“What are the innovations we need to re-launch the economy?”

This is the topic of the G8 Young Business Summit that I will be attending this week.  Pretty hefty question, and one that is timely in light of the recent vote that happened in the US Congress on the Climate Change Bill.   Young entrepreneurs from around the world will be gathering in Stresa, Italy for two-days of workshops, debates, presentations and networking on issues surrounding social innovation and green technology.

The Young Leaders of Confindustria (Italy's economic body)will support the realization of this experimental research that is being conducted throughout the Summit.  The results of talks will be used to further economic policy development in the home countries of those representatives.

Eleven other delegates will be traveling from Canada as part of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation delegation.  Joining with the United States, France, Italy, Germany, the UK, the EU, Japan, China, India, Brazil, South Africa - it is the hope that our governments' leaders will recognize the need to invest in small and medium sized enterprises.  I recently read a statistic that 80% of Canada's economy is built on the backs of small and medium-sized business owners.  Of that 87% are owned and operated by family units.  It only makes sense that financial support should be given to this economic driving force. 

In conversation with the other delegates, it was expressed that the outcome of this summit will be "...that Canadian leadership will say that they recognize the importance of the contribution that young entrepreneurs play in Canada's and the global economy and that these businesses are a vital component to strengthening Canada's economy, and the economies of all the G8 countries."

I will be updating this blog about my experience at the Summit and the conversations that arise.

Click for more information about the Young Business G8.