Member News

New Provisions on innovative small and medium-sized enterprises

In order to give a substantial boost to the Italian eco-system, the Italian government has introduced a new category of enterprises, the so called “innovative small and medium-sized enterprises”, extending to them most of the provisions already available to innovative startups. Definition of small and medium-sized enterprises In accordance with the relevant recommendation given by the European Commission  (“EC Recommendation”), the definition of small and medium-sized enterprises is strictly related to the company’s staff headcount, as well as its...

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Member News

Sole Tenant to Vacate Pennsylvania Corporate Center

According to Natalie Kostelni's article for the Philadelphia Business Journal, software company Vertex, Inc. has signed an 11-year lease for 168,000 square feet at 2301 Renaissance Boulevard in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The company will vacate its current space at Old Cassatt Road in Berwyn, Pennsylvania next summer. The property is a five-building campus that secures the $18.89 million Cassford Corporate Park loan. Kostelni reports that Vertex has been at the Cassford Corporate Park since 1987 and sold the property...

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Member News

Bill of law on the exploration and use of space resources

On Friday 11 November 2016, the Luxembourg Government revealed the preliminary legal and regulatory framework for space resources utilisation activities in Luxembourg. The bill of law consists of two main components dealing respectively with the ownership of space resources and the authorisation regime for the exploration and use of such resources. In summary, the proposed bill of law contains the following provisions: • Space resources are capable of being appropriated in accordance with international law (article 1) by analogy with the rules...

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Chapter News

September 2016-Euro area international trade in goods surplus €26.5 bn-€0.5 bn surplus for EU28

The first estimate for euro area (EA19) exports of goods to the rest of the world in September 2016 was €176.7 billion, an increase of 2% compared with September 2015 (€173.2 bn). Imports from the rest of the world stood at €150.2 bn, a fall of 2% compared with September 2015 (€154.0 bn). As a result, the euro area recorded a €26.5 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in September 2016, compared with...

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Chapter News

Globalisation, climate change, technological advances and rising inequality: European social partners and civil society to discuss the future of work

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have started a two-day high-level dialogue on the future of work bringing together more than 300 representatives of the social partners and civil society in Europe. They are expected to map out the main drivers of change which are transforming jobs and the economy in Europe. Participants will discuss possible solutions to future of work challenges and examples of good practice that will feed into the ILO’s...

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Chapter News

The new SME Instrument data hub goes live!

Interactive figures and statistics, an easily loadable map with all the companies funded by the SME Instrument, a list of projects in your business area or region – you name it! Our new interactive data hub goes live today and will be able to cater for all your needs.  Here's how it works. By navigating on the top left of the data hub bar you can choose to generate either the map, the list of projects or statistics. All of...

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Member News

Millennial Motivation — Why ESG Reporting Is An Emerging Standard

Maureen Kline is Vice President, Public Affairs and Sustainability for Pirelli Tire North America, responsible for the U.S., Canada and Mexico. She chairs the board of the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada and sits on the advisory board of the Corporate Responsibility Association, where she co-chairs a Thought Leadership Council on Brand and Reputation Management. Previously she managed Pirelli’s global public affairs, and before that, international communications from the company’s headquarters in Milan, Italy. Prior to her public affairs...

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Member News

Portugal calls for startups using nanotechnologies

StartupNano opens its doors to entrepreneurs around the world working with nanotechnology based solutions. From the North of Portugal, startups have access to support to go from idea to global markets, to unique laboratories and expertise in nanotechnology, and to incubation in a unique international infrastructure for nanotechnology built by Portugal and Spain governments. Besides access to a specialized nanotech network of mentors and experts, startups have access to awards and up to €100k direct investment. The deadline for submission...

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Chapter News

A united front for security, a united front for human rights

High-level EU representatives gather on 14 November in Vienna at the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) to find ways of furthering a more effective security union that integrates a fundamental rights approach from the outset. “Ensuring the safety of everyone in the EU is of critical importance. Security measures can only work if they are respectful of human rights and work with and not against all the communities that go to make up European society,” said FRA Director Michael...

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Chapter News

Duration of working life- People in the EU can expect to work almost 2 years longer than 10 years ago- Increase mainly driven by longer duration of working life for women

The expected duration of working life in the European Union (EU) stood at 35.4 years on average in 2015, up by 1.9 years compared with 2005. In detail over this 10-year period, duration of working life has increased more rapidly for women (32.8 years in 2015 compared with 30.2 years in 2005, or +2.6 years) than for men (37.9 years in 2015 vs. 36.7 years in 2005, or +1.2 year). Full text available on EUROSTAT website Compliments of Eurostat

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