Summary

Regional actors from the public and private sector in the Central Baltic have not found efficient ways to fully take advantage of their contacts with and interest from China for the benefit of SMEs in the region. Many SMEs lack knowledge and best practice examples on how to do business with China.

The BENCH project focuses on increasing trade with China as well as inward investments from China for the benefit of the trade and industry in the Central Baltic region. The partners develop joint working methods on how the region can take better advantage of already established contacts with China and how the
public sector can support the trade and industry in that process.

The BENCH project maps companies that are interested in doing business in China as well as clusters and investment environments. By carrying out surveys, the partners can identify opportunities and obstacles for export to China. Workshops and seminars are arranged to improve the knowledge and skills of the involved
organizations, and training programmes are being carried out for companies interested in doing business with China.

Lead Partner:
County Administrative Board of Östergötland, Sweden (Linköping)
www.lansstyrelsen.se/ostergotland

Other partners:
Center for Environmental Technology (MTC), Sweden (Linköping)
Östsam Regional Development Council, Sweden (Linköping)
Linköping University, Sweden (Linköping)
Aalto University, School of Science and Technology, Lahti Center, Finland (Lahti)
Lahti Regional Development Company Ltd, Finland (Lahti)
Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Estonia (Tallinn)
University of Tartu, Estonia (Tartu)
Tartu Science Park, Estonia (Tartu)

(The text above is the official BENCH project description at Central Baltic Interreg IV A.)

Page responsible: anna.ohrwall.ronnback@liu.se
Last updated: 2010-10-10