A conference on Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Central and Eastern European Competitiveness commenced this evening in Vienna, Austria, hosted by The Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU). It will run until November 17 at the InterContinental Wien.

Around 100 entrepreneurs headquartered in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe commenced the BCIU conference with a reception at the official residence of U.S. Ambassador William C. Eacho in Vienna. BCIU also paid tribute to U.S. statesman John C. Whitehead, BCIU Honorary Trustee, for his support of democratic forces behind the Berlin Wall as a private citizen and later as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State.

The forum brings together a cross-section of the region’s U.S. diplomats, policy makers, and established and up-and-coming entrepreneurs to discuss successful start-up sectors in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. The event provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, senior officials and business leaders to network, share perspectives about new strategies for growth and gain access to mentoring and funding resources.

“As we celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 with the backdrop of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, we have organized this forum to spotlight and foster entrepreneurship in the Central, Eastern European region,” said President and CEO of BCIU Peter Tichansky when he announced the conference last week.

“The transformation of this region over the past two decades demands attention as does its future. We’re very pleased to join with Global Entrepreneurship Week and the Kauffman Foundation to convene current and future leaders that are driving innovation, competitiveness and opportunity in this important region,” he continued.

Video podcasts will be available at www.unleashingideas.org/bciu