A delegation from Malta recently joined business leaders from 150 countries for the Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2015 in Milan, Italy. Now in its seventh year, the GEC draws together a broad collection of voices from across the entrepreneurial spectrum including entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, thought leaders and policymakers who work together to explore the best approaches in helping  to build one global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The GEC included dozens of related parallel events conducted by leading global organisations actively supporting the spread of an entrepreneurial culture. These included the Start + Scale Forum, where experienced entrepreneurs shared strategies for success with up-and-coming start-ups; the Research + Policy Summit, which explored innovative policies and programmes from around the world that promote new firm formation; the Entrepreneurial Cities Forum, which highlighted metropolitan areas with thriving start-up ecosystems and the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Annual Meeting for host organisations to plan their 2015 GEW campaigns.

Malta was represented at the GEC by the University of Malta academics Professor Sandra Dingli and Dr Nathaniel Massa, Malta Association of Women in Business president Doris Sammut Bonnici, Aiesec representative Elizabeth Pulo and ICT Student Association president and officials Etienne Buttigieg, Matthew Cassar, Rebecca Kai Cassar and Roberto Mangion. 

The delegation was led by Dr Leonie Baldacchino, director of The Edward de Bono Institute for the Design and Development of Thinking at the University of Malta, which has been the National Host for GEW since its inception in 2008. At the GEC, Dr Baldacchino discussed the Maltese campaign with the other GEW hosts, celebrated best practice in promoting entrepreneurship and shared ideas for advancing the GEW campaign in Malta and beyond. 

Preparations are now underway to plan for this year's GEW, which will be held between 16 and 22 November. The Edward de Bono Institute, which holds a wide range of courses and events on creativity, innovation, entrereneurship and foresight, collaborates each year with various partner organisations to hold a variety of activities to celebrate GEW. 

Worldwide demand for entrepreneurial growth is at a historical high and the GEW offers a chance for everyone, regardless of where they are in the start-up ecosystem to explore innovative approaches and to collaborate with others who share their passion for entrepreneurship.

For more information on how to get involved visit http://www.um.edu.mt/create/Events/GEW or email [email protected]