Attracting External Finance for New Innovative Enterprises International Conference

Astana, Kazakhstan

New innovative enterprises typically have limited own resources, in particular  little or no tangible assets (such as machinery and equipment) that could serve as collateral to raise external financing, and lack a track record of sales and profits. Often their prospects depend on the results of research and development, which needs to be commercialized. An adequate valuation of intellectual property of an enterprise, which can be used as collateral, becomes a key factor to obtaining better conditions for external borrowing.

The ongoing financial crisis has added to the difficulties that innovative enterprises typically face in raising finance. Fostering innovation, which influences the medium-term growth prospects, can be part of the response to the crisis. In this new, more challenging environment,    new models of collaboration between specialized financial intermediaries and the public sector may be required

These and other issues concerning the financing of innovative enterprise will be discussed at the International Conference “Ways and means of attracting external finance for new innovative enterprises“ co-organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Budget Planning of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its Economic Research Institute.

National and international experts will address topics of major importance related to the financing of innovative enterprises: major factors influencing early-stage financing options   ways and means of translating the results of research and development into intangible assets, and good practices in commercializing intellectual property; the impact of that commercialization on the availability of external funding for enterprise development and adequate framework conditions for better financing of innovative undertakings, including the enabling laws and regulations.

The materials of the International Conference may facilitate the drawing up of relevant recommendations by stakeholders to government bodies in charge of SME development and guide the UNECE secretariat in its future work in this area.

For further information, conference webpage or contact:

Ref: ECE/ECID/09/P02