The Vision trade fair, to take place in Stuttgart, Germany from 6 to 8 November, is to feature a networking initiative financed by the European Commission.
The EC-funded Business Beyond Borders (BBB) aims to help SMEs become more active internationally, and thus increase economic growth both within and outside Europe.
In the run-up to the trade fair, exhibitors and visitors will be able to register through an online platform and create their own profile. At the trade fair itself, there will be meeting space provided and opportunities for business exchange.
The BBB initiative will take place on all three days of the trade fair, and there will be a special conference programme on the first day.
This is the first time Business Beyond Borders has been at Vision. The initiative is implemented by a consortium led by Eurochambres, the Association of European Chambers of Industry and Commerce. The consortium is made up of UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry; the European Major Exhibition Centres Association (EMECA); and Low, a strategic communication consultancy.
‘Vision is one of 10 trade fairs in strategically relevant future-oriented sectors in Europe and worldwide at which the BBB programme supports participating SMEs in developing their international business. Owing to the high degree of internationalisation of trade fairs in Europe, they provide an effective diving springboard, especially for SMEs,’ commented Barbara Weizsäcker, general secretary of EMECA and the European Exhibition Industry Alliance.
‘It is our aim to involve both European and non-European companies in the matchmaking programme, and to facilitate hundreds of meetings on-site,’ added Sara Lanzilotta, team leader for Business Beyond Borders at Eurochambres.
Florian Niethammer, project manager for Vision, stated: ‘We are delighted that Vision has been selected for the BBB matchmaking programme of the European Commission, and we are convinced that this cooperation will greatly benefit the trade fair.’
