View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/insme.org/newsletter-february-1288948?e=2d8317fc53) ** ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Issue n. 226 ------------------------------------------------------------ News from INSME Celebrating INSME's 20th Anniversary (https://www.insme.org/celebrating-20-years-of-insme/?_gl=1*1mzmihz*_up*MQ..*.....) On February 17th 2024, INSME celebrated its 20th anniversary! Two decades of dedication to fostering innovation and propelling SMEs to new heights. Since 2004, INSME has evolved into a dynamic network that shares the common goal of driving innovation for SMEs. OECD EECOLE Roundtables Proceedings Now Published (https://www.insme.org/oecd-eecole-roundtables-proceedings-now-published/?_gl.....) EECOLE (Entrepreneurship Education, Collaboration and Engagement) held its second roundtable in Toronto in the final months of 2023. This global program was launched by OECD with a goal of investigating cuttingedge techniques and skill trends. AccelerAction events in the Metaverse! (https://www.insme.org/acceleraction-events-in-the-metaverse/?_gl=1*1ipk2b5*_.....) INSME is proud to invite you to a new initiative by AccelerAction EU, an ambitious Horizon Project that wishes to create a network of accelerators and incubators across Europe, bridging the gap between the innovation indicators in the various EU regions. Updates and contributions from INSME Members EUIPO Introduces a Geographical Indications service to its Operations Department (https://www.insme.org/euipo-introduces-a-geographical-indications-gi-service.....) Following the adoption of regulation 2023/2411 on GI protection, the EUIPO has introduced a service focusing on Geographical Indications (GIs) and other Intellectual Property (IP) rights. VIII Foro Pymes in Montevideo (https://www.insme.org/viii-foro-pymes-in-montevideo/?_gl=1*1jxhd24*_up*MQ..*.....) The VIII Pymes Forum, taking place in Montevideo, Uruguay from April 15-17, 2024, is a groundbreaking initiative. This event fosters dialogue and collaboration between Italy and Latin America on crucial issues related to SMEs and achieving sustainable territorial development. WIPO GREEN Annual Report 2023 Released (https://www.insme.org/wipo-green-annual-report-2023-released/?_gl=1*1tpnc6u*.....) WIPO GREEN's 2023 report has been published. The report showcases its decade as a leader in green tech exchange. Boasts nearly 130,000 innovations, making it the UN's largest platform for such solutions. Through initiatives they've supported deployment of green technologies Content of the month Promoting International Investment by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UNCTAD) (https://www.insme.org/promoting-international-investment-by-small-and-medium.....) The UN released a report that examines the importance of SMEs in achieving sustainable growth. INSME has contributed to this resource during the UNCTAD World Investment Forum of 2023 (https://unctad.org/meeting/world-investment-forum-2023) in Abu Dhabi. We are happy to receive your updates: share with us your projects, activities, and events: we will include them in the next INSME Newsletter and spread the information among our readers! Email us at secretariat@insme.org (mailto:secretariat@insme.org) ============================================================ Calls and opportunities This section is supported by: ** (https://www.developmentaid.org/home) ** Capacity building on Intellectual Property (IP) management to support open science (https://eucalls.net/dashboard/call?id=41883) Projects are expected to take into account the existing IP service delivery landscape and the existing training and capacity building efforts and materials offered by European Commission service contracts (i.e., IP Helpdesk, IP Scan, IP Booster) and the work of EUIPO on copyright and trademarks and EPO´s work on patents. Deadline: 12 March 2024 ** EUIPO DESIGNEUROPA AWARDS (https://www.euipo.europa.eu/it/designs/designeuropa-awards) The DesignEuropa Awards celebrate the importance of designs in the European Union and include the following categories: industry, entrepreneurs/small businesses, lifetime achievement award and, from this year, a dedicated award for young designers up to 29 years old. The awards ceremony will take place on 24-25 September in Riga, Latvia. Nominations for the awards can be submitted until March 15, 2024: ** Strengthen Cybersecurity capacities of European SMEs in line with CRA requirements and obligations (https://eucalls.net/dashboard/call?id=43423) In synergy with other actions launched under this WP which will be developing compliance tools for the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), the action should distribute cascade financing grants to European SMEs, with a focus on micro and small enterprises, though remaining open to other stakeholders, to support achieving compliance with requirements and obligations stemming from the CRA. Deadline: 26 March 2024 ** WIPO Global Awards 2024 seeks Small Businesses and Startups successfully using IP (https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2024/article_0001.html?utm_source=WIPO+Newsletters&utm_campaign=3b1e46b155-DIS_PressRelease_EN_150124&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-09deeff327-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D) The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) opened its 2024 Global Awards competition, inviting applications from small businesses and startups that use ** intellectual property (https://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/) (IP) to drive enterprise growth as well as positive societal impact. Applications end in March in 2024. Deadline: 31 March 2024 ** EU AI Innovation Accelerator preparatory action (https://eucalls.net/dashboard/call?id=43621) The overall objective of this topic is to accelerate innovation and trustworthy AI by providing a range of services and tools to providers of AI systems, in particular to SMEs, to prepare for and facilitate compliance with the upcoming AI Act. Deadline: 29 May 2024 ** Accelerating uptake through open proposals for advanced SME innovation (https://eucalls.net/dashboard/call?id=41865) Despite the innovation capacity of EU SMEs, these often experience difficulties in finding their way to the public markets. This topic aims to offer a collaborative environment for small and medium innovators to tailor their innovations to the specific needs of civil security end-users. Deadline: 20 November 2024 If you're interested in pursuing one of these opportunities together, drop us an email at ** secretariat@insme.org (mailto:secretariat@insme.org) Upcoming events 4-7 March 2024 - Washington D.C., USA ** Global Digital Summit (https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2024/01/24/world-bank-global-digital-sum...) 13th March 2024 - Brussels, Belgium ** Access to Finance for SMEs: Assessment and Perspectives (https://economie.fgov.be/en/events/access-finance-smes-assessment) 15^th March 2024 – Online ** ​​High-growth Technology Business conference 2024 - Global Perspectives​ (https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/events/htb-conference-2024-global-perspec...) 18-19 March 2024- Mons, Belgium ** 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities (https://cor.europa.eu/en/events/Pages/European-Summit-of-Regions-and-Cities-...) 18-21 March 2024 – Brussels, Belgium ** European Innovation Council R&I Week & Summit (https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/eismea/redirection/item/819169/en/200) 2-5 April 2024 – Brussels, Belgium ** Connecting Europe Days (https://transport.ec.europa.eu/connectingeuropedays_en#:~:text=Join%20us%20f....) ** (https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/events/2024-connecting-europe-days-20...) 15-17 April 2024 – Montevideo, Uruguay ** Foro Pymes Italia – America Latina (https://iila.org/it/viii-foro-pymes-italia-america-latina-montevideo-15-17-a...) 22-26 April 2024 – Hannover, Germany ** DG Grow - EU at Hannover Messe (https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/growth/items/818498/en) 23-24 April 2024 - online ** EPO - Search Matters 2024 (https://www.epo.org/en/learning/events/pc03-2024) 26 April 2024 - Worldwide ** World IP Day (https://www.wipo.int/en/web/ipday/2024-sdgs#:~:text=World%20Intellectual%20Property%20Day%20%E2%80%93%20April%2026%2C%202024&text=And%20we%20need%20to%20think,for%20building%20our%20common%20future.) 7-8 May 2024 - Brussels, Belgium ** European Cluster Conference 2024 (https://european-cluster-conference-2024.b2match.io/) 7-9 May 2024 – Abu Dhabi, UAE ** Annual Investment Meeting (https://www.aimcongress.com/) ** (https://www.aimcongress.com/%C2%A0%C2%A0) 9-10 May 2024 – Malta ** EU-Startups Summit (https://www.eu-startups.com/eu-startups-summit-2024/%C2%A0) 12-14 June 2024 - Nantes, France ** EBN Congress (https://www.ebncongress.eu/) 9-17 July 2024 - Geneva, Switzerland ** Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO: Sixty-Fifth Series of Meetings (https://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/assemblies/2024/a-65/) 24-27 September 2024 - Nairobi, Kenya ** The 41st IASP World Conference on Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (https://www.iasp.ws/activities/events/events-overview/41st-iasp-world-confer...) ** Website (http://www.insme.org) ** Twitter (https://twitter.com/INSME_) ** LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/insme---the-international-network-for-small...) ** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/INSME-The-International-Network-for-Small-and-Mediu...) 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