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A capacity building seminar
for policy makers and local development practitioners

12-15 October 2009, Trento, Italy

Organisers

Background / Traget Countries / Participants' Profile / 
The Seminar / Material / Contact Details

Background

Small and medium-sized enterprises are key sources of dynamism, innovation, and flexibility. In OECD countries they account for over 95 percent of enterprises, generate two-thirds of employment and are one of the main sources of new jobs. Governments play an important role in stimulating more and stronger business start-ups, and in enabling companies to modernise and grow. They set the environment and policy framework in which new and small firms operate. In developing and transition economies, SMEs are key economic actors in resource allocation and industrial restructuring processes. They provide economic benefits, such as experimentation and adaptability to economic change and the growth of human capital.

Governments have a three-fold role in turning initial stages of entrepreneurship development into employment and economic growth. This involves i) enhancing the conversion of informal entrepreneurship into formal businesses; ii) providing growth and innovation support for companies and start-ups; and iii) addressing skills bottlenecks. To implement an entrepreneurship agenda, national governments will need to partner with local governments, the private sector, and civil society organisations. In finding out what works best and where the likely pitfalls are, much can be learned from OECD countries, Latin America and transition economies.

Target Countries

Participants' Profile

In order to ensure a dialogue between national and sub-national stakeholders in the entrepreneurship field, two participants were selected in each country between representatives of:

• National, regional and local governments;
• Business forums, e.g. chambers of commerce, trade federations, SME agents;
• The education and training sector;
• Local and regional development agencies.

The Seminar

The capacity building seminar lasted for 3.5 days and was based on a mix of short presentations by OECD and international experts followed by discussion, group work around practical case studies developed by participants and trainers prior to the seminar, and group work exercises.

The programme included study visits to Trentino entrepreneurship and SME development initiatives to view instruments used in the Province of Trento and considered as good practices by the OECD.

The Seminar built knowledge on:

Material

Contact Details

For further information, please contact: