Green light for the INSME Award

Launched by the International Network for SMEs (INSME), the Award will be assigned in April 2005 based on the activities and initiatives undertaken by intermediary organisations and their related networks or associations at international, regional or national level.
Within a global economy, witnessing increasing international competition, innovation is a key factor to stimulate growth in all economic sectors. The INSME Association, whose main mission is the promotion of innovation, involves policy makers, innovation operators, technology transfer intermediaries and their networks, and aims at enabling them to become more competitive through networking activities and the sharing of experiences.,In this way INSME indirectly supports enterprises in the adoption of innovation processes and in the establishment and development of an entrepreneurship culture. According to Ms. Simona Marzetti, INSME Secretary General, "Our objective is to contribute, on an international scale, to reinforce the dialogue and the cooperation among organisations and the various public and private professionals promoting innovation and technology transfer."
The first edition of the INSME Award has been launched in this framework and focuses on the evaluation of the applications presenting business models, initiatives, programmes or projects which, though implemented on a reduced scale, can be scaled up and/or reapplied in other geographical contexts or different industrial sectors.
All the organisations, including networks or associations (not individuals), providing services aimed at fostering technology transfer and innovation to SMEs, being INSME Association/Advisory Group Members or non Members, Italians or foreigners, will be eligible for the prize.,Winners will receive a prize on the next annual INSME meeting to be held in Barcelona from 11 to 13 of April 2005, gaining not only world-wide visibility, but will also be rewarded with a one-year free INSME membership, and the use of the INSME Award logo for two years.,Finally, they will be entitled to participate for free in one of the INSME initiatives (for example INSMEs international training courses) planned for 2005.,The call for applications and the application forms are available on the INSME portal at http://www.insme.info/,Candidatures shall be submitted by 15 November 2004.
For further information please contact Mrs. Francesca Giannotti (INSME Secretariat): Email:giannotti@ipi.it">giannotti@ipi.it,Press Relations: Ms. Fiorella Corrado Email:corrado@ipi.itINSME is a fast growing association, currently composed of 43 members representing 34 Countries, operating under the auspices of the Italian Ministry of Productive Activities and the patronage of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development).,The INSME Secretariat activities are hosted in Rome and coordinated by IPI, the Italian Institute for Industrial Promotion, which is committed to the support and promotion of innovation and technology transfer for SME development.,For further information on the above mentioned organisations please visit their websites:,Italian Ministry of Productive Activities http://www.minindustria.it,OECD Italian Institute for Industrial Promotion http://www.ipi.it