In the decade of 2000 – 2016, the world economy had experienced a slow growth as the impact of the various crises that occurred in thatit. The prolonged crises hadledto the bankruptcy of some countries which found it difficult to recover from. The facts show that commonly, countries that the countries that are not based on natural resources but able to utilize their knowledge well are theones that can recoverfaster. This phenomenon has brought awareness to thecountries that the economic paradigm has changed, from resource-based economic paradigm to knowledge-based and creativity-based economic paradigms (Howkins, 2001).

The slowing economic conditions are also accompanied by rapid changes, especially in the field of IT and technology that result in disruptions in many aspects of life.Many well established companies were bankrupt because they could not change their business models. In such condition, wherechanges and disruptions have become common factors in the economy,changes and disruptions can also be addressed as an opportunity to evolve and innovate so that the business actorsare not at loss.

The slow growth of economic condition and the era of disruptionsare also experienced by our country, Indonesia. Therefore, in order to promote sustainable economic growth, the government has taken a policy to develop the creative economy as well as to increase the capacity of innovation and technology, especially for SMEs. The development of creative economy is based on the strategical issue of “Achieving high growth and prioritizing the development of business beginners in creative economy” (RPJMN 2015-2019).

In line with the strategic issue, various partiesin the national economy, including the governments and observers of SMEs, have conducted various empowerment programs based on technology innovation and SME management in order to achieve sustainable and just economic growth. The efforts that have been conducted have shown varied results, thus the success, constraints, and supporting aspects in the efforts to improve and sustain the economic growthneed to be disseminated to various empowerment and SME actors to encourage them to keep developing themselves in order to prevail in the disruption era and to contribute positively to the sustainable and just economic growth.

In response to these conditions, The 7th UNS SME SUMMIT & AWARDS activities are set to be held again in 2018  as an annual event to present the awards to the observers of SMEs, both institutions and individuals, for their rolesin empowering SMEs. One of the activity series in the event is the International Conference on Small And Medium Enterprise Empowerment (ICSMEE) with the theme of “Enhancing Small Medium Enterprise Competitiveness Based on Creative Economy in Innovation Disruptions”.

PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES

The International Conference on Small And Medium Enterprise Empowerment (ICSMEE) eventaims to disseminate the results of studies, knowledge and experience inSME empowerment both in the socioeconomic and technological aspects by policy makers, researchers, observers and practitioners. The findings are to be recommended as counsel and strategyin empowering SMEs and building cooperative synergy among the stakeholders (government institutions, universities, NGOs, Communities, media) in the empowerment of SMEs.