Her Royal Highness, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands

The conference, titled “The Role of Microfinance in Overcoming the Financial and Economic Crisis,” will take place Nov. 17-19 at the Borodino Hotel. Princess Maxima will give a speech during the opening session regarding the United Nations’ approach and recommendations concerning better access to finance.
In light of the latest announcement, the registration deadline for the conference has been extended until Nov. 11. The registration form can be found here.
Princess Maxima and Dr. Yunus both bring a high level of expertise to the conference. Her Royal Highness is special advisor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for Inclusive Finance for Development; Dr. Yunus was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to create and foster economic and social development around the world. He is also on the board of directors of the United Nations Foundation.

The program brought the Dutch students to the Madison campus this fall, and GEW will mark the Americans’ chance to study in the Netherlands. The highlight of the Week will be a dance party in Wageningen Friday, Nov. 20, where the students will join together for a party on a sustainable dance floor that is powered by the suave steps of its users.
The week in Wageningen focues on sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in developing countries. Through the Week, Wageningen start-ups and research will be featured, and more importantly developed. This will include two week-long activities:
- An Entrepreneurial Bootcamp in which 25 Ph.D. students from Wageningen and Wisconsin will team up to learn and develop basic start-up skills. The teams will then work out a business case supported by theoretical lectures presented during the Week on important entrepreneurial issues.

- An Entrepreneurial Forum will transform the halls of campus building into an interactive demonstration site for sustainable Wageningen technologies that have been, will be, or can be developed into commercial products. It will be a place where researchers, students and entrepreneurs can meet and learn from one another.
Additional events include lectures from professors Rudy Rabbinge and Gatze Lettinga on sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in developing countries, as well as a Young Entrepreneurs Business Cafe — a monthly networking event for entrepreneurs, students, researchers and others. This session will be sponsored by investment companies, allowing the students a special opportunity to network.