Network Projects

On this page you can find the current network building projects of Berlin’s Program for Internationalization:

• Africa Berlin Tech Network
• Berlin Cooperation Automotive Network – BeCAN 2.0
• Berlin Future Hub
• Berlin goes International
• Energy Network for Berlin & Africa
• Expansion Lab
• Fashion Forward Network
• GETA International
• Int.Rail.Trent KNRBB-Networking
• International Club Exchange
• medianet GAMES International – Transatlantic
• Oder-Partnerschaft: Netzwerk Medizintourismus
• Phoenix Pen
• Urban Innovation

Africa Berlin Tech Network

• Organization: BlackIn Tech UG
• Project period: 14.09.2023 – 30.11.2025
• Target regions: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Egypt, Ghana
• Target industries: Software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT)
• Website
• Description: The mission is to create a sustainable, interconnected network that bridges the technology landscapes of Berlin and Africa. This initiative will facilitate the exchange of resources, talent, business collaborations and cultural understanding, providing a wealth of opportunities for mutual growth and development between Berlin and the selected African tech hubs.
  Project components to be supported: Insight exchange program, joint technology events, network on investment opportunities, information sharing programs on education systems, innovation spaces/hub networking.
  Objective: To foster growth and collaboration between Berlin’s dynamic technology sector and rapidly developing technology ecosystems in Africa.

Berlin Cooperation Automotive Network- BeCAN 2.0

• Organization: aBB automotive BerlinBrandenburg e.V.
• Project period: 30.05.2023 – 30.11.2025
• Target regions: Japan, Vietnam, China
• Target industries: Automotive supply industry
• Website
• Description: The project leads to an improvement of the economic framework conditions for Berlin SMEs in the automotive supply industry through the initiation and realization of international economic and partner purposes in the ASEAN+3 community of states.
  The project aims to provide effective support for the automotive and supplier industry based in the Berlin metropolitan region in the associated international transformation requirements. By developing and establishing new and consolidating existing international networks and industry platforms, the aim is to build a networking ecosystem for the companies in order to support them in diversifying their international activities, cooperations and supply chains.

Berlin Future Hub

• Organization: Urban Impact Berlin GmbH
• Project period: 28.07.2023 – 31.10.2025
• Target regions: USA, UK and Poland
• Target industries: innoBB cluster industries
• Website
• Description: Through Urban Impact’s positioning in the Berlin ecosystem, they aim to strengthen connections and facilitate exchange between those working on the capital’s sustainable future. Starting with a comprehensive guide to Berlin’s impact and innovation ecosystem, they will lay the foundation for positioning Berlin as a global leader in innovation, impact and climate initiatives. The outbound activities will include exchange formats such as salons, webinars or workshops in an international context.

Berlin goes International

• Organization: Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH
• Project period: 14.08.2023 – 31.01.2025
• Target regions: worldwide
• Target industries: innoBB cluster industries
• Website: The activities taking place as part of the project are listed here
• Description: The project objectives are to support Berlin’s economy, in particular SMEs and research institutes in all clusters, in their internationalization (expansion of activities to other countries, focus on generating relevant contacts); the acquisition of strategic cooperation and network partners in the most important Berlin target markets; the development of relevant contacts (leads); and the improvement of the presence and visibility of the business location.

Energy Network for Berlin & Africa

• Organization: Westerwelle Foundation
• Project period: 08.09.2023 – 30.11.2024
• Target regions: Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa
• Target industries: Energy technology
• Website
• Description: The “Berlin-Africa Energy Network” project aims to promote the development and networking of long-term international cooperation processes and the initiation of cooperation with international networks in the energy ecosystems of Berlin and Africa. As part of this project, participating companies are provided with information about the African markets, a network is established and a framework is created to strengthen strategic partnerships.

Expansion Lab

• Organization: betahaus
• Project period: 17.02.2023 – 31.05.2025
• Target regions: South Korea, India, Southeast Asia
• Target industries: ICT, media and creative industries
• Website
• Description: The Asia Accelerator Program aims to make it easier for Berlin-based companies and ecosystem developers to enter the Asian market.
  The target group consists of Berlin-based companies (SMEs and start-ups), research institutions, investors and institutions supporting founders who have a market orientation behind them and have a concrete interest in entering the market or building economic relationships with partners from the target region.
  For the start of the program, the focus is on early-stage start-ups as well as small and medium-sized companies from Berlin.

Fashion Forward Network

• Organization: Fashion Council Germany e.V.
• Project period: 16.02.2023 – 30.11.2025
• Target regions: USA
• Target industries: Creative industries
• Website
• Description: As part of the networking and internationalization project, Sourcebook and the Fashion Council Germany use workshop formats and expert knowledge and expertise to communicate about sustainability and innovation in the fashion and textile industry. The aim is to establish the use of innovative processes and technologies in the long term so that compliance with the guiding principles for achieving the goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda can be guaranteed.

Int.Rail.Trent KNRBB-Networking: internationale Transformation und Entwicklung

• Organization: Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH
• Project period: 27.08.2023 – 30.11.2024
• Target regions: Poland, Sweden, Denmark
• Target industries: Transportation, mobility, logistics
• Website
• Description: The Int.Rail.Trent project focuses on the transformation that regional SMEs need to undergo in order to remain internationally competitive in the long term. In addition, the focus is on digitalization, networking and flexibilization of cross-company production processes, resilient supply chains, the development of data ecosystems, decarbonization of industrial processes and innovative strength.
  As a cooperation network in the field of rail transport technology, the Int.Rail.Trent project focuses on transformation and development, which is understood as the introduction of Berlin SMEs to international project initiation and development as well as the removal of barriers to cross-border cooperation. Berlin companies are to be brought together in international networks for the upcoming transfer processes in relation to clean technologies, resilience, digitalization and cross clusters.

GETA International

• Organization: Digital Urban Center for Aging & Health eG (DUCAH eG)
• Project period: 01.02.2024 – 31.07.2025
• Target regions: Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region and California, USA
• Target industries: Social and health economy, Technology
• Website
• Description: The aim of the project is to establish a transfer network of contacts from the social, health and technology sectors in the greater Berlin area and Californian companies from these sectors in order to sustainably improve the living conditions of older people. As part of this network, the participants will gain faster access to validated innovations, expertise, best practices and evaluation results from the other country. An exchange of experience that can lead to the joint, international and intersectional development of new products and raise the expansion potential for Berlin companies to a new level. This can increase Berlin’s attractiveness for start-ups from all over the world.

International Club Exchange

• Organization: Clubcommission Netzwerk der Berliner Clubkultur e.V.
• Project period: 24.03.2023 – 31.08.2025
• Target regions: Poland, Spain, Ukraine
• Target industries: ICT/media/creative industries
• Website
• Description: The project focuses on expanding and strengthening international networking with other club scenes and cities (Poland, Spain) with the aim of sustainably promoting Berlin’s club culture and building long-term networks.
  It includes visits to the respective club metropolises with selected delegates, the planning of discussion events in the respective cities, public relations work, a roundtable in Berlin, as well as needs analyses of Berlin’s club culture and evaluation of the networking activities.

medianet GAMES International – Transatlantic

• Organization: medianet berlinbrandenburg e.V.
• Project period: 11.04.2023 – 30.11.2024
• Target regions: USA, France, Canada
• Target industries: Games, ICT, media and creative industries
• Website
• Description: The aim is to open up one of the world’s largest and most important markets in the games industry, the leading market USA, to strengthen the connection to the neighboring German market France and to discover the exciting, up-and-coming market Canada.
  The activities are divided into the following areas: The expansion of the project’s digital visibility and reach; the general networking of individual companies, but also with multipliers such as events, associations and clusters/hubs; as well as the strengthening of sustainable, resilient structures and improved documentation.

PHOENIX PEN

• Organization: Optec-Berlin-Brandenburg (OpTecBB) e.V.
• Project period: 12.07.2023 – 31.10.2024
• Target regions: Poland, Spain and the Netherlands
• Target industries: Optics and photonics
• Website
• Description: The project is intended to support and accompany internationalization in the three countries that are important for phonetics and microelectronics – Poland, the Netherlands and Spain – for photonics, which is primarily dominated by SMEs in this area. The main competencies of the companies and research institutions lie in the fields of action and key areas of work are lighting technology, laser technology, biophotonics and ophthalmic optics, photonics and quantum technology for communication and sensor technology, optical analytics, UV & X-ray, optical design and optical simulation as well as microelectronics and microsystems technology. The main areas of application are Industry 4.0, intelligent mobility, digital health, smart cities, the Internet of Things, 5G and agritech.

Funding for the network building projects of Berlin’s Program for Internationalization is provided by the State of Berlin and the European Regional Development Fund.