Acclaimed French economist, Philippe Aghion, confirmed as speaker at the Inaugural Schumpeter ‘Innovation in Enterprise’ Lecture at SME Assembly 2016, Bratislava, Slovakia

Brussels, 14 November 2016

Professor Philippe Aghion, the Robert C. Waggoner Professor of Economics at Harvard University, will give the address at the Inaugural Schumpeter ‘Innovation in Enterprise’ Lecture on 23rd November, the eve of the 5thSME Assembly organised by the European Commission.

The SME Assembly takes place at the Incheba Exhibition Centre in Bratislava, Slovakia, and is hosted by the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It is the highlight of the year for Europe's SMEs and entrepreneurs, and focuses on how to make the European Commission’s SME policy work on the ground.

Professor Aghion is the recipient of several awards that demonstrate the very high esteem in which he is held by his peers, including the 2001 Yrjö Jahnsson Award for European economists under age 45, and the 2006 Schumpeter Prize of the International Schumpeter Society.The audience for the lecture will be a select gathering of government ministers, key officials, senior business leaders and entrepreneurs, academics, and media from across the EU.

Attendance at the lecture is by invitation only and there are 20 places for media. Those journalists wishing to attend should contact the Press & PR Manager for the SME Assembly (details below). They, and those who cannot attend, can receive an embargoed, ‘check on delivery’ text in advance upon request, and a video of the address will be made available soon after the event via the web.

Over 600 delegates are booked to attend the event which includes the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) ceremony. The Assembly is an excellent opportunity for the media to learn, report on news and progress, and network. Some places remain for journalists for the three-day event, for which travel and accommodation is paid-for, as you will be a guest of the Commission and Slovakian Presidency. Contact Richard Fullerton (below) to register.

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For further information, please contact:

Richard Fullerton

Press & PR Manager for the SME Assembly and EEPA 2016

Email:
Tel: +44 7976 728 051

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Notes for Editors

Inaugural Schumpeter ‘Innovation in Enterprise’ Lecture

Why is the lecture being given?

Firstly, to create an opportunity for 21st century economists of distinction to discuss their ideas regarding the use of economic measures to create and sustain a culture of enterprise: keeping in mind Professor Schumpeter’s belief that “the entrepreneur is the pivot on which everything turns.”

Secondly, to commemorate one of the 20th century’s most celebrated economists; one whose work in analysing how growth is created through entrepreneurial innovation is justifiably acclaimed. Joseph Schumpeter was one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, whose work in analysing how growth is created through entrepreneurial innovation is justifiably acclaimed. The European Union's flagship initiative, the Innovation Union, and its main growth plan, Europe 2020, are influenced by Schumpeter’s thinking. It was Professor Schumpeter’s belief that “the entrepreneur is the pivot on which everything turns.”

Thirdly to remind us that the European Union's flagship initiative, the Innovation Union, and its main growth plan, Europe 2020, are influenced by Schumpeter’s thinking.

Fourthly, to provide a debating forum during the SME Assembly 2016, the most significant event for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe and is the flagship event of European SME Week, where entrepreneurship is a constant theme.

Who is giving the lecture and why?

Philippe Aghion, the celebrated French-born economist, will deliver the inaugural lecture. He is currently the Robert C. Waggoner Professor of Economics at Harvard University and an invited professor at the Paris School of Economics. He has previously been Professor at University College London, an Official Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford, and an Assistant Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

His main research work is on growth and contract theory. With Peter Howitt, he developed the so-called ‘Schumpeterian paradigm’, and extended the paradigm in several directions; much of the resulting work is summarised in his joint book with Howitt entitled ‘Endogenous Growth Theory’.

Why is this of interest to the media?

In 1983 ̶ the centennial of the birth of both Joseph Schumpeter and John Maynard Keynes̶ Forbes christened Schumpeter, not Keynes, the best navigator through the turbulent seas of globalization. Time has proved that assessment accurate. His thinking is therefore very relevant to today’s economists and economies. Professor Aghion is the recipient of several awards that demonstrate the esteem in which he is held by his peers, including the 2001 Yrjö Jahnsson Award for European economists under age 45; and the 2006 Schumpeter Prize of the International Schumpeter Society. Journalists in both economics and business will find this a rare opportunity to hear Professor Aghion’s views.

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The SME Assembly 2016

The Assembly is organised by the European Commission, in co-operation with the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU, and takes place at the Incheba Exhibition Centre in Bratislava, Slovakia from 23-25 November.

Highlights include:

  • Presentation to the media of the Annual Report on SMEs by the EU Commission.
  • Keynote speeches from European Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska and other senior influencers and policy makers.
  • The Inaugural Schumpeter 'Innovation in Enterprise’ Lecture, a prestigious standalone address to be delivered by renowned economist, Professor Philippe Aghion (the Robert C Waggoner Professor of Economics, Harvard University). Due to limited places, this lecture will be by special invitation only.
  • Attend the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) ceremony. In this 10th year, there will be a special anniversary celebration alongside the 2016 awards. You will be exclusively briefed in advance on the winners to enable timely reporting. Please view the awards shortlist.
  • Excellent opportunity to interview key people of interest to you. Media bids/interview requests will be taken.
  • Attend high-level policy sessions bringing together business leaders, policy makers and leading entrepreneurs.
  • Take part in a tour of Slovak Start Ups, Scale Ups and SMEs.
  • Get in the Ring – for the Global Start up competition we will challenge entrepreneurs to enter a boxing ring in which Starts Ups pitch for scale-up funding.
  • The Ten Years On session – what will the world of SMEs, Start- and Scale Ups look like in 2026? Includes the winner of our youth competition which asked, 'What can the EU do to encourage more young people to become entrepreneurs?
  • And more – please see the full programme.

Some places remain for journalists wishing to attend. Please contact Press & PR Manager for the SME Assembly to register (details above). Travel and accommodation are free as you will be a guest of the Commission and Slovakian Presidency.

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