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Food and High Tech Brokers with Germany
Published on 15 February 2019
Netherlands
Overijssel
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Borders are too often a limitation to economic cooperation, even in the free market of the EU. Germany is our biggest trade partner and the province of Overijssel is closer to the german border than to Amsterdam for example. However, many SME's do not trade with Germany. This is a missed opportunity.
Through the East Netherlands Development Agency the Province of Overijssel appointed two 'brokers' whom tasks are to connect Dutch and German ecosystems to eachother to foster trade, innovation and cooperation.
Their job focuses on connecting, informing and facilitating Dutch and German parties. They do this by exploring opportunities for SME's, educational institutes and governments. The fields in which they operate are:
- High Tech Systems and Materials
- Agro-food
- Energy
- Innovation
- INTERREG projects
The focus regions are all within the state of Nordrhein Westfalen and are the Ruhr area, Ost Westfalen Lippe and Munster area.
Through the East Netherlands Development Agency the Province of Overijssel appointed two 'brokers' whom tasks are to connect Dutch and German ecosystems to eachother to foster trade, innovation and cooperation.
Their job focuses on connecting, informing and facilitating Dutch and German parties. They do this by exploring opportunities for SME's, educational institutes and governments. The fields in which they operate are:
- High Tech Systems and Materials
- Agro-food
- Energy
- Innovation
- INTERREG projects
The focus regions are all within the state of Nordrhein Westfalen and are the Ruhr area, Ost Westfalen Lippe and Munster area.
Resources needed
Two FTE and an organisation to embed this.
Evidence of success
- Three Dutch-German networks created
- Explored all relevant german networks
- Contacted 50% of German networks
- More knowledge of Dutch opportunities in Germany
- Facilitation of new Interreg projects
- Explored all relevant german networks
- Contacted 50% of German networks
- More knowledge of Dutch opportunities in Germany
- Facilitation of new Interreg projects
Potential for learning or transfer
Borders are too often a limitation to economic cooperation, even in the free market of the EU. Germany is our biggest trade partner and the province of Overijssel is closer to the german border than to Amsterdam for example. However, many SME's do not trade with Germany. This is a missed opportunity and one which the brokers are here to attain.
This approach can easily be copied by other border regions.
This approach can easily be copied by other border regions.
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Province of Overijssel
Netherlands
Overijssel
Contact
Policy Developer