Alberta-Germany Matchmaking Symposia 2015

Also in 2015, the GCCIR organized a matchmaking trip to Germany for 17 Albertan companies from October 14 to 23, 2015. This time, the trip started in Paris where representatives of the GCCIR and the Albertan companies attended the World Efficiency Congress and learned about resource and climate solutions.

After the short stay in Paris the Canadian delegation continued its travel to Germany where the GCCIR organized matchmaking symposia in Munich, Stuttgart and Berlin in cooperation with its German partners. Each individual event featured presentations on the Province of Alberta, the Alberta-Germany Collaboration Fund, and the funding available through the GCCIR’s German counterpart, the German federal government’s Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM). Keynote speeches were delivered by Dr. Wolfgang Hübschle (Executive Director, Invest in Bavaria), Dr. Michaela Voss (Ministry of Finance and Economics Baden-Württemberg), and Dr. Kai Bindseil (Head of Division “Life Sciences & Health Industry” at Berlin Partner) in Munich, Stuttgart, and Berlin, respectively.

After the official program and company introductions, the companies had the opportunity in each city to network with others in their sector in order to create new connections and strengthen existing ones through one-on-one discussions. The Albertan company representatives also had the opportunity to visit the Ayinger Brewery outside of Munich, the Daimler Museum in Stuttgart, and the Technologiepark Humboldthain in Berlin. The matchmaking trip ended in Berlin at the restaurant Käfer, which is located on the roof of the German Reichstag.