauffman Foundation, the initiative gathered some of the brightest minds in the international innovation ecosystem, among them representatives from the Buenos Aires city Government; the eBay Inc. Public Policy Lab; the World Bank; UNIDO (INSME Member) and Google.

The successful event had a global outreach attracting delegates from 130 different countries discussing topics such as experiential education, startup cities, financing growth, smart top-down government policies and strategies for scaling up.

Learn more about it at the following link.

Updates on the MIRRIS project: the Second Round of Policy Dialogues

Europe as a whole must advance significantly in research and innovation performances in order to make the EU the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy, as foreseen by the Europe 2020 strategy. A larger participation in the European Research Area of the EU12 plus Croatia would be desirable to best exploit European research and innovation programmes and contribute to a sustainable growth and competitiveness in the EU. To fulfill this goal and building on the results of the first round of policy dialogues, the MIRRIS project is in the course of finalizing the second round of policy debates to identify barriers and discuss how innovation systems can better address the participation to the European research area.

INSME contributes as a partner to this initiative coordinated by META Group (INSME President) and actively participated in the organization of the Cyprus policy dialogue that took place last February.

To learn more about the upcoming policy dialogues, please have a look at the MIRRIS website here.

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News and contributions from the INSME Members

The IMP³rove Academy (INSME Member) and A.T. Kearney jointly supported the World Economic Forum on the project "Collaborative Innovation - Transforming Business, Driving Growth".

The project "Collaborative Innovation - Transforming Business, Driving Growth" jointly developed by the IMP³rove Academy (INSME Member from Germany) and A.T. Kearney has been discussed during the World Economic Forum (WEF), that took place from the 21st to the 24th of January at Davos, Switzerland. With a global perspective, the project analyses a set of approaches defined as "collaborative innovation" that can lead to more efficient growth through innovation. To achieve this goal, the collaboration shall imply a deeper cooperation across regions, industries, supply chains and actors, supported by appropriately designed policy environments.

The WEF discussion about the project's insights and recommendations for the European policy agenda will be summarized in a report that will be released soon.

For any further information about the project, please click here.

Mr. Rohit Shukla, Larta Institute's CEO (INSME Member) at the Global Competitiveness Forum 2015

Mr. Rohit Shukla, Larta Institute's CEO (INSME Member from US) served as a panelist at the Global Competitiveness Forum 2015 taking place from the 25th to the 27th of January at Ryadh, Saudi Arabia. The panel analyzed small meaningful enterprises with a focus on how governments, businesses and universities can facilitate more start-ups with "legs." With the term "legs" it is meant that start-ups have easier access to market, have a higher success rate and contribute meaningfully to job creation and the economy.

By referring to the local ecosystem, Mr. Shukla highlighted the necessity to connect the exciting growth of science facilities in Saudi Arabia with the infrastructure in the country, warning the audience that facilities alone rarely are able to develop and produce positive outcomes on their own.

To learn more about the Forum and the panel, please click here.

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News and contributions from the INSME Partners

Ask-the-Expert 2.0

The EU-SME Centre (INSME Partner) has just launched a new range of technical solutions to support European SMEs doing business in China. In addition to the existing free-of-charge first-line advice, the Advice Centre will also provide the following solutions:

  • Contracts checking - to review and give advice on structure and content of business deals;
  • Partner verification - to provide an independent analysis of the business partner;
  • Distributor/agent search - to identify potential distributors/agents;
  • Market access guidance - to support in decoding the regulatory environment for importing a product in China.

To directly contact an expert and discuss a business case, please go through the Ask-the-Expert-Channel at the following link.

To learn more about the assistance provided, please click here.

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INSME's Picks in the News

The New Development Bank of Nigeria to focus on SMEs

Courtesy of MSME News Network

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the launch of a bank specifically dedicated to small and medium enterprises in the country, to be known as the Development Bank of Nigeria. The Bank to be launched in April 2015 will support individuals with outstanding business ideas in securing funds for a long period of time.

Speaking at a Stakeholders' Conversation on Communicating Government Policies, Programmes and Activities to Traditional Rulers, Market Men/Women organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, also stressed the need to diversify the source of revenue for Nigeria's economy and get more incomes from the non-oil sector.

To learn more, please click here.

The Indian Ministry of Finance presented the Union Budget 2015-2016

On the 28th of February 2015, the Indian Minister of Finance presented the budget for the 2015/2016 financial year with the aim to design a roadmap indicating the direction and the pace of India's economic policy.

Despite the relative stability that the Indian economy is currently enjoying, five main areas of intervention have been identified by the Indian Government that shall: secure more incomes in the agricultural sector, increase investment in infrastructure, tackle the decline in manufacturing, face the resource crunch in view of higher devolution in taxes to states and maintain fiscal discipline. To meet these challenges, public sector identified next steps to catalyze investment, design programmes to create jobs in the manufacturing sector and keep on supporting programmes with important national priorities such as agriculture, education, health and rural infrastructure.

To learn more about the Union budget, please click here.

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INSME Picks in the Web

Customer Experience: it's not what you say, it's how you say it

According to Ms. Blake Morgan, the thing about communication is that much of how we communicate is not in the what of our words but rather in how we deliver the message. The author states that businesses that prioritize their budget in teaching the how of communicating with customers will see important returns on that investment.

Read the whole article here.

How to lead change you disagree with

This article by Mr. Peter B. Stark provides leaders with some easy tips to follow in order to implement changes they may disagree with as painlessly and effectively as possible. The author states that leaders must remain focused on the vision and goals they have for their organization and team. By implementing the change, regardless of their feeling towards it, leaders can gain a reputation their organizations will depend on.

Read the article here.

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Tenders, Calls & Consultations

The FRIDA Programme: funding opportunities available for ICT projects in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Regional Fund for Digital Innovation in Latin America and Caribbean - FRIDA is an initiative of the Regional Registry for Internet Addresses for Latin America and Caribbean aiming at supporting the development of the Information Technology Society in the region.

The FRIDA Program has recently launched a call for proposals open to research or ICT development projects addressing topics or problems under one of the following categories:

  • Devices, Infrastructures and Technologies. Broadening and Accelerating ICT Adoption;
  • Creating and Developing Skills and Content for Sustainable Human Development;
  • Mobile Internet for Social Inclusion, Growth, Political Participation and Active Citizenship;
  • Internet for Promoting, Guaranteeing and Exercising Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Not-for-profit organizations, both from public and private sectors with head offices and main activities in the region can participate and each proposal may request a maximum of USD 20,000.

Projects - in English, Spanish and Portuguese - must be submitted by the 20th of May 2015.

More information is available here.

The European Investment Fund (INSME Member) has launched a call for expression of interest to select financial intermediaries under the Erasmus+ Master Loan Guarantee Facility

The European Investment Fund (INSME Member) has launched a call for expression of interest to select financial intermediaries under the Erasmus+ Master Loan Guarantee Facility. The Erasmus+ Master Loan Guarantee Facility aims at increasing access to finance in order to enable students, regardless of their social background, to take a Master's Degree in another Erasmus+ programme country, as a contribution to tackling skills gaps in Europe. Masters graduates will make an increasingly important contribution to innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe as the need for higher skills grows.

The call addresses financial intermediaries, including private and public entities from EU Member States, Iceland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Liechtenstein and Norway and the deadline for submissions is the 30th of September 2020.

EIF may, in accordance with the EU, determine that the deadline will end on an earlier date because of the availability of the budget or any other amendment to the Erasmus+ agreement.

Find out more about the call here.

The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (INSME Member) has launched the KUWAIT Prize 2015

The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences - KFAS (INSME Member from Kuwait) has launched the Kuwait Prize 2015 to recognize intellectual achievements contributing to scientific advancement and implementing the standards of the academic dialogue in different fields:

  • Basic Sciences - Basic Medical Sciences
  • Applied Sciences - Water
  • Economic and Social Sciences - Social Sciences
  • Arts and Literature - Studies in Foreign Languages and Literature.

Applicants must be from an Arabic country and KFAS will consider nominations from universities, academic and research institutions; scientific centers and also self-nominations supported by five references.

The works submitted have to be innovative in one of the above-mentioned fields and published during the last twenty years.

Winners will be awarded with a sum of 40,000 Kuwaiti Dinars (ca. 10,000 €).

The deadline for submissions is the 31st of May 2015.

More information is available here or by contacting KFAS at this e-mail address.

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Interesting Initiatives

The Inter-American Investment Corporation (INSME Member) is launching a new mobile application to serve as mobile advisor for SMEs

The Inter-American Investment Corporation (INSME Member), member of the Inter-American Development Bank has recently launched a mobile app to support small business owners and executives across Latin America and the Caribbean to improve competitiveness and access to advisory services. The app is based on FINPYME Diagnostic, a methodology that analyzes companies' strengths and weaknesses across six dimensions: competitive position, environmental and social sustainability, financial position, level of innovation, marketing and client relations and talent management and corporate affairs.

It is possible to download the app for free on Google Play and App Store.

Find out more here.

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Publications

The Network for Business Sustainability's (INSME Member) report on "Long-Term Thinking in a Short-Term World"

Businesses' short term actions seek a fast payback while long-term actions' results are visible after five or more years; both of them are essential in today's challenging world. The Network for Business Sustainability - NBS (INSME Member from Canada) has recently released the report "Long-Term Thinking in a Short-Term World" addressing business leaders supporting them to find the right combination of actions both on a short-term and long-term.

The Guide shows and explains why companies often opt for short-term actions, presents a series of case studies and offers a three step-process to achieve companies' goals by combining short and long-term approaches. According to the report companies should analyze their own and their stakeholders' needs; choose actions to meet those needs and finally execute those actions.

Read the whole report here.

China MSME Finance Report 2014

The Mintai Institute of Finance and Banking recently released the English Summary Translation of the sixth edition of the China MSME Finance Report, which analyzes the main financial institutions and markets across China, as well as the challenges faced by MSMEs in access to finance.

Among the most relevant findings highlighted in the report, it is particularly interesting that formal banking institutions continue to provide micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) with a huge amount of credits, while due to the rapid development of digital finance, informal finance has grown during 2013 supporting MSMEs that do not have access to formal financing.

The report is available here.

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Recommended Website

The OECD (INSME Moral Sponsor) Observatory of Public Sector Innovation's online platform

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development - OECD (INSME Moral Sponsor) has developed the Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI), a platform that collects and analyzes researches and experiences related to the public sector innovation and provides users with practical information on how to make innovations work.

The platform is led by a taskforce of OECD Member States chaired by Canada and France and represents an online space to search and share experiences on innovations; to access relevant information, including a space containing country profiles; to collaborate with other users.

Find out more here.

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Recommended Newsletter

The 1st issue of the EUROMED Invest newsletter

The EUROMED Invest Project is an initiative coordinated by the ANIMA Investment Network (INSME Member from France) aiming at developing business relations, investments and partnerships between stakeholders from 28 EU Member States and from South Mediterranean countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey, in order to create a new model of inclusive development that involves the two shores of the Mediterranean.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Project the coordination team has released the first issue of the newsletter that will be published every two months to provide readers with updated information related to the activities carried out and the ones still in the pipeline.

To subscribe to the newsletter click here.

Events

Highlighted events

Efficient Interfaces in Eco-innovation

22nd - 24th of April 2015
Jyväskylä, Finland
Organized by greenXpo, EURADA (INSME Member), JYKES and the City of Jyväskylä

EURADA (INSME Member from Belgium) organizes "Efficient Interfaces in Eco-Innovation", an event to be held from the 22nd to the 24th of April 2015 in Jyväskylä, Finland organized in collaboration with greenXpo, JYKES and the City of Jyväskylä.

The initiative will be the occasion to present and discuss the final results of the greenXpo project and share knowledge on the best way to design regional policies taking the eco-innovation concept into consideration.

Learn more here.

ICSB World Conference 2015

6th - 9th of June 2015
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Organized by the International Council for Small Business (INSME Member)

The 60th Annual ICSB World Conference 2015 on "Entrepreneurship at a Global Crossroads" will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from the 6th to the 9th of June 2015 and will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates University (UAE), UAE's top ranking university.

The conference will bring together leading thinkers, educators, policy makers and practitioners who will present and debate cutting edge research on a wide variety of entrepreneurship related topics.

In addition to an excellent line up of keynote speakers and the plenary and track sessions, ICSB 2015 planners have organized a range of events including an Entrepreneurship & Innovation Day, an Academy for Graduate Students, a Deans Executive Leadership Forum, a Public Policy Forum - Setting the Right Regulatory Structures - and a Women's Entrepreneurship Forum.

The conference is accepting submissions for academic papers, teaching cases, poster presentations, and workshops for academic program. The deadline for submission is the 1st of April 2015.

To register and learn more visit this webpage.

Future international meetings, workshops, seminars selected by INSME

1st of April 2015
2015 Global Forum on Development
Organized by the OECD (INSME Moral Sponsor)
France, Paris

15th - 17th of April 2015
Innovation Through Knowledge Transfer
Organized by KES International
Stoke-on-Trent, UK

21st of April 2015
Roving Seminar on WIPO Services and Initiatives
Organized by WIPO (INSME Member), the Italian Patent And Trademark Office (Uibm), Directorate General Of Combating Counterfeiting, Ministry Of Economic Development
Turin, Italy

22nd - 24th of April
10th International Conference on Economic Integrations, Competition and Cooperation
Organized by University of Rijeca - Faculty of Economics
Rijeka/Opatija, Croatia

22nd of April 2015
EU Economic Governance and the European Semester: How Does It Work and How Does It Impact National Policies?
Organized by EIPA - The European Institute of Public Administration
Brussels, Belgium

23rd - 25th of April 2015
The 4th Danube Financing Dialogue
Organized by Metis GmbH
Zagreb, Croatia

23rd - 24th of April 2015
Smart City Startups 2015
Organized by Smart City Startups 2014
Wynwood-Miami, USA

27th - 28th of April 2015
Grow your Region: Delivering Smart Specialisation and Economic Transformation Through Clusters
Organized by DGs GROW and REGIO of the European Commission
Brussels, Belgium

1st of May - 31st of October 2015
Expo 2015
Milan, Italy

2nd - 5th of May 2015
48th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank
Organized by the Asian Development Bank (INSME Member)
Baku, Azerbaijan

7th - 8th of May 2015
15th EBAN Annual Congress
Organized by EBAN (INSME Member)
Eindhoven, The Netherlands

20th - 22nd of May 2015
eLearning Africa 2015 - 10th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training
Organized by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

26th - 28th of May 2015
11th INSME Annual Meeting
Organized by INSME and OSIBA Management (INSME Board Member)
Cape Town, South Africa

26th - 28th of May 2015
Forging Enterprise 2015
Organized by OSIBA Management
Cape Town, South Africa

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