TechnoPark joins INSME Board of Directors

This appointment was announced following the visit of senior officials from TechnoPark to China for the 2008 INSME annual meeting, which concluded with a call to promote cross-border cooperation and public and private partnership in the field of innovation and technology transfer to small and medium sized enterprises.

The 2008 INSME annual meeting, held in China from July 1st to July 4th, focused on enhancing SME Innovation and Growth, by increasing capital access.

INSME, the Rome-based non-profit Association open to international membership, is engaged in stimulating trans-national cooperation and public-private partnership (PPP) in the field of innovation and technology transfer to SMEs.

Speaking about TechnoPark's commitment to the SME community, Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director of TechnoPark, said:

"It is a matter of great pride and honour to be asked to be a part of the INSME Board of Directors. Facilitating innovation-led growth within the SME community is a high priority for us and we will cooperate with INSME to develop long-term sustainable initiatives that will benefit the country and the region as a whole. The next few years will be critical to the success of TechnoPark as we position ourselves to tackle the major challenges and opportunities that the technology and research industries bring forth."

During his visit to China, Dr. Samir Hamrouni, Senior Advisor Science and Technology, TechnoPark met Dr. Liang Gui, Director General of Torch Center Innofund, Ministry of Science and Technology, one of the biggest technology centers in China. They discussed possibilities of cooperation in science, technology and transfer of expertise.

The Torch high technology industry development centre is the leading player in promoting a culture of innovation and high-tech industrialization in China. Since its establishment, it has provided a total of Y5.3bn to almost 8,000 projects in various technology sectors, and has over 600 Technology Business Incubators (TBI) across China with nearly 40,000 companies, 9 International Business Incubators (IBI) and a dozen sector-specific incubators in addition to 62 University Parks.

On his official visit to China, Dr. Samir Hamrouni also visited China International Europe Business School (CIEBS) and met with Mr. Pedro Nueno, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Executive President of CIEBS, to initiate dialogue on collaboration and partnership in the technology education sector, and to raise awareness on TechnoPark's Dubai International Business School (DIBS).