Annual Report 2010 (4.1 MB) - Danish Technological Institute

Cases > Business Development
Page >
47
Case
24
Danish companies
and researchers on
the growth bandwagon
in China
Central Jutland companies and
researchers must get in on the
positive economic trends in China
say Central Denmark Region politicians,
who have earmarked EUR
1.1 million for the purpose.
The MIDTNET programme is Central
Denmark Region’s helping hand to
a wide group of private and public
companies and knowledge institutions
in the region wanting to participate
in joint knowledge and development
cooperation projects with similar
partners in Shanghai, China. The cooperation
will lead to specific projects
in three overarching networks: IT,
energy & environment and health &
life science.
Together with AU Outreach at Aarhus
University, the Danish Technological
Institute is charged with initiating,
supporting and managing the networks
and projects both technically
and culturally. This is to be achieved
in cooperation with the business
and development councils in Central
Denmark Region, Innovation Center
Denmark in Shanghai and the Shanghai
Municipal Science and Technology
Commission.
60 participants
The initiative originates in Growth
Forum in Central Denmark Region,
which expects the network cooperation
to result in a host of specific development
projects with one or more
companies and public knowledge
institutions from both countries taking
part. In total, some 60 companies
and knowledge institutions will come
into play in various projects. Central
Denmark Region is looking forward to
seeing the results of the new initiative:
- MIDTNET represents a unique possibility
for companies and knowledge
institutions in Central Denmark to
work jointly with an international
knowledge capital and thus generate
growth based on state-of-the-art
knowledge. However, moving into a
new market can be difficult. There’re
many barriers, but the MIDTNET
programme offers much help, says
Kaj Vestergaard Nielsen, Head of
Research and Development, Central
Denmark Region.
To support the projects initiated, the
Danish Technological Institute organises
regular seminars, workshops and
project development meetings in both
Central Denmark and Shanghai in
cooperation with the various partners.
The Danish Technological Institute
also lends financial support to help
knowledge holders mature companies’
and researchers’ specific projects and
determines whether other relevant
support schemes exist. A minimum
of 12 ongoing development projects
will receive project maturing support
before 31 July 2013.
The Danish Technological Institute
has also set up the www.midtnet.com
web portal. Its objective is to facilitate
contact between participants in the
various networks and projects and
cooperation across national borders.
This makes MIDTNET an obvious
opportunity for Central Denmark
companies and researchers looking
to embark on knowledge cooperation
with China and book a seat on the
growth bandwagon.