HP and Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute Collaborate to Advance Technology-Rich Learning Environments

HP and the Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute, a newly created non-profit organisation focussing on training solutions for micro-entrepreneurs, today announced that they are launching an international effort to develop technology-rich, student-centred learning environments specifically tailored for entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses.

HP is a platinum sponsor of the Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute, which will provide services for city councils, local authorities and business associations to help advance teaching and learning programmes with personalised technology and curricula, for entrepreneurs and small business owners through their local business development agencies.

The Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute has special expertise in programmes for communities in Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA) that are underserved in information technology. It will provide services in three main areas: 

     · Providing individual districts or states with services for designing and launching digital acceleration programmes with fully equipped training centres

     · Delivering practical curricula and training programmes for trainers in the area of business and technology

     · Building an EMEA-wide consortium focussed on expanding digital acceleration initiatives which aim to bring technology and knowledge to small learning environments

The announcement was made at the European Business and Innovation Conference (EBN) in Napoli, Italy; an annual forum which showcases the latest progress in micro-business development of the Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) community in Europe.

"By sponsoring the Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute, we would like to support city councils, business associations and their local development agencies in embracing technology-powered education," said Gabi Zedlmayer, vice president Global Citizenship, HP EMEA.

“Educating small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs is the best way of helping local economical development,” added Luciana Broggi, vice president marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP EMEA. “HP has concrete experience in this field and is working to have more agencies gain from its high tech solutions."

The Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute grew out of the successful HP Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Programme (MAP) which focussed on creating teaching and learning programmes for micro-entrepreneurs. As part of HP’s philanthropy programme, more than 50 training centres have been opened in the US and EMEA since its launch in 2003. HP is supporting the new organisation to continue further implementation of the MAP programme in Europe, Middle East and Africa."With our guidance, resources and trainings, states and districts can fully integrate technology as a key element for community development, reform and transformation, and quickly start using their training centres, benefiting from the HP sponsorship,” said Didier Philippe, president, Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute.

The Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute is an international, non-profit organisation that facilitates access and knowledge of IT by advancing the implementation of digital acceleration centres, student-centred teaching and learning programmes through ubiquitous technology. The Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute is led by Didier Philippe and Dr. Jelena Godjevac with associate members as a support team. More information about the new organisation is available at www.micro-enterprise-institute.org .

HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2006, HP revenue totaled $88.9 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.