Want to know more about the new program for start-ups? Cliff has written a great blog on the subject. We have seen huge demand for BizSpark since launch on 6 November.

Planning for launches in the Middle East and Africa is now well underway. I’m looking forward to seeing the reaction in Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan – Walid will keynote there end of Feb.

Dan’l Lewin is off to South Africa end of Feb too. Watch him in action at LeWeb and at XTOPIA in Berlin. Egypt, Pakistan and the team in Saudi are launching early March. The guys in Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya and Mauritius are gearing up too. I’ve seen requests from Afghanistan. Soon there won’t be a country you cannot download our stuff…

In Europe, the focus on start-ups and SMEs grows ever stronger. As we prepare for some big events coinciding with European Year of Innovation & Creativity and SME Week for instance, we are noticing the growth in many CEE countries – Russia, Ukraine, Poland, CZ – all seeing steady demand in this sector.

In fact I spoke to a VC setting up a new fund focused on Polish innovation today. Sign of the times. Eight of our CEE country teams launched BizSpark in Nov and another eight are poised to launch in Feb/March. It is not an easy time for VCs either – or start-ups trying to access capital. So I am glad we’re putting some energy into new partnerships with EBAN and HSBC.

I know access to technology isn’t the end game – but its not a bad start. Companies providing a platform to connect IP and ideas to capital such as Europe Unlimited – are starting to gain some momentum. So much investment in R&D.. yet so little of it successfully commercialised. We need to do a lot more in this space. Student orgs like JCI and Uni networks have also signed up to promote BizSpark to their members. NCGE still have to be a leader in this field.

In Western Europe, while economies contract and face unemployment stats reminiscent of the last recession, more people are starting businesses. We hope to help the software entrepreneurs get off the ground – and stay off the ground.