Dr. Dana Santoso (Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs Mercu Buana University) participated in 2nd Annual International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE 2012) held at Hotel Fort Canning Singapore on 23rd – 24th July 2012. The conference was organized by The Global Science and Technology Forum and some Unversities around Asia Pacific region, among others are Edith Cowan University, Munich Business School, New York Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin-Medison, Universiti Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia and many more.

The conference hopes to introduce a wider view of innovation as new methods of creating value, and to focus on research that study innovative processes, organizational practices, systems, supply chain design and other mechanisms that are related to operations in practice. This conference aims to explore policies, measures and mechanisms for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in various areas.

At the conference, Dr. Dana Santoso delivered his paper entitled " The OVOP Approach to Improve SMEs Business Performance: Indonesia’s experience ". The paper shown that the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises [SMEs] have proven to be one industrial group that is most sustaining during economic crises. This Paper discusses the One Village One Product (OVOP) approach to develop the business performance of SMEs. The study was carried out at nineteen SMEs producing processed-food. The study runs through a few experts from literature connected with SMEs and their role in the macro economic growth while identifying the factors that had a role in their growth. An overview of the OVOP approach is presented followed by an analysis and discussion of data gathered. Finally, concluding comments on the implementation model of the OVOP approach is presented. (Public Relations & University Secretariat Bureau / humas@mercubuana.ac.id)