News and Events

Boost for business as Kent hosts innovation showcase

Small and Medium sized businesses in Kent and across the world will benefit from a fresh focus on innovation and the links to big business when the EBN Congress 2007 comes to Canterbury, 20-22 June.

The European Business and Innovation Centres Network (EBN) is an international non-profit making association which represents 250+ Business Innovation Centres (BIC) and similar organisations in 33 countries around the world.

England has never before hosted this prestigious event and Kent's bid to welcome the Congress in 2007 was won against stiff competition from a variety of other cities including Budapest.

Entrepreneurs from the USA will also be in attendance for the first time as part of the KCC-led Kent-Virginia Project and Kent's involvement in the Jamestown 2007 commemorations that saw the Queen visit Virginia in May.

KCC Deputy Leader, Alex King said of the Congress, "This is an enormous opportunity for us to highlight the very best innovations that Kent's entrepreneurs are producing week in, week out. The advances in technology and the transatlantic links that are being built here are setting the example for the rest of the world to follow. The EBN Congress is testimony to the enterprising attitude of Kent business people and the benefits that they are bringing to the County's economy.

"It is particularly good timing for Kent to capture this conference during its Year of Innovation."

Delegates from all over Europe will meet with their peers from UK and from around the globe, particularly from the US, Canada, Russia, South Africa, Chile, Egypt, Morocco, etc.

The Congress begins with an Opening Ceremony in Canterbury and a Gala Dinner at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham. A replica of one of the three ships that carried the original settlers to Jamestown in 1607 will be moored at Chatham during the Congress.

Day delegate tickets for the Congress are still available from Shirley Smith on shirley.smith@kent.gov.uk