Overview

• We have organized more than 110 business forums with over 16,000 German and international representatives since the beginning of the 1990s.
• Our network of currently 15 offices in 13 countries staffed by competent German-speaking consultants offers support to German SMEs in international technology co-operation projects.
• Since 2000/2001, our local offices have also been providing regular updates on co-operation offers, general conditions and the latest news about the technological development and research trends in our partner countries.
• More than 50% of all international technology projects promoted by the German government's PRO INNO programme are being realized with partners in our partner countries.  

Milestones

• Information events in Eastern Europe on innovation policies (1992 to 1996)
• Special Representative for co-operation projects with East European partners (since 1993)
• New local offices in Central and Eastern Europe (since 1996)
• International Technology Co-operation Network - worldwide support (since 1999)
• Expansion of services in the 21st century

 

Information events in Eastern Europe on innovation policies (1992 to 1996)

Since the opening of Eastern Europe in the beginning of the 1990s AiF has expanded its activities so as to include Central and East European countries. After having established working relationships with competent institutions in these countries, AiF organized 10 information events in Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic states and in Bulgaria from 1992 to 1996. These events formed part of the German Economics Ministry's transformation programme. The purpose of these events was to familiarize representatives from the business, scientific research and political sectors with the

German experiences with innovation policies, which the transition countries might use to influence their own transition process. The particular focus was on promoting scientific research and development in SMEs.

Special Representative for co-operation projects with East European partners (since 1993)

Based on its knowledge about Eastern Europe acquired in the first half of the 1990s, AiF created the post of a Special Representative for Eastern Europe in its Berlin office in 1995. This initiative was sponsored by a 1993 programme on research co-operation pursued by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research. The aim was to support German SMEs in finding competent R&D partners in Central and Eastern Europe.

Foundation of local offices in Central and Eastern Europe (since 1996)

The consulting services of the Representative for Eastern Europe were complemented in 1996 by permanent local offices in Central and Eastern Europe. Mandated by the German government, AiF had established a network of 12 offices in this region by the end of the 1990s. The aim of these offices was to support German SMEs in preparing the ground and developing technological co-operation projects with enterprises and research institutes in these countries.

International Technology Co-operation Network - worldwide support (since 1999)

In order to expand its services to innovative SMEs in other countries, AiF initiated the globally acting Technological Co-operation Network together with the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Based on AiF's experiences in Central and Eastern Europe, similar local offices were founded in South America and Asia. This project received substantial funding from the German Ministry of Economics and Labour.

Since January 1st, 2002, the Network has been based at AiF's Berlin office. It is now coordinating the activities of 15 local offices in 11 Central and East European countries as well as in India and China. Our local staff have excellent knowledge of the scientific research profiles of their countries. Having spent longer periods of time in Germany, they are also proficient in German and familiar with the German economy and scientific research.

Business forums for innovative SMEs and providers of technical services

AiF's international competence was again acknowledged when the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour conferred on the Group responsibility for running the government's project to initiate economic co-operation between innovative SMEs and East European countries. With this project, the German government supported the coordination of various business organizations exploring possibilities for international co-operation and expanding the market share of German SMEs and providers of technical services. Since 2002, this project has been enlarged so as to include also Latin American, African and Asian countries.

Expansion of services in the 21st century

The services of our consultants in our local offices are increasingly in demand. More and more German enterprises contact them with requests concerning the finding of matching partners and key contacts in politics and the administration of our partner countries.

During the course of the years, our staff have built an extensive network of partners in the economic and scientific research sectors, as well as established working relations with key representatives in the administration and in organizations and associations. This enables them to respond to the wishes of innovative German SMEs in a professional and culturally sensitive manner.

Since 2000/2001, our local offices have added to their services the regular publication of information and analyses concerning partner country conditions. These include a general country-specific overview, technology co-operation offers, and up-to-date briefings about areas of technology, new brances and research trends.