INVESTING IN INNOVATION
International Conference “Investing in Innovation: Promoting New Opportunities in the UNECE Region”
Geneva, 10-11 April 2008
Geneva, 8 April 2008 -- Entrepreneurship and innovation are recognized as pillars of economic growth and job creation. Innovation can provide responses to environmental and social challenges, transforming them into business opportunities. However, potentially high returns are associated with considerable uncertainties and risks for investors.
Financing innovation requires the active presence of specialized financial intermediaries and specific policy responses that can address the particular financing needs of innovative enterprises. These also include facilitating the commercialization of research by public organizations.
How can public policies foster the availability of entrepreneurial finance? What lessons can be drawn from the comparison of national experiences? What are the international dimensions of innovation financing? How can investors and financial institutions assess emerging trends? What is happening in the area of eco-innovation? What are the opportunities in countries with economies in transition – and the challenges in developing a local venture capital industry there? Can established companies be an effective source of financing for start-ups? How can investors and researchers work together?
These and other related questions will be examined and debated in this two-day conference, which will bring together public officials, senior representatives of financial institutions, investors and academics. This forum is expected to facilitate understanding between various groups of stakeholders and make a positive contribution to the identification of good practices and policies in the area of innovation financing.
What: International Conference “Investing in Innovation: Promoting New Opportunities in the UNECE Region”
Where: Palais des Nations, Geneva, Salle V
When: 10-11 April, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
For further information, please contact:
José Palacín
UNECE Economic Cooperation and Integration Division
Palais des Nations, Office 449
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 1643
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 0178
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/ceci/fid.html
Ref: ECE/ECID/08/P03