Eco-tone

The first ASEIC Global Eco-innovation Forum was held successfully on 10 November at Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The 1^st ASEM Working Group Seminar on Eco-Innovation Competence was also held on 10-11 November discussing important agendas on the development of SMEs’ eco-innovation competence in Asia and Europe.  

Around 200 people including experts, delegates of 21 ASEM member countries, business representatives, press and related gathered to discuss how to make sustainable business possible through eco-innovation. The president of ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center(ASEIC) opened the forum saying “With the adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and Paris COP 21 just around the corner, ‘sustainability’ has become more and more crucial for SMEs to consider.”

The first keynote presentation was made by professor of futures studies Turku University of Finland. “Resource efficiency is one of the most important thing in economy. Eco-innovation which starts from enhancing efficiency is now led by SMEs.” he said. Christopher Gleadle, managing partner of VisibleEarth said, “The future competence of SMEs will depend on environmental management, applying circular economy concept in business sector.”.  

In session 1, eco-innovation projects of ASEIC were presented. Eco-innovation consulting, ASEM Inclusive Eco-innovation Program and ASEM Eco-Innovation Index research were introduced. The next session was followed by eco-innovation practices of ASEM member countries. Experts shared eco-innovation cases of each country and discussed drivers and barriers of eco-innovation to come up with the way forward. In the last session, ASEM Working Group members presented their research result and cooperation proposal.

Through the forum, a meaningful discussion on SME’s eco-innovation was made and cooperative eco-innovation proposal for Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM) was reached. Also, it was a chance to attract more attention of Koreans and other ASEM member states to eco-innovation as a core means for SMEs’ competence. It was just the very first step, but it is expected to be a milestone for constant and cooperative movement toward SMEs’ eco-innovation.