5th BI-ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN WOMEN INVENTORS, INNOVATORS

& ENTREPRENEURS EXHIBITION, CONFERENCE & AWARDS 2015

Theme: ‘Accelerating Economic & Sustainable Growth'

Join individual inventors, innovators, SME and multi-national companies, academia, the research

industry and civil society in the heart of London from across Europe and the international world with a focus on women making positive changes and impact with the introduction of new products, processes

and services. LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

15 – 16 OCTOBER 2015 ! | P a g e 1

1.INTRODUCTION The forthcoming 5th Bi-annual International European Women’s Invention, Innovation & Enterprise Network Conference & Awards is to be staged in the United Kingdom for the first time on the 15-16 October 2015 in the heart of London for anyone involved in viable new ideas, innovation, research and enterprise. The event serves as a catalyst and capacity building initiative for the introduction of new products, processes and services with a special focus on women. This follows the successful staging of past conferences & awards which have taken place in Germany, Finland, Iceland and Sweden.

The European Commission released the number of proposals submitted for the first round of the Horizon 2020’s SME instrument fund as over 2,666 through its Executive Agency for Small & Medium-sized Enterprises’ (EASME) twitter page, @H2020SME. The burning question is how many of these SME’s were actually women led or owned.

In 2009, the European Commission report on ‘Evaluation on policy: Promotion of Women Innovators and Entrepreneurship revealed data and information on female innovation and entrepreneurship. The report highlighted the need to address the issue of gender disparity as women scored less than men when assessing the level of innovation in their businesses (innovation of product: 13.9% women compared to 14.5% of men. Innovation of process found 4.1% women compared to 7.8% of men: innovation in the organisation 5.2% of women compared to 6.5% of men: marketing innovation 9.1% women compared to 10.45% of men. The situation is not much better in academia, where the proportion of female graduates in Engineering, manufacturing and construction is 26% in EU27 (She Figures 2012, European Commission). From building digital infrastructures, new science to low technology, high viability concepts and products, EUWIIN has continued to support women since 2006 when it was first set up. This is specifically to bridge the gender gap and find effective ways of bringing assistance, tools and information to assist women in achieving significant growth. This includes:

• Increasing the success rate of women’s originality & marketability of their developed concept, product or service

• Accessing support for seed capital from government and university programs including spin-out companies

• Stimulating wider inclusiveness and the exchange of knowledge in areas such as the use of technology, science, engineering, intellectual property rights, access to finance, international trade, equity and commercialisation •Developing business growth with features that reinvent, set industry standards and radically create changes with impact. The creation of initiatives that provide opportunities to benchmark skills, re-train, re-skill, re-tool and take advantage of current and emerging opportunities.

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2.INTERNATIONAL EUWIIN CONFERENCE Following the successful international EUWIIN Conference and award programmes held in Berlin, Germany in 2007 and Helsinki, Finland in 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland in 2011 and Stockholm, Sweden in 2013, EUWIIN has grown into a far reaching initiative of life changing experiences for many creative, inventive and innovative women. In fact, it has become the most dynamic gathering of women with great intellectual property and unparalleled capacity to empower, unite and inspire other women to take their life changing contribution to job creation and a better quality of life for many to greater heights. This inspirational platform provides a great opportunity to share enriching stories of transformation and success, words of encouragement and life lessons. It has a particular focus on the workplace, the business environment, education & learning institutions including all areas covering the introduction of new products, services & processes. This thought provoking, cutting-edge dialogue features individuals and organisations from various backgrounds including Government departments, leading industry experts, business angels, entrepreneurs, educational departments & voluntary organisations.

The aim is to explore effective ways of providing relevant support, assistance, tools, advice & information to assist women in achieving significant economic and social growth with their inventions, innovations and enterprises. The conference will provide an opportunity to showcase model products and programmes, share lessons learnt and look to the present and future. The conference would focus on relevant issues relating to the unleashing of the entrepreneurial potential; capacity building elements to product development, intellectual property rights, access to finance, social and innovative enterprises; with a particular focus on exceptionally creative ideas, innovation and technologies. The conference is designed to address issues and generate benefit by:

• Intensifying women’s impact on the innovation & knowledge-based sectors

• Effective policy goals such as the transfer of knowledge between the science & business communities

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INTERNATIONAL EUWIIN CONFERENCE 2007, BERLIN, GERMANY

MEP, ANNA MARIA CORAZZA BILDT AT THE INTERNATIONAL EUWIIN AWARDS 2013, STOCKHOLM,

SWEDEN

• Increasing the pool of human resources and stimulating wider inclusiveness & the exchange of knowledge in areas of intellectual property rights, access to finance, international trade, equity & commercialization.

3. INTERNATIONAL EUWIIN HONORARY & RECOGNITION AWARDS

The International EUWIIN Awards are staged to put the spotlight on various women from across Europe and the international world. The women may be brilliant scientists, exceptionally creative, inventive, innovative, entrepreneurs, engineers, technologists, designers from all sectors and backgrounds or the inspired designers of simple, cheap technologies. They may also have created a new device or system or process capable of impacting millions of people for the better. They may have leadership qualities, attract loyalty and respect. They may inspire the support of colleagues and employees. They may build powerful teams, capable of dramatically leveraging the impact of their efforts. They are likely to be relentless in pursuing their goals. The winners may be very different, but they will have in common: tenacity, the determination to succeed, commitment, extraordinary potential, positive influence that spreads and transcends borders including something that contributes to the future and quality of life on earth.

*Four New HONORARY AWARDS FOR ECONOMIC & SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMMES OR PROJECTS

EUWIIN at its discretion shall present honorary awards to programmes that deserve attention and acknowledgement for their impact in society. Special emphasis and attention would be placed on the following:

UNDER 25 YOUNG INVENTORS & INNOVATORS: EUWIIN would be putting the spotlight on young people (female & male) solving problems in a variety of ingenious ways that provide opportunities and impact on the quality of life on many.

SOCIAL INNOVATION: women led social innovations with strategies, concepts and ideas that have a social purpose, meet social needs and contribute to a better quality of life for many. A special emphasis on community development projects that focus on knowledge and learning opportunities, social housing, healthy living and environmental improvements to name a few.

DIGITAL INNOVATION: EUWIIN at its discretion shall present honorary awards to women led programmes or projects that deserve attention and acknowledgement for their impact in digital contribution

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FINLAND’S ENGINEER, AINO HEIKKINEN, INVENTOR OF TECHNOLOGY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WITH TEXTILE

WASTE - EUWIIN OVERALL 2007 AWARD WINNER.

and for their relevance in the social mobile, analytics and cloud arena. Special focus would be on the use of digital concepts, products and services that interact with the business community as well as those having a social impact.

OPEN INNOVATION: EUWIIN shall also identify and present honorary awards to women led projects that deserve recognition for presenting opportunities towards a open way of innovating and have created great impact and success.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION & WINNER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Over 120 remarkable women from various countries and a diversity of backgrounds have been specially recognised and presented with awards over the years including: ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM’S MELISSA EDMUNDS Melissa Edmunds is the Managing Director of Zinch Designs Ltd and Inventor of Safesip®, a totally unique drink cover, suitable for almost any glass, mug, cup or can. SafeSip fits virtually any drinking vessel. It keeps your drink in and everything else out. The main purpose is to prevent spills and protects drinks. Melissa Edmunds invented the product after her young son knocked over a drink in a restaurant. Inspiration also came from her father who had been hospitalised. Melissa realised that a solution needed to be found that would stop drinks spilling and make life much simpler for those that have disabilities or need assistance when drinking. Melissa was awarded the International EUWIIN Silver Inventors Award 2013 and is the current British International Female Inventor of the Year 2014.

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FINLAND’S EIJA PESSINEN Eija invented the relaxbirth® which represents a significant advance in the field of childbirth with a mission to advance well-being and positive experiences in childbirths. It provides midwives and doctors with an adjustable workstation and enables mothers to relax their bodies and naturally find the most effective pushing position. The Relaxbirth chair was developed on the basis of user experiences. She is a specialist SRN, Midwife, with a long history of consulting nursing in different countries therefore providing her with the knowledge needed to develop the method which makes the process of giving birth easier and more relaxed. Eija Pessinen was awarded the overall Platinum International EUWIIN Award 2011.

SWEDEN’S YLVA RYNGEBO OF TYRESO Ylva is the Managing Director of Medical Innovation Design (MID) AB. Her invention X-ray protection - the MID way"relates to products that help to lower the radiation dose and help make patient examinations safer. She was a radiographer with over twenty years of work in healthcare. She became tired of products that did not work satisfactorily therefore with her experience she began to invent products in diagnostic radiology with high quality, safety and design. Ylva Ryngebo was awarded the overall Platinum International EUWIIN Inventor Winner Award 2013.

NORTHERN IRELAND, UNITED KINGDOM’S PROFESSOR SHEENA LEWIS Professor Sheena Lewis of Queens University Belfast, is the inventor of SpermComet, a second generation test that effectively quantifies the DNA quality of individual sperm. This unique test gives accurate information not available through conventional semen analysis. For the first time, clinics will be able to provide each male client with a bespoke treatment based on their molecular semen profile. Sheena was awarded the International EUWIIN Innovator Award Winner 2013.

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ITALY’S ALESSANDRA FIERABRACCI Dr Alessandra Fierabracci is the inventor of a kit able to work the method for detection of GAD65 auto reactive T cells in newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic patients and in the pre diabetic period. Dr Alessandra Fierabracci was awarded the International EUWIIN Inventor Award 2011 for research & development. Nominations for Awards from beyond Europe are also encouraged and most welcome. Several women from across the globe including Latin America, Asia Pacific and the African Continent are proud recipients of International EUWIIN Awards. Below are a brief on three such women:

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI’S CATHERINE EDOUARD CHARLOT Catherine is the Founder of HIMANE SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS and has become well known for her use of discarded umbrellas which she transforms into handbags and other fashionable items. Catherine uses upcycled items or repurposed materials and creates premium fashion design garments such as wedding dresses, suits, shirts and tops. Her innovative method of recycling wastes has expanded to the recycling of tarp from construction sites. Catherine was presented with the International EUWIIN Special Recognition Award 2011.

CAIRO, EGYPT’S PROF. DR. WAFAA MOHAMED HAGGAG Dr. Wafaa is the Head of Agriculture and Biology Research Division, National Research Centre in Cairo. She is a researcher who has developed an efficient system to reduce the risks of pesticide use. The main benefits and the expected impacts are the innovation and localization of a cleaner farming system that is able to produce safe food, free from agrochemical residues in the international market while creating a better agricultural environment with sustainable development. Dr. Wafaa was presented with the International EUWIIN Special Recognition Award 2013.

PENANG, MALAYSIA’S PROF. DR. FAUZIAH AHMAD Prof . Fauziiah Ahmad is a Geotechnical engineer and a researcher at School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and is the inventor of the 8mat Products – ‘Waste To Gold’ material for ground improvement techniques designed to solve ground condition problems. They are uniquely designed to suit its application for construction of retaining wall, embankment, slope protection and soil erosion control. It solves DID problems where riverbanks collapse due to heavy rain and erosion taking place. Her research interest is in the area of slope stability, landslide, ground improvement, urban geoinformatics (GIS Application) and geodisaster due

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to climate change. She has published her work in more than 100 papers in journals and proceedings locally and internationally. Prof Fauziiah Ahmad was awarded the overall Winner of the International Categoty EUWIIN Award 2013.

4. LAUNCH OF THE FEDERATION – genderINNOV2020

genderINNOV2020 – the new European Federation for the advancement of women led innovative SME’s and research organizations would be officially launched at the international EUWIIN Conference on 15 October 2015. The mandate of genderINNOV2020 would be to participate effectively in the 'Horizon 2020’ and act as a catalyst for women led initiatives that build capacity to discover, decipher and develop innovative advances in science, engineering and technology with opportunities for social and economic growth. On the 11 March 2014, the European Commission’s DG Innovation and Research held the 2nd Innovation

Convention in Brussels mainly for anyone involved in innovation, research and enterprise. It focused on engaging and contributing to the innovation debate with business leaders, top researchers and high-level policy makers with the opportunity to gain inspiration from world-renowned speakers and great innovation showcases. This provided the opportunity to collaborate and organise a fringe event with the theme: 'Bridging The Gender Gap And Accelerating Innovative, Sustainable Growth'. This was jointly organized by the European Union of Women Inventors & Innovators Network (EUWIIN) and the European Platform of Women Scientists (EPWS), an umbrella association bringing together networks of women scientists and organisations committed to gender equality in all science disciplines in EU research. In response, EUWIIN and EPWS took on the challenge to develop a Federation that would act as a single body for the independent networks and associations which led to the birth of genderINNOV2020. In order to ensure that genderINNOV2020 for Europe develops into a far reaching initiative with efficiency and maximum impact, the launch will provide the opportunity for attendees to learn more and to explore opportunities for collaboration. Support is sought in areas of

• Collaboration and project management to meet EC eligibility and the various possible match funding, monitoring, governance and legislative criteria.

• Assistance with strategic planning that may lead to European funding

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EUWIIN & EPWS representatives with European Award Prize Winners at the European Commission Innovation Convention, Brussels, 2014

• Becoming involved in key mandates such as building on existing projects that sustain the pipeline

of female talent in science, engineering, technology and innovation

5. DRAFT PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE Pre Event 14 October 2015 Welcome Reception London Day 1 15 October 2015 Conference, Exhibition & Evening Reception. London Day 2 16 October 2015 Site Visits London Day 2 16 October 2015 Gala Awards Dinner Ceremony & Closing Ceremony London * This agenda may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.

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Dr Bola Olabisi, CEO, EUWIIN International with President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson of Iceland, Hon. Katrín Júlíusdóttir, Minister Of Industry, Iceland And Mr Ian Whitting, HM Ambassador, British Embassy, Iceland At The International EUWIIN Conference 2011, Reykjavik, Iceland

6. REGISTRATION

10% discounted rate for Groups of ten and 15% discounted rate for all GWIIN Platinum Members.

7.SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

CONFERENCE PLENARY SPONSOR - £2,500 (x 4 sponsors) • Sponsor a plenary session on a relevant topic of your choice • Opportunity to chair and open the plenary session • Prominent placement in high traffic areas of EUWIIN’s website and marketing collateral • High profile acknowledgement on stage as well as national and international media campaign • Ability to use support of EUWIIN (and its logo) in marketing efforts • Full page Advertisement in the event Souvenir Brochure • 10 Passes to the full event • Opportunity to network with and gain exposure to the EUWIIN community and develop

relationships with leading women-led companies AWARD CATEGORY SPONSOR - £2,750 (x 6 sponsors needed)

• Sponsor an Award Category in a sector relevant to your organisation • Opportunity to present International EUWIIN Award to Category Winner • Prominent placement in high traffic areas of EUWIIN’s website and marketing collateral • High profile in national and international media campaign • Ability to use support of EUWIIN (and its logo) in marketing efforts • Full page Advertisement in the event Souvenir Brochure • 10 Passes to the full event • Opportunity to network with and gain exposure to the EUWIIN community and develop

relationships with leading women-led companies EVENING RECEPTION HOST PLUS £1750 SPONSOR

• Opportunity to present Honorary Award at Evening Reception • Prominent placement in high traffic areas of EUWIIN’s website and marketing collateral • High profile in national and international media campaign • Ability to use support of EUWIIN (and its logo) in marketing efforts • Full page Advertisement in the event Souvenir Brochure • 10 Passes to the full event • Opportunity to network with and gain exposure to the EUWIIN community and develop

relationships with leading women-led companies

Registration Type Early Bird Rate – before 1 April After 1 April

Lone Inventor & SME’s £250 £300

Students £199 £250

Corporate (for participants from large corporations)

£750 £850

Government 8 Academia £550 £650

Exhibition From £450 From £550

Advert –Souvenir Brochure £750 (£900 Inside front/back cover) £800 (£1200 Inside front/back cover)

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LUNCH OR DINNER SPONSOR - £5,000

• Opportunity to present Honorary Award at Evening Reception • Prominent placement in high traffic areas of EUWIIN’s website and marketing collateral • High profile in national and international media campaign • Opportunity to network with and gain Corporate exposure to the EUWIIN community and develop

relationships with leading women-led companies • Ability to use support of EUWIIN (and its logo) in corporate marketing efforts • Advertise in the event Souvenir Brochure • 10 Passes to events • Opportunity to network with and gain exposure to the EUWIIN community and develop

relationships with leading women-led companies

To read more about EUWIIN’S LAUNCH visit http://cordis.europa.eu/news/rcn/27088_en.html

or about EUWIIN visit www.euwiininternational.eu or about the global network visit www.gwiin.com

INTERESTED? WE WELCOME YOUR PARTICIPATION – SIMPLY SEND US AN EMAIL ON

office@gwiin.com.

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