Interview Friedrich-Leopold von Stechow, Partner für Berlin

As managing director of Partner for Berlin (Partner für Berlin), what are your primary goals in 2003/04?

During 2003/2004, as in the past, the marketing association Partner for Berlin is planning to foster interest in Berlin with a broad range of projects, initiatives, and events. Our primary aim is to sustain interest in the capital city as a place for scientific research and to awaken interest in Berlin as a center of East-West competence. The association is broadening and deepening its informational and trusteeship responsibilities. We support and help to initiate projects in Berlin. Of particular interest is the collaboration with young and creative business enterprises ­ for example, the founding partners of the Founder-Initiative (Gründer-Initiative) program.
       During my first months at Partner for Berlin we examined communication options and accordingly developed a new strategy based on given results. Since then, two fields of competence now determine the activities of Partner for Berlin. On one hand, we’re a stronger catalyst for giving impulses, as well as for coordinating over the long run several projects that would focus on Berlin’s eminent marketing status. On the other hand, we're fostering use of our private businesses and public employers. Our Public Private Partnership has proven productive and continues to be the centerpiece to strengthen the Location Berlin (Standort Berlin).
       Over the years we have earned a reputation as a competent partner in the area of marketing. We have at our disposal an effective national and international network in economics, politics, scientific research, and cultural activities ­ and we’ve enlarged it accordingly. The Berlin Senate has commissioned us exclusively for the future marketing of the capital city and its location.

What are your goals in the area of film and media?

In our publications we promote Berlin’s image as a Media City, for Berlin is truly all of that. With an annual growth of circa 8 per cent, its position as a media center is well above the federal average. In Bernd Schiphorst Berlin has a media commissioner ready and willing to answer all questions in the area of film and media. Partner for Berlin cooperates successfully with the MEDIA bureau. Last, but not least, Partner for Berlin supports the Berlinale with the allotment of airline tickets via Berlin-Partner Windrose Air Jetcharter GmbH.

How many companies belong to Partner for Berlin?

Since 1994, Partner for Berlin is responsible for the marketing of Berlin as city and location. At its founding, 15 companies and Berlin institutions acted as Berlin Partners. Currently, 116 recognized German and international companies are supportive of this singular Public Private Partnership in German location marketing. The Berlin Senate is an employer, although not a company partner.

How large is your working budget for the current year?

In 2003, a budget of Euro 7.2 million is at our disposal for the marketing of Berlin. Around Euro 2.1 million from Land Berlin are designated for specific projects. Our activities are directed towards potential investors and representatives of economics, politics, and scientific research at home and abroad, or towards visitors of Berlin and Berliners themselves.

For the third year in a row the Partner for Berlin is supporting the Founder Initiative. How many such initiatives has the Partner for Berlin supported in the past?

The Founder-Initiative 2003 was launched on 24 February 2003 by Berlin Economics Minister Harald Wolf. To as many as 20 young, innovative companies it offers a chance to be accepted free of charge as a Founding-Partner within the network of Partner for Berlin. At the first Founder-Initiative in 2001, a total of 85 companies ­ from media to international tourism, from bio-, medical- and environmental-technology to traffic-technology - applied for admission to the program, from which 13 were chosen. At the second Founder-Initiative in 2002, another 79 companies applied for admission, from which 14 were selected. The Founder-Initiative offers young companies the opportunity to make key economic and political contacts in Berlin. These young companies can take part in important programs at the very center of decision-making in politics, economics, scientific research, and social affairs. And they have the possibility to bring their own ideas into Berlin-Marketing.

What are the conditions for application to the Founder-Initiative program?

The precondition of an application is the following: The company is managed by the proprietor ­ that is, the founder is active in its management. The company has been registered in the Handelsregister for at least one year and no more than five years. The company is innovative and active in a technologically oriented sense ­ above all, in the areas of medical-technology, traffic-technology, bio-technology, environment, international tourism, media-investment, optical-technology, and environmental technology. The company has a place of business and legal seat in Berlin/Brandenburg, or it intends to open its legal seat here within the next twelve months.
       A jury then selects the Founder-Partner. The members of the jury, who are at the same time Partners of the Founder-Initiative, are the following: three banks (Berliner Volksbank, Deutsche Bank, Investitions Bank Berlin), two VC-companies (3i Deutschland, imh venture Industrie Management Holding GmbH), and three consulting agencies/investment inspectors (Ernst & Young, KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers), as well as the Existence-Founder-Institute (ExistenzGründer-Institut) and the IHK Berlin. The media partners, both of whom are Berlin-Partners, are Hundert,6-Das Superradio and FAB-Fernsehen aus Berlin.
       This year, those companies interested in the Founder-Initiative program were required to apply before 25 April 2003 under www.gruenderpartner.de. Our contact addresses for future applications: c/o Thorsten Fricke, Partner für Berlin ­ Gesellschaft für Hauptstadt-Marketing mbH, Charlottenstrasse 65, D-10117 Berlin. Tel: (+49-30) 202 40-197. Fax: (+49-30) 202 40-287.

How many Berliners take part in The Long Night of the Museums (Die lange Nacht der Museen)? In other special events launched through the auspices of Partner for Berlin?

Altogether, 200,000 &shy 250,000 visitors attend The Long Night of the Museums, which was started as an initiative by Partner for Berlin and now is organized by the Museum Educational Service (Museumspädagogisches Dienst). The Showcase Berlin (Schaustelle Berlin) 2002 offered the public more than 400 programs, scheduled over 1,600 dates, and welcomed 2,5 million visitors. To such exclusive programs with invited guests ­ for example, Berlin Lectures (Berliner Rede) and Honors for Berlin Master Cooks (Ehrung der Berlin Meisterköche) ­ around 300 to 400 chosen representatives come from the fields of politics, economics, and scientific research.

Do you have a favorite film?

Silvio Soldini’s Pani e Tulipani (Brot und Tulpen / Bread and Tulips), with Bruno Ganz.

Thank you for the interview, and continued success at Partner for Berlin.