This week was truly international:
Delegations of Chinese, Brazilian, and Bulgarian visitors provided insight into what stands out to other nations when they visit Germany. First, the good news: German technology and German expertise enjoy an excellent international reputation. This definitely helps young companies navigate the international market.The Brazilian delegates found renewable energy exciting, as well as the fact that Germans are conducting a great deal of research in this area. Brazil is well-suited for the use of renewable energy, so the visit to the ZSW was very welcome. We were also guests at the ilm; medical technology is another promising field. In particular, the fact that the institutes are heavily involved in technology transfer and contract research for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sparked great interest.
As part of the European Danube Strategy, the Bulgarian delegation learned about business incubators and technology parks. Given Germany’s strongly regionally oriented structure, these concepts can be fully adapted to local needs. In Bulgaria, matters are regulated in a more centralized manner, so that some mayors know exactly what they would like to have but are unable to obtain it.
The Chinese delegation included some of my close friends, who already know Germany well and get along just fine with our way of doing things—which, from a Chinese perspective, can seem a bit roundabout. The only participant who was here for the first time particularly enjoyed the fact that Chinese and Swabian cuisine are so closely related. In fact, there’s something similar to Maultaschen in China, too. And that’s definitely a good sign for a collaboration!
