OECD Workshop

The event will focus on local leadership for inclusive growth and as part of the conference we are working on six ‘off-site’ workshops. These include:

• Global Events as a catalyst for economic development
• Broadening engagement with apprenticeships
• Urban public realm in local economic development
• Youth employment
• Social enterprises as a tool for public service delivery
• Collaborating for innovation – strengthening knowledge networks

It is for the final workshop – Collaborating for innovation: strengthening knowledge networks,  that I am keen to understand your interest and ability to host this session as part of this conference. . The session overview is as follows:

Business innovation is key to economic growth and its nature has radically changed. Today innovation hardly ever occurs in isolation but it is rather the outcome of a collaborative and multidisciplinary effort which involves SMEs, large companies, universities and research organisations, public institutions and customers. Knowledge networks are, therefore, crucial to business innovation performance, especially in SMEs which lack the financial and human resources needed to undertake long-term high-risk innovative projects. This session will explore the role of knowledge networks for innovation in SMEs and innovative entrepreneurship, bringing forward existing barriers, relevant policies and good-practice experiences from OECD countries.

It is expected this session will be chaired by Dr Jonathan Potter from OECD, with key panellists including Bill O’Gorman, Michael Luger (TBC) and a representative from Elsevier (global science publication house).

*Please note this is an invite only event

For further details please see here.