Not brash, but effective: Why international cooperation works in Carinthia
When you talk to Daniela Stein, you quickly realise what drives her. And it’s not programmes or slogans. It’s bringing people together. “Today, international networks are often created in anonymous metropolises, on large stages and in standardised formats. But true collaboration needs more than visibility – it needs trust,” she says.
As a passionate networker, Daniela Stein pays close attention to where encounters occur and where they are lacking. As the founder and managing director of Business Frauen Center (BFC) Kärnten, the Carinthian Business Women’s Centre, she is not complaining about these gaps but is rather making use of them – for example with the BFC Future Expo trade fair.
The BFC Future Expo in Carinthia is more than just a traditional business fair. It is a curated meeting space for entrepreneurs, managers, founders and international partners who want to work together on future issues. In addition to international keynotes and slots from well-known companies, the format focuses on dialogue, co-creation and concrete collaboration. Topics such as leadership, diversity, innovation and sustainable management take centre stage – always with the aim of turning these ideas into viable networks and projects.
A location without metropolitan mechanics
For Daniela Stein, the fact that this format works so well in Carinthia is thanks to a special feature of the location: “Carinthia is not an urban powerhouse like Vienna or Munich, not somewhere with permanent event operations. But this is precisely what opens up space for new ideas and offers for international, open target groups.”
In addition to this is Carinthia’s geographical location in the border triangle and the historical ties between the regions. “There is an incredible amount of potential,” says Daniela Stein. She therefore sees the BFC Future Expo as a meeting place for people who work internationally, think entrepreneurially and are keen to engage in dialogue across borders. “We provide the space for this and invite everyone to get involved. The event is community-driven and open to all. The International Corner offers a Meet & Match Area and keynotes in English.”
Daniela Stein
“Carinthia is a place where you can not only see yourself working but also raising a family and watching your children grow up. The fast connection to urban hotspots via the Koralm Railway complements the professional opportunities – and creates a balance between quality of life and dynamism.”
Foto: Sadnikar
View from Germany: Proximity creates commitment
One person who immediately recognised the value of this approach is Tina Ruseva. The founder and CEO of the mentoring platform Mentessa is an expert in team culture as well as an author who has been working at the interface of leadership, diversity and networks in Germany and internationally for years. As a successful digital entrepreneur, Ruseva is therefore very familiar with large formats, big stages and complex ecosystems.
It is therefore interesting to see why Carinthia stands out for her. “Community is a tangible part of everyday life here. The scenic beauty, the high quality of life and the location between several countries create an openness that facilitates ‘chance’ encounters,” she reports on her experiences. “People get into dialogue with each other more quickly here. Not out of duty, but out of interest.”
The difference to Germany lies less in the high standards than in the way in which networks are created. “Here, they work more through personal closeness and shared values. Less formal, but very binding.”
At the BFC Future Expo, she experienced how conversations quickly turn into concrete ideas. “You can tell that people feel responsible for their location. That is entrepreneurial spirit.” What she takes away from this is of more value to her than a mere collection of contacts. “I take away a certain attitude: the experience that collaboration is at its most effective when it is based on trust and appreciation,” she says.
“Networking has become a key competence. In an accelerated working world, solutions are increasingly being developed jointly – across disciplines, industries and hierarchies. Carinthia shows how international openness, value-orientation and community can work together – and how this can lead to sustainable cooperation.”
Foto: Mentessa GmbH
View from Italy: Reliable cooperation in the Alpine-Adriatic region
Paola Strozzi has also benefited from this approach. “The BFC Future Expo was not about self-promotion, but about exchange. About inspiration and new connections,” she says. Born in Italy, she is honorary consul for Italy in Klagenfurt and advises numerous entrepreneurs from Italy with RK&P Wirtschaftsprüfung und Steuerberatung GmbH, an accounting firm.
The historical ties in the Alpine-Adriatic region can still be felt today. In her view, however, it is more important that institutions, business and research actively work together here. “Carinthia scores points above all for its short distances, direct contacts and strong links between business, research and start-ups. This facilitates cooperation enormously,” she explains. With locations such as Lakeside Science & Technology Park and focal points in areas such as AI, green tech, drones, robotics and logistics, the region offers ideal conditions for this.
Personal and easily accessible networks are particularly important in economically uncertain times. “You can sense a real willingness to work together here. Carinthia is a good partner when it comes to developing European markets together,” says Paola Strozzi.
Paola Strozzi
“Carinthia’s advantages are its openness, strong research and innovation structures and international networking.”
View from Slovenia: Dynamics through manageability
Karmen Zagar, shareholder of the FOOD.com Group with locations in Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, also describes the location first by its size – or more precisely by what it creates: “The structures are manageable. This enables a direct dialogue between retailers, producers, start-ups and innovation partners.”
Compared to more centralised markets, networks here are less fragmented. “You meet the right people more quickly in Carinthia and discussions lead to concrete projects more quickly. At the same time, Carinthia’s geographical location and international orientation make it a natural bridgehead to the Alpine-Adriatic region – an advantage that makes the exchange between established companies, regional producers and international partners particularly effective.”
She experienced precisely this dynamic at the BFC Future Expo. “I was surprised by how focussed and on an equal footing people work here. Discussions quickly resulted in feasible approaches.” For her, Carinthia is a place where ideas don’t circulate for long before being tried out. “It’s a development area in which economic cooperation really comes into being,” she says.
“I would definitely recommend Carinthia as a location for collaborations, projects and networks. Carinthia offers a unique mix of high quality of life, good accessibility and an open, dynamic economic and innovation landscape.”
Impact instead of size
All four women agree that it is not the event density or location size that is decisive when it comes to impact, but rather the proximity and the quality of the relationship. Or as Daniela Stein puts it pragmatically: “We can only master the future together. Small and large companies. Men and women. Across industries.”
