OVERVIEW: 3rd CEED Regional Conference, June 5, 2009 – Belgrade, Serbia
“The current global recession and credit crisis present unparalleled challenges to SMEs the world over. Survival is job one, and survival requires that every business leader review and adjust many aspects of his/her business and business model. ‘Change’ is inevitable. But ‘change’ can either be forced onto the entrepreneur by uncontrolled macro-economics, or the entrepreneur can drive it with smart, sustainable, and innovative initiatives. But there’s a new kind of innovation going on, one that increasingly leverages other individuals and organizations to identify, develop, and execute upon new ideas that can efficiently take your business to the next level. It’s collaborative innovation -- with other SMEs, with large companies, with a ‘community.’
In its 3rd regional conference, CEED is proud to provide an array of pre-eminent thought leaders on the subject of collaborative innovation, and how it can be catalyzed and managed to fuel your company’s growth. These leaders will not only provide an overview on this new form of innovation, but they will provide practical collaborative tools and systematic innovation processes you can use to accelerate your innovation processes and drive your business forward. The keynote speakers are Mr. Charles Leadbeater, international bestselling author of “We Think” and Dr. Michael Duncan, Open Innovation, Director of Procter & Gamble Europe, as well as representatives of multinational companies such as HP etc.
Successful CEED “Top Class” participants from the region will share their views on the subjects discussed at the conference and present case studies and acquired expertise to SME representatives. Among other respected quests, representatives of CEED founding partners, USAID, FMO as well as representatives of Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Serbia Government will be present at the conference.
The afternoon part of the conference is reserved for CEED matchmaking activities, an organized networking event for entrepreneurs from the region, that will provide them with the opportunity to establish new contacts, expand into new markets and grow their business.
Entrepreneurs will also be given an opportunity to participate in afternoon workshops hosted by keynote speakers Mr. Charles Leadbeater and Dr. Michael Duncan on the subject “How entrepreneurs and their SMEs can effectively partner with other SMEs” and “How entrepreneurs and their SMEs can effectively partner with other Regional and Multinational companies”.