Every two years since its inception, FemCAT has organized a benchmarking trip aimed at observing first-hand some aspect in which the country being visited is a world leader. Through observation and conversation, it’s possible to extract the most important lessons, which can then be reproduced back home in Catalonia.
9A EDICIÓ (2021-2022): VIATGE DE BENCHMARKING A CATALUNYA
En el context pandèmic i amb les restriccions per a viatjar a l’estranger, es van transformar les limitacions en una ocasió de repensar l’oferta i proposar un Viatge de benchmarking a Catalunya amb l'objectiu de (re)descobrir l’ecosistema empresarial a Catalunya, (re)apreciar la innovació de les empreses catalanes, (re)connectar amb la comunitat FemCAT, tot i comparant-ho amb els aprenentatges que vam fer gràcies als viatges de benchmarking precedents.
8th EDITION (2019): E-STATE AND INNOVATION: ESTONIA AND FINLAND
Estonia’s “e-Government” stands out for its technology and digitalisation at every level, including administration, electronic voting, healthcare and business (e-residency, start-ups). In that country, the Internet is a social right. 99% of services are online, and only three procedures – getting married, getting divorced and buying and selling real estate – have to be carried out in person. The trip ended in Helsinki, where the subject of digitalisation and the commitment to research and innovation as a country strategy was resumed.
7th EDITION (2017): PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION AND WELFARE STATE: DENMARK
The trip to Denmark has allowed us to observe and learn about the degree of cooperation between different stakeholders in society. This cooperation makes happen initiatives with a global vision and at the same time focused, pragmatic and flexible, such as the transition to renewable energy, talent attraction, innovation and applied research, and their welfare state model.
The aim of the trip was to observe companies experiencing exponential growth and the internal and external factors that make this growth possible. Thus, conclusions were drawn concerning both the internal management of companies and the institutional structure that supports it.
Germany, and Bavaria in particular, show that it is possible to maintain an industrial economy based on quality and technological innovation in a paradigm of high salaries and limited unemployment. The observation was centered on the system of research and technology transfer and on the Dual Professional Training program, from its management by the chambers of commerce to its implementation in companies.
This small Mediterranean state leads the world in venture capital investment per capita. It makes possible a highly competitive system of technological entrepreneurship, with significant incentives for young people and for the research system, and international prestige and respect around the world that is now both a market and a powerful partner.
3rd edition (2009) – MASSACHUSETTS: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
On this trip we observed the university system in the Boston area, where cutting-edge research enables global leadership in technology transfer and the creation of an ecosystem of entrepreneurship based on knowledge.
2nd edition (2008) – HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI: INFRASTRUCTURE AND AIR CONNECTIVITY
Infrastructure was the focus on this trip to Hong Kong and Shanghai. Hong Kong Airport, built on an artificial island in the sea, has meant a revival of the region’s economy, enabling the transit of passengers and goods. In Shanghai, the Catalan business community showcased its opportunities, both for production and for the domestic Chinese market.
1st edition (2007) – FINLAND: INTERNATIONALIZATION AND INNOVATION
The first FemCAT benchmarking trip was to explore excellence in the field of technology transfer and education in Finland. The consensus approach to long-term objectives for the country, and public-private partnerships in the implementation of actions to achieve them, formed the basis of the observations carried out on this trip.