Next Business Generation
17 May 2004 - 18 May 2004
Germany
Next Business Generation,International Conference of the 4-Motor Regions,17-18 May 2004, Stuttgart, Germany
Further organisers include Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum Stuttgart, Innovation Relay Centre for South Germany and the German speaking part of Switzerland.
Starting Point:,The ageing society and demographic changes are increasingly becoming the focus of public discussion. In addition to the social consequences, socio-economic aspects are gaining importance. If the challenges of business succession are not managed successfully, thousands of jobs are in danger and the local economic infrastructure will change substantially due to the retirement of the post-war generation of entrepreneurs.
In the years 2002-2007, statistics show that between 11 and 15 % of all enterprises situated in Baden-Württemberg will need to find a successors for their businesses. This concerns some 45,000 to 60,000 enterprises. Catalonia, Lombardy and Rhône- Alpes and Wales, partner regions in the context of the "Four Motors for Europe", are confronted with similarl problems regarding enterprise succession. As a result of these statistics, the leaders of the economics departments of the regions, who co-operate in the framework of the of the "Four Motors" working group for economics, have therefore decided to organise an international conference concerning this topic under the leadership of Baden-Württemberg.
According to the European Commission's BEST report published in July 2002, approximately one third of all EU companies will change hands in the next ten years. In the Member States between 25 - 40% of all SMEs will be transferred. This means an average of 610,000 enterprises which will have to tackle business succession each year, potentially affecting 2.4 million jobs. Despite the individual differences in the Member States the BEST report reveals the following general trends:
- An increased importance of business transfers as a policy issue due to the high and rising number of transfers within the next ten years.,- An increasing number of business transfers will take place outside the family to third parties.,- An increasing number of entrepreneurs stay in the same enterprise for shorter periods of time, not a life time.,- Personal decisions (early retirement, change of profession, family situation, etc.), changing competitiveness (changing markets, new products, new channels of distribution, etc.) and age will increasingly be the trigger for business transfers.
Thus it is necessary to raise awareness among business owners and supporters and to promote the process of business transfer. Furthermore it is crucial to motivate young people to consider the challenges of taking over an existing business instead of starting a new one.
Objectives and Thematic Focus of the Conference:,The conference will be a platform for the essential and vital dialogue between decision makers, experts in economic development, entrepreneurs and citizens. Information will be provided describing the current situation and the challenges to be faced in the transfer of businesses to future generations as well as about good practice examples from Germany and other European countries.
The conference will highlight the following thematic aspects:,Awareness problem: How to create awareness among entrepreneurs and decision makers?,Instruments of support: What can public authorities do to support business transfers?,Matching: How to bring business owners and successors together?,Qualification and Consulting: How to prepare for business transfer, especially in the field of transfer planning for the business owner and training of the successor?,Financing: How the take over of an existing enterprise is financed? What alternatives are there to buying a firm?
Target Groups:,The conference is directed at people and organisations concerned with providing and actively funding support mechanisms and advisory services in entrepreneurship and business transfer, as well as members of the public who would like to have the opportunity to enter into dialogue with business development agencies providing such services.
Participants may come from,_ Administrations on regional and local levels,_ Banks,_ Chambers of Commerce,_ Chambers of Crafts,_ Consulting companies,_ Economic associations,_ Economic development,_ Education,_ Labour offices,_ NGOs,_ Press
Conference venue: König-Karl-Halle, Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart, Germany,Conference dates: Monday, 17 May and Tuesday, 18 May 2004,Conference languages: German and English,Participation: Free of chargeFurther Information,Christina Diegelmann, Ministry of Economic Affairs State of Baden-Wurttemberg,Tel. +49-711-123-2237 fax +49-711-123-2174,E-mail: christina.diegelmann@wm.bwl.de,Tracey French, Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum (Event Management),Tel. +49-711-123-4015, Fax +49-711-123-4011,,E-mail: french@steinbeis-europa.de,
Further organisers include Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum Stuttgart, Innovation Relay Centre for South Germany and the German speaking part of Switzerland.
Starting Point:,The ageing society and demographic changes are increasingly becoming the focus of public discussion. In addition to the social consequences, socio-economic aspects are gaining importance. If the challenges of business succession are not managed successfully, thousands of jobs are in danger and the local economic infrastructure will change substantially due to the retirement of the post-war generation of entrepreneurs.
In the years 2002-2007, statistics show that between 11 and 15 % of all enterprises situated in Baden-Württemberg will need to find a successors for their businesses. This concerns some 45,000 to 60,000 enterprises. Catalonia, Lombardy and Rhône- Alpes and Wales, partner regions in the context of the "Four Motors for Europe", are confronted with similarl problems regarding enterprise succession. As a result of these statistics, the leaders of the economics departments of the regions, who co-operate in the framework of the of the "Four Motors" working group for economics, have therefore decided to organise an international conference concerning this topic under the leadership of Baden-Württemberg.
According to the European Commission's BEST report published in July 2002, approximately one third of all EU companies will change hands in the next ten years. In the Member States between 25 - 40% of all SMEs will be transferred. This means an average of 610,000 enterprises which will have to tackle business succession each year, potentially affecting 2.4 million jobs. Despite the individual differences in the Member States the BEST report reveals the following general trends:
- An increased importance of business transfers as a policy issue due to the high and rising number of transfers within the next ten years.,- An increasing number of business transfers will take place outside the family to third parties.,- An increasing number of entrepreneurs stay in the same enterprise for shorter periods of time, not a life time.,- Personal decisions (early retirement, change of profession, family situation, etc.), changing competitiveness (changing markets, new products, new channels of distribution, etc.) and age will increasingly be the trigger for business transfers.
Thus it is necessary to raise awareness among business owners and supporters and to promote the process of business transfer. Furthermore it is crucial to motivate young people to consider the challenges of taking over an existing business instead of starting a new one.
Objectives and Thematic Focus of the Conference:,The conference will be a platform for the essential and vital dialogue between decision makers, experts in economic development, entrepreneurs and citizens. Information will be provided describing the current situation and the challenges to be faced in the transfer of businesses to future generations as well as about good practice examples from Germany and other European countries.
The conference will highlight the following thematic aspects:,Awareness problem: How to create awareness among entrepreneurs and decision makers?,Instruments of support: What can public authorities do to support business transfers?,Matching: How to bring business owners and successors together?,Qualification and Consulting: How to prepare for business transfer, especially in the field of transfer planning for the business owner and training of the successor?,Financing: How the take over of an existing enterprise is financed? What alternatives are there to buying a firm?
Target Groups:,The conference is directed at people and organisations concerned with providing and actively funding support mechanisms and advisory services in entrepreneurship and business transfer, as well as members of the public who would like to have the opportunity to enter into dialogue with business development agencies providing such services.
Participants may come from,_ Administrations on regional and local levels,_ Banks,_ Chambers of Commerce,_ Chambers of Crafts,_ Consulting companies,_ Economic associations,_ Economic development,_ Education,_ Labour offices,_ NGOs,_ Press
Conference venue: König-Karl-Halle, Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart, Germany,Conference dates: Monday, 17 May and Tuesday, 18 May 2004,Conference languages: German and English,Participation: Free of chargeFurther Information,Christina Diegelmann, Ministry of Economic Affairs State of Baden-Wurttemberg,Tel. +49-711-123-2237 fax +49-711-123-2174,E-mail: christina.diegelmann@wm.bwl.de,Tracey French, Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum (Event Management),Tel. +49-711-123-4015, Fax +49-711-123-4011,,E-mail: french@steinbeis-europa.de,