Opening speech by Yannis Caloghirou

Opening of the DIME – AEGIS – LIEE/NTUA ATHENS 2010 Conference by Professor Yannis Caloghirou (LIEE/NTUA), Scientific Coordinator of the Conference

Dear friends and colleagues from the DIME, AEGIS and other research communities in Europe, US and Greece,

On behalf of the Organizing and Scientific Committee and the National Technical University of Athens which is hosting the event, I warmly welcome you to Athens and to this Conference which is co-organized by the Dime Network of Excellence, AEGIS research consortium and the Laboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics at the National Technical University of Athens, the Greek member of Dime.

This is the second Conference on Entrepreneurship organized by LIEE/ NTUA in Athens under the aegis of Dime . The first was held in Athens in the year 2006.

This Conference deals with a timely and challenging theme, especially in these difficult times for Europe and in particular for my country.

Europe’s transformation towards a knowledge economy is the most effective response not only to the long-term challenges ahead but also to the challenges emerging from the ongoing crisis. Knowledge-Intensive Entrepreneurship (KIE) can be considered as an important transformative mechanism towards a knowledge-based economy in Europe. In this respect KIE can link efficiently and effectively the process of knowledge generation, diffusion and innovation, economic growth, job creation and well-being.

The Conference adopts a comparative perspective in an attempt to shed light to various aspects of KIE in relation to innovation in different industrial contexts and socio-economic configurations across and outside Europe. Various aspects of KIE such as the sectoral dimension, the role of demand, network participation as well as social and cultural dimensions will be examined. In addition, a mapping of different initiatives studying and monitoring entrepreneurship of different kinds (such as GEM, ZEW, US on immigrant entrepreneurship, AEGIS..) will be presented and discussed in the panel.

Twenty-five papers, two key-note speeches and a panel discussion will be presented and discussed. At this point I would like to remind a visible absence and at the same time a heavy loss for our community and for our group (LIEE/ NTUA). I am referring to our wonderful colleague Bent Dalum who was always present where he was needed, full of kindness and generosity. He participated to many initiative, always with a positive attitude, with a warm smile, and with a variety of contributions. Bent had a personal charm and an ability to communicate with very different persons irrespective of age, culture or nationality. Bent was a real citizen of the world, a dedicated friend, “un homme rare”. We will always keep his great memory with us. In this respect I propose to dedicate this Conference to Bent’s memory.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Franco Malerba, Professor Maureen Mc Kelvey and Ptrofessor Patrick Llerena for entrusting the organization of this Conference to our group.

I would like to express wholeheartedly my warm thanks to all the speakers, distinguished scholars and younger researchers.

Last but not least I would like to express my cordial thanks to the Scientific and Organising Committees and especially to the younger researchers who enthusiastically worked tirelessly for the success of this Conference. I would like to mention in particularly Ioanna, Vaggelis, Nikos, Panagiotis and of course Aimilia.

Thank you all for your attention, good day and good luck!

Now, I would like to proceed to our first speaker, Professor David Hart, the distinguished professor of George Mason University in Washington who is going to give a speech on a very timely and challenging theme.