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.
About the APA
The Asia-Pacific Committee represents German companies with business operations in Asia to the political community in Germany and in the Asian partner countries, and serves as an organ to formulate interests pertaining to Asia-related economic policy. The aim is to intensify collaboration with countries in the Asia-Pacific region and to promote trade and investments in both directions. In times of growing global economic challenge and increasing importance of the Asia-Pacific markets, the overall strategic concept is to orchestrate change with Asia, keeping in mind the key points ‘Partnership, Innovation, Sustainability’. As a joint initiative between the sponsoring organisations BDI, DIHK, OAV, BGA and the Association of German Banks, the APA bundles the business and economic policy concerns of German companies with stakes in the Asia-Pacific region. The APA is chaired by Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, Chairman & CEO of BASF SE.
Contact:
Friedolin Strack, APA Coordinator Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 30-2028-1423;
E-mail: f.strack@bdi.eu
“Germany – Land of Ideas” is a joint nation-branding initiative by the German government and German business, represented by the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Germany’s Federal President Horst Köhler is the patron of the initiative, which aims to convey a positive image of Germany at home and abroad and emphasise the country's strengths as a place of business. The core message of all activities pursued by the nation-branding initiative is “Germany – leading through innovation.” The “Germany – Land of Ideas” initiative is funded by the “Deutschland – Land der Ideen e.V.” society and the “Marketing für Deutschland GmbH.”
www.land-of-ideas.org
Contact:
Urte Lützen, Press Officer
Phone: +49 (0) 30-206549-41;
E-mail luetzen@land-der-ideen.de
“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.
About the APA
The Asia-Pacific Committee represents German companies with business operations in Asia to the political community in Germany and in the Asian partner countries, and serves as an organ to formulate interests pertaining to Asia-related economic policy. The aim is to intensify collaboration with countries in the Asia-Pacific region and to promote trade and investments in both directions. In times of growing global economic challenge and increasing importance of the Asia-Pacific markets, the overall strategic concept is to orchestrate change with Asia, keeping in mind the key points ‘Partnership, Innovation, Sustainability’. As a joint initiative between the sponsoring organisations BDI, DIHK, OAV, BGA and the Association of German Banks, the APA bundles the business and economic policy concerns of German companies with stakes in the Asia-Pacific region. The APA is chaired by Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, Chairman & CEO of BASF SE.
Contact:
Friedolin Strack, APA Coordinator Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 30-2028-1423;
E-mail: f.strack@bdi.eu
“Germany – Land of Ideas” is a joint nation-branding initiative by the German government and German business, represented by the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Germany’s Federal President Horst Köhler is the patron of the initiative, which aims to convey a positive image of Germany at home and abroad and emphasise the country's strengths as a place of business. The core message of all activities pursued by the nation-branding initiative is “Germany – leading through innovation.” The “Germany – Land of Ideas” initiative is funded by the “Deutschland – Land der Ideen e.V.” society and the “Marketing für Deutschland GmbH.”
www.land-of-ideas.org
Contact:
Urte Lützen, Press Officer
Phone: +49 (0) 30-206549-41;
E-mail luetzen@land-der-ideen.de
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