Exchange, network and enrich: Slovenian businesswomen in Carinthia

10/24/2022

(c) Jennifer Pencs (BABEG)

40 Slovenian women entrepreneurs visited Lakesidepark and MAKERSPACE on Friday to be inspired by success stories and enriched by the exchange of experience and knowledge.

On 14 October 2022, BABEG Kärntner Betriebsansiedlungs- und Beteiligunsgesellschaft GmbH, together with the Association of Slovenian Women in Business and the Chamber of the Region of Central Slovenia, organised a delegation to get to know Carinthia's business opportunities and advantages.

Using Carinthia as a business location

In recent years there has already been increased investment in the industries of the future, making Carinthia an attractive location for business start-ups.

At the Lakeside Science & Technology Park two successful businesswomen told their success stories and how they used the advantages of Carinthia to do so. Anja Silberbauer and Michaela Schicho specifically found their niches in the market. Today they are important representatives of their respective industries and mentors for young women entrepreneurs.

KI4Life – More success with artificial intelligence
Together with Deputy Governor Dr. Gaby Schaunig, the businesswomen visited the Innovation Centre for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence KI4LIFE. There, researchers presented innovative, ongoing projects in the field of artificial intelligence.

Jernej Dvoršak from BABEG: "Carinthia's business environment is open and vibrant. It concentrates on promising areas of microelectronics, information technology, mechanical engineering, artificial materials and the wood industry. For Slovenian entrepreneurs, Carinthia is a real springboard into German-speaking markets. Carinthia is geographically close to Slovenia, has good transport links, has a Slovenian-speaking minority as an intermediary and is well accessible to foreign entrepreneurs from the point of view of living costs and support activities."

Marjana Majerič, Director of the Chamber of the Central Slovenia Region of the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia: "The numerical participation of businesswomen in the delegation shows a great interest in foreign markets and internationalisation from the Slovenian side. A good knowledge of the habits of consumers and buyers, especially the business culture and ecosystem of each country, is the key to successful entry into foreign markets."

MAKERSPACE Carinthia – From the idea to the prototype

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the MAKERSPACE Carinthia workshop, where entrepreneurs create and develop prototypes. They have various machines at their disposal: From welders, laser cutters, CNC milling machines, milling machines for the processing of platinum and other metals to sewing machines, irons and a paint shop, a high-quality infrastructure can be used on a low-threshold basis and tested for various product developments.

The following businesswomen presented current exciting projects on both sides of the Karawanken: Dr. Marta Turk, President of the Board of the Chamber of the Region of Central Slovenia and representative of the Community of Slovenian Entrepreneurs and head of the ACTIMPACT project, Vesna Hodnik, Director of the Slowenischen Wirtschaftsverbandes/Slovenska Gospodarska Zveza in Klagenfurt,  representative Mag. Tanja Telesklav of the Initiative Frau in der Wirtschaft, Daniela Stein, Head of the Business Women's Centre and Lucija Wakounig, Team Leader of the Business Incubator at the Chamber of Commerce.

10/24/2022

(c) Jennifer Pencs (BABEG)