The whole is more than the sum of its parts

Showing great foresight, a few years ago the Carinthian regional government and the Carinthian Economic Development Fund launched the “Supplier Development Programmes”. Following the first cycle, six participating SMEs now employing around 700 people and with a turnover of 90 million euros decided to continue working with each other. So remarkably successful was the group from the very start – in economic, social and cultural terms – that in 2017 it won the Carinthian Innovation Prize.

A few days ago, 35 leading figures from the companies which make up the “CG4CP – Competence Group for Clean Production” convened for the first of a regular series of leadership forums. As well as offering the chance to get to know other leaders and partner businesses better, the forum gave those in attendance the opportunity to formulate methods, tools, “basic overviews” and development goals for successful future collaboration. There was also plenty of time for dialogue and networking between the various businesses. One outcome of this year’s forum, for example, was an agreement to establish a common educational platform to open up relevant training programmes for partner businesses.