Go International - 10 Year Ex-perience on Practical Work

Christoph Beer, ICT Cluster Bern, Switzerland and mundi consulting ag, Switzerland

Parallel Session 2.4: Successful Internationalization Strategies – Part 1

Why is it important to follow a strategy in the internationalisation support in a

cluster like ICT Cluster Bern, Switzerland?

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Question

Go International

Zurich

Berne

Basel

Geneva

Konstanz

WinterthurSt.Gallen

Vaduz

ChurZernez

St.Moritz

LuganoBellinzonaLocarno

Montreux

Martigny

SionBrig

Lausanne

Neuenburg

Freiburg

Gstaad

Thun

Interlaken

Biel ZugLuzern

AUSTRIA

ITALY

FRANCE

GERMANY

by car/train within 1 hour

Population: 8,014,000 (2012)Density: 176 inhabitants/km2Federal State since 184823 Cantons

Central Location

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Facts tcbe.ch - ICT Cluster Bern, Switzerland

Founded: 13.12.1996The tcbe.ch is a non-commercial association (Article 60 of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB)).Target:ICT Cluster Bern is a collaboration between companies, training institutions, trade associations and local authorities with the aim of strengthening the telecommunications and IT sector in our economic region.220 members including companies (suppliers and users), Government, Education, ICT-organisations.

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Organisation

tcbe.ch is organised as a PPP (Public Private Partnership)

General Assembly

Cluster Board

ClusterManagement

WorkingGroup 1

Working Group 2

WorkingGroup 3

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Main Topics of the cluster

• Networking• Go international (Import and Export-Promotion)• Education• Knowledge and technology transfer / Innovation• Experience exchange / Centres of Competence• Communication / focus• Promotion of the region• Inter-/cross-clustering

Why Go International?

Switzerland is a small country “special” markets have not enough potential Export Nation Missing critical mass for all

existing ICT companies

Who should go international?Which is the perfect timing?

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Question

Go International

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Go internationalThree Pillar Model

©Three-Pillar-Model by Beer

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Internationalisation

The ICT Cluster Bern is implementing an “internationalisationsupport” for its members. This support includes thefollowing key elements:• Economic-excursions for know-how sharing and business

initiation• Building an international network focussed on ICT• Initiation of international joint projects• Import and export oriented actions• Member of TCI• Head of European Cluster Manager award (2010/2012)• Winner European Cluster Manager award 2008

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Economic excursions

In 2005 the ICT Cluster Bern organised an excursion to NRW/Germany. In 2006 the cluster organised an excursion to London and East England. In 2007 the cluster organised an excursion to Tampere, Finland. In 2008 the cluster organised an excursion to Ludwigsburg, Germany. In 2009 the cluster organised an excursion to Vienna, Linz and Hagenberg, Austria and to Brandenburg, GermanyIn 2010 the cluster organised an excursion to Karlsruhe and KaiserslauternIn 2011 the cluster organised an excursion to HungaryIn 2012 the cluster organised an excursion to Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg and to CeBITIn 2013 the cluster organised an excursion to Barcelona, SpainIn 2014 the cluster organised an excursion to San Francisco, Silicon ValleyIn 2015 the cluster organised an excursion to Hanoi, HCMC, Vietnam

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2015 Hanoi and HCMC

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Benefit of Business Missions

• Team building for “locals”• Knowledge transfer in a special technical topic• Rising knowledge about a region, a country, a culture• Matching with potential business partners or clients

Bundling of knowledge as preparation for new innovation and business development

Project-Flow Elmo’s

•Identification of existing Knowledge

•Definition of future needed Knowledge

•Close the Gap with aJoint Action plan

Electro Mobility as a Tool for Regional Development

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Benefit of cross border projects

• Frame for presenting the knowledge and experience on an international level

• Common work, common success and frustration• Sometimes public funding

Trust building for future cooperation, research or business development

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10 year Go international

• The cluster was able to attract the own members as well as foreign companies and organizations for common activities

• We have a business roaming agreement which supports business all over the world

• Cross border projects and business partnerships are initiated or already implemented

• The cluster and the former cluster- manager are well known around the world

Go international is a strategy! It needs long term activities and motivated persons

Contact

ICT Cluster Bernmundi consulting ag

Christoph BeerCluster-Manager / CEOPhone: +41 31 326 76 76Mobile: +41 79 608 18 13Christoph.Beer@mundiconsulting.com