SEERC Team participated during 5-6 June 2014 in Nicosia, Cyprus at the 7th International Conference for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development (ICEIRD). ICEIRD aimed to provide an effective channel of communication between decision-makers (government, ministries and state agencies), researchers (universities, research and development centres, start-up centres and incubators), practitioners (SME leaders and managers) and persons concerned with the latest research, scientific development and practice on innovation and entrepreneurship in order to discuss topics that are of currency, relevance and significance for national competitiveness as well as sustainable, robust , and equitable regional development.
ICEIRD14 aimed to:
- Address key factors in regional economic development, entrepreneurial vitality and innovation processes
- Raise the level of awareness about innovation, entrepreneurship and competitive advantage
- Strengthen the regional and international network among representatives from SEE countries and those from EU member states
- Consolidate intra-SEE networks of SMEs, Start-up Centers and Incubators
- Understand cultural and national barriers of entrepreneurship in the global economy
- Promote best practices in innovation research and business development
- Facilitate regional partnerships and innovation networks
SEERC was represented by Prof Panayiotis Ketikidis (the founder of the ICEIRD series of conferences), Mr Adrian Solomon (Research Associate and PhD Candidate at SEERC) and Mr Andreas Baresel-Bofinger (Lecturer at CITY College and PhD Candidate at SEERC). The participants presented two papers and were involved in the organization of a roundtable discussion for university industry government interactions for Cyprus organized together with the Triple Helix Association Chapter of Greece (which was attended by high representatives from Cyprus).
The conference was opened by the following distinguished invitees:
- Honorable Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Harris Georgiades
- Honorable Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr. Yiorgos Lakkotrypis
- Michalis Papadopoulos, Innovation and Service Development Manager, Cyta
