The seventh annual Knowledge Economy Forum (KEF VII) on “Technology Absorption by Innovative Small and Medium Enterprises” takes place in Ancona, Italy on June 17-19, 2008. The event is being co-hosted by the World Bank Vice-Presidency for the Europe and Central Asia region (ECA) together with the Universitá Politecnica delle Marche.
The 2008 Ancona Forum aims to build on themes discussed during previous events, while discussing new dimensions related in particular to the role of government in supporting small and medium sized companies (SMEs). It also aims to explore the active participation of SME representatives in sharing their experience. This should help representatives from ECA countries including their SME sector, understand the implications and relevance of the innovative SME experience with regards to, inter alia, the benefits of cooperation between larger firms and SMEs as well as the interaction among SMEs that leads to new product development, process and service innovation and what it takes to government to facilitate such cooperation. The 2008 Forum has engaged 22 countries, including: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Bosnia- Herzegovina, China, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, FRY Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The Romanian delegation has 9 members representing the Government, various ministries, national agencies and research institutes. The specific objectives of KEF VII will build on the messages emerging from past fora to: Disseminate 2007 Knowledge Economy Study Volume II on “Knowledge Absorption and Innovation in ECA: Links to Trade, FDI and Knowledge Flows ”, and the preliminary findings of Volume III on “Exit of Research and Development Institutions and the Entry of Modern Commercialization Institutions”, being prepared under the guidance of the World Bank Regional Chief Economist. Examine the importance of public-private sector cooperation for the growth of the innovative SME sector, discuss how governments in ECA countries can learn from this experience and devise and implement stronger policies to support SMEs. Stimulate an exchange of experiences on these issues among ECA country representatives, in the public and private sectors, and the research community; as well as exchanges between the new EU member states and other ECA countries will be particularly encouraged, on issues related to the role of knowledge and networks, competition policy, private sector role in technology transfer, innovation and productivity growth; Strengthen the dialogue between representatives of ECA countries and the multilateral donor agencies participating in the event - other than the World Bank, notably the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) – as well as the European Commission and OECD, to improve the relevance and quality of technical assistance (TA) and operational support, and facilitate coordination among the agencies on all initiatives aimed at improving innovation driven growth in the region for the benefit of the SME sector in particular.
For more information about the KEF VII Forum please go here.
For more information about the World Bank’s activities in Romania please visit: www.worldbank.org.ro
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