PrintNews from the Land of Ideas
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2008/04/23
Partner for Innovation: Germany and Japan present a new cooperation
Berlin/Hannover, 21 April 2008 - Germany and Japan plan to collaborate more closely to promote innovation. The new cooperation kicks off with the launch of a joint website, www.partner-for-innovation.de.
“Our aim with ‘Partners for Innovation’ is to encourage research and development co-operations by providing information about potential opportunities, building interest in the respective partner’s country as a base for research, and sharing knowledge,” explained Jürgen R. Thumann, president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) while presenting a new campaign to the public at the Japanese-German Business Summit, which opened this year’s HANNOVER MESSE 2008. The Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business seeks to expand its co-operation with Japan in the long term and is explicitly pursuing a joint approach.
“The joint website is expected to serve as a catalyst for innovative ideas, “ explained Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, CEO of BASF SE and Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business: “As the Land of Ideas, Germany is a tremendously attractive partner for Asia: we have the innovative power to drive tomorrow’s markets. And we are looking for partners in advanced technology like Japan, with whom we can exchange ideas. Sharing our knowledge will result in even greater shared knowledge.”
“Germany and Japan – Partner for Innovation” is the first step in a large-scale German-Japanese cooperation project to promote innovation. The project was initiated by Peter Bettermann, Chairman of the Japan Initiative of German Business and spokesman of the Freudenberg Gruppe. Further project partners include the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA), the Japan Initiative of German Business, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research by providing the platform Research in Germany, the “Germany – Land of Ideas” nation-branding initiative, the German Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) from the Japanese side.
The website will be expanded on an ongoing basis with a view to actively searching for innovation partners. As a next step, the German Chamber of Commerce in Japan (DIHKJ) will introduce an innovation award, whereby German companies with research and development activities in Japan will provide support to young Japanese scientists.
“The joint website is expected to serve as a catalyst for innovative ideas, “ explained Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, CEO of BASF SE and Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business: “As the Land of Ideas, Germany is a tremendously attractive partner for Asia: we have the innovative power to drive tomorrow’s markets. And we are looking for partners in advanced technology like Japan, with whom we can exchange ideas. Sharing our knowledge will result in even greater shared knowledge.”
“Germany and Japan – Partner for Innovation” is the first step in a large-scale German-Japanese cooperation project to promote innovation. The project was initiated by Peter Bettermann, Chairman of the Japan Initiative of German Business and spokesman of the Freudenberg Gruppe. Further project partners include the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA), the Japan Initiative of German Business, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research by providing the platform Research in Germany, the “Germany – Land of Ideas” nation-branding initiative, the German Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) from the Japanese side.
The website will be expanded on an ongoing basis with a view to actively searching for innovation partners. As a next step, the German Chamber of Commerce in Japan (DIHKJ) will introduce an innovation award, whereby German companies with research and development activities in Japan will provide support to young Japanese scientists.
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