View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/5e95f6b453dd/insme_newsletter_issue191_2020-1287847?e=2d8...) ** Issue n. 192 ------------------------------------------------------------ News from INSME INSME presents a research on High Growth Firms (HGFs) in the framework of the SISPRINT project managed by UNIONCAMERE (http://www.insme.org/insme-presents-a-research-on-high-growth-firms-in-the-f...) Interesting findings emerged from the last Unioncamere research on HGFs, presented by INSME General Secretary Giovanni Zazzerini. The study identifies and collects good practices, policies and ecosystem characteristics to allow the enhancement and the efficient growth of HGFs. INSME welcomes the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency on board (http://www.insme.org/insme-welcomes-the-bulgarian-small-and-medium-enterpris...) INSME is delighted to welcome a new member: The Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA). It works to implement the Bulgarian Government’s policy for SMEs and enhance innovative and technological development of Bulgarian enterprises. INSME participates in a webinar for the EU-Sri Lanka Innovation Partnership initiative (http://www.insme.org/insme-participates-in-a-webinar-for-the-eu-sri-lanka-in...) INSME Secretary Giovanni Zazzerini took part to the webinar "Partnering and Networking for International Start-up Development", organized by Giordano Ditcher, co-founder of H&D Partner SRL, INSME Member; the aim is fostering the connections among Sri Lankan and European incubators. A new innovation best practice from the 3rd Policy Lab organized by INSME (http://www.insme.org/a-new-innovation-best-practices-from-the-3rd-policy-lab...) Within the framework of THE NEXT SOCIETY project, Mr Abdelmoumen Abdelmoughite, Strategy & Cooperation Manager at Central Guarantee Fund (CCG), presented the Innov Invest Fund, an initiative launched in 2017 to boost technology SMEs and innovative start-ups in Morocco. Updates and contributions from INSME Members INSME Vice President Mouza Al Nasri looks into the importance of digitalization for SMEs (http://www.insme.org/insme-vice-president-mouza-al-nasri-looks-into-the-impo...) The Khalifa Fund (holding INSME vice presidency), aligned with the UAE government, demonstrated its support for SMEs during the crisis by ensuring resources and knowledge, providing interactive e-learning contents and launching new initiatives for digitalisation. COMSATS participates in the 3rd Asia-Pacific Forum (http://www.insme.org/comsats-participates-in-the-3rd-asia-pacific-forum/) On 25^th November COMSATS (INSME Member) joined the 3^rd Asia-Pacific Forum on South-South and triangular Cooperation exploring “The Role of South-South Cooperation in Building Back Better from COVID-19 Pandemic in the Asia and the Pacific”. UNIDO contributes to a series of online training courses on technology and innovation in developing countries (http://www.insme.org/unido-contributes-to-a-series-of-online-training-course...) UNIDO and IATT promoted an online training course for helping developing countries in achieving of the SDGs. The webinars, focused on building national capacity on science and innovation, attracted over 50 government officials from all over the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncMZ2WvhCb4&ab_channel=WorldIntellectualPropertyOrganization%E2%80%93WIPO WIPO releases 2020 World Intellectual Property Indicators Report WIPO, The World Intellectual Property Organisation (INSME Member) released its annual report entailing the 2019 Intellectual Property (IP) activity performed around the globe. The report underlines a long-building growth in demand for IP in 2019. Calls and opportunities Accelerating the green transition and energy access Partnership with Africa As a part of the Horizon 2020- funded Green Deal Call which supports research and innovation projects responding to the climate crisis, this specific call addresses the access to sustainable energy in Africa. The Commission considers proposal for energy solutions that request a contribution of between 5-10 million EUR. Projects should consider both urbanised and rural context of Africa and the ongoing water-energy-food nexus actions, in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The eligible applicant for this call should be a consortium formed by at least two companies, one of each from an African country. The deadline for this call is 26^th January 2021. Please visit this page (https://www.tiko-pro.eu/news-details/accelerating-the-green-transition-and-e...) to find out more information. COVID-X Acceleration Program The program is funded by the European Union to defeat COVID-19 clinical challenges through the power of data: solutions should address specific or open challenges related to diagnosis, prognosis or follow-up of COVID-19 patients. Interested SMEs and startups can benefit from the program and fast-track to boost a quick market update for the saving lives solution. The project will grant to selected companies 100K € in direct funding to validate data solutions and the plan of action includes technical support, ethical validation, business coaching and access to COVID-X Sandbox to exploit related data sources. The deadline for this call is 27^th January 2021. This is the contact point: info@covid-x.eu (mailto:info@covid-x.eu) and you can find here (https://www.covid-x.eu/) conditions and project’s info. Eurostars call for R&D-performing SME Eureka (https://www.eurekanetwork.org) , a public network for international cooperation in R&D and innovation, has launched a call for projects for the Eurostars programme, an initiative co-funded by national and regional funding bodies and the European Union that falls within the Horizon 2020. This initiative is aimed at fulfilling the need of funding for R&D-performing SME in order to help them define the project idea, share expertise at international level and develop innovative products, processes or services. The deadline to submit the R&D project application is 4^th February 2021. More information is available at this page (https://www.eurekanetwork.org/open-calls/eurostars-feb2021) . The 27th IraSME call for Transnational Collaborative R&D Project Proposals IRASME (https://www.ira-sme.net/) is a network of organisations that manage national and regional funding programmes to foster research projects among SMEs, to bridge the gap between research and innovation. A call for proposal for transnational R&D projects aimed at supporting the development of new products, processes, technical devices or prototypes with significant technical risks has been launched. Eligible applicants are consortia consisting of at least 2 companies from 2 participating countries. The deadline for this call is 31^st March 2021. Discover more at this page (https://www.ira-sme.net/current-call/) . ============================================================ Contents of the month Supporting a sustainable and inclusive recovery amid uncertainty: European Semester Autumn Package and Next Generation EU On 10 December, EU leaders approved the massive €1.8 trillion plans for budget and Next Generation EU, that will come in effect in 2021. The plan is tailored to tackle the crisis, ensuring a successful digital and green transformation. ** How increasing digitalization affects Asia's emerging market economies (http://www.insme.org/how-increasing-digitalisation-affects-asias-emerging-ma...) The Asian Development Bank (INSME Member) released a new podcast in the context of the Asia’s Developing Future. In the 3^rd December episode the leading speaker John Bernie, ADB research fellow, shared his perspective on how digitalisation will affect Asia's emerging economies. ** Ideas Powered for Buisness SME Fund is coming soon (http://www.insme.org/ideas-powered-for-business-sme-fund-is-coming-soon/) EUIPO invites us to discover more about the "Ideas Powered for business" SME Fund, which opens for applications on 11 January 2021: a 20 million EUR grant scheme to help EU SMEs protect their intellectual property. ** European Startups Monitor 2019/2020 (http://www.insme.org/european-startups-monitor-2019-2020/) It is now out the European Startup Monitor 2019/2020, research funded by the COSME Programme, aimed at improving the economic and regulatory framework for startups and scaleups. INSME highlights the most interesting findings here. Upcoming events Given the current situation, events' dates may be subject to changes therefore, in case of interest, we invite you to check the dedicated websites. 19 January 2021, Online Event European Union Intellectual Property Office - ** SME Support Services: 50% off trademarks and designs in 2021 (https://euipo.europa.eu/knowledge/calendar/view.php?view=day&time=1611010800) 5 February 2021, Online Event EBN Innovation Network – ** EU|BIC Essentials Track (https://ebn.eu/index.php?lnk=M1lHN01YZWdtT1h5ZXNsRStLQVM0K2lubjdsZ0YyNHpLa0M...) 10 February 2021, Online Event The Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship - ** Female entrepreneurship, innovative technologies and the shift in customer requirements in the era of COVID-19 (https://isbe.org.uk/female_entrepreneurship/) 15 - 16 February 2021, Istanbul, Turkey World Business Angels Investment Forum - ** World Congress 2021 (https://forum2021.istanbul/) 22 – 25 February 2021, Online Event European Commission - ** EU Industry Week 2021 (https://datainnovation.org/2020/12/european-ai-policy-conference/) 14 – 16 April 2021, Cork, Ireland European Business Angels Network - ** EBAN Congress Cork 2021 (https://www.eban.org/event/eban-cork-2020/) 20 – 23 June 2021, Berlin, Germany International Society for Professional Innovation Management - ** 32nd ISPIM Innovation Conference (https://www.ispim-innovation-conference.com/) 13 - 17 September 2021, Santa Clara, Silicon Valley International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation** - 38th World Conference on Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (https://www.iasp.ws/activities/events/events-overview---old/38th-iasp-world-...) ** Website (http://www.insme.org) ** Twitter (https://twitter.com/INSME_) ** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/INSME-The-International-Network-for-Small-and-Mediu...) ** LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/insme---the-international-network-for-small...) 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