9..10-Nov-2016: Prof. Sivan talk at the EBRD conference in Budapest: Reinvigorating Growth, Competitiveness and Investment

EBRD conference: Reinvigorating Growth, Competitiveness and Investment – The EU from the Baltics, through Central Europe, to the Mediterranean

When:  09 – 10 Nov 2016
Where: Budapest, Hungary

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is organising a conference in Budapest on 9-10 November 2016 with the support of the Hungarian government on how to reinvigorate growth and investment in the EU member states where the Bank invests.

Opening addresses by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti will be followed by a high-level panel discussion moderated by Simeon Djankov, former Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. His guest speakers will include Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria. Four separate discussion panels will follow – on finance, infrastructure, innovation and productivity, and the green economy.

Prof. Sivan’s talk is on the panel: Innovation and Productivity Growth

Long-term economic growth depends crucially on the innovative capacity of economies. In countries close to the technological frontier, innovation mostly takes the form of firms inventing new products and technologies. In countries further from the frontier, firms can catch up by simply adopting and adapting technologies that have been developed elsewhere. This session will discuss how EU countries can reignite growth by fostering both frontier and adaptive innovation. A special emphasis will be placed on the role that governments should play. Are they passive facilitators or is there room for a more active involvement? And if so, which conditions need for these more pro-active (industrial) policies to pay off?

Panellists

  • Vince Cable, former UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills and Member of Parliament
  • Chiara Criscuolo, Head, Structural Policy Division, Science, Technology & Industry Directorate, OECD
  • Prof. Yesha Sivan, Executive Director, The Coller Institute of Venture, Tel Aviv University; founder of Metaverse Labs

The conference will conclude with a joint session on “Growth and Inclusion”, chaired by incoming EBRD Chief Economist Sergei Guriev.

The event will bring together senior representatives from governments, international institutions, the business community and academia from the region and beyond.

The conference will provide important insights into developments in the region as well as opportunities for high-profile meetings and networking.

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