After a short disruption, the Economic Forum started last in June with around 1300 guests among them Tony Blair, the star of this even. He called for closer cooperation between state and economy. Using terms like freedom, democracy, tolerance and free trade he saw way out of the crisis which in his mind was financial and state at the same time. Paul Krugman, president Obama's consultant on economy noted that economic recovery is disappointing, he wanted to note that fears of inflation are missing.
Controversial discussions concentrated about the role of banks in the Swiss and in the international economies as banks in many parts of the world are being partly or mostly nationalized.
For Swiss companies it is important that banks remain partners to small and medium companies.
Leading them of the event is continous discussion on the role Switzerland should play in the new realities of Europe and the world. Since collapse of the soviet union, reunification of large tracts of central and eastern Europe, neutral Switzerland is becoming less and less relevant. Each trades with others, with little need for a place to store funds in the private bank and to send children for education. Competition from educational institutions world wide was made schools here irrelevant, and secrecy was taken away from banks by not only USA but by French, German or Italian tax authorities. Raids on banks in Lichtenstein by the Germans, in Italy on UBS branch offices, and stealing banks information on French owners of accounts here by the French tax authorities. The French had a "chutzpach" to return disks with bank data claiming they did not copied them. Yeah!
Well this year when you visit this little country, stay in hotels, dine in restaurants, you notice fewer crowds, roomier lakeshore caffe's, more parking places. Interesting being is that with strongest swiss frank in years against € the prices have not been brought down, making already high prices still higher. In affect the Swiss have priced themselves out of the business. There is noe silver lining though, the Chinese flock here like mad, their numbers trippled from a year earlier. Jewelery shops in tourist cities like Lucerne, Zurich and Geneva have deals with travel agencies and bus loads are parked in front delivering crowds buying swiss watches. Sales clerks speak any language you can imagine. Typical discount is 10% or equivalent of the roughly 8% VAT. Still, I am buying my watches at the Stevensons store in Brooklyn, NY. Unfortunately they recently stopped to carry the Omega watches.
2010/07/02
2010/06/06
Kontron expands in Military and Aerospace markets
As Ulrich Gehrmann Kontron chairman, announced in March 2010 during the annual press conference, his company has stoked funds for expansion, and now he announced the acquisition of AP Labs Group a top system integrator group based also in San Jose, CA. Kontron's long term goal was to reinforce its presence in markets by offering extended range of not only services and products but complete solutions especially with the help of its French subsidiary Thales Computers and AP Labs is in central position to offer complete one stop-shop regionally and accross that range of industries. AP Labs annual revenues bring additional $30 Mio annually.
2010/05/04
Where is Europe now with i2010- A European Information Society
i2010 - A European Information Society for growth and employment
i2010 was the EU policy framework for the information society and media. It promoted the positive contribution that information and communication technologies (ICT) can make to the economy, society and personal quality of life. The strategy is now coming to an end and is going to be followed by a new initiative – the Digital Agenda – in 2010.
Highlights:
Vice-President for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes welcomes Ministers' support for the European Digital Agenda, in particular the Ministerial Declaration on Digital Europe
This very ambitious Agenda has unfortunately disappointed the many supporters of progress on the continent. The Europe still lags beside the US in the number of higher educate populace, in the number and size of High Technology business, and in several aspects of a modern and fast growing society.
F
I was one of these believers in late 1980's. I sold my house and moved with family to realize the dream of a century. Europe was about to open up and reunite with the Central and Eastern economies that are now part and some like Poland quite successful within EU.
We did succeed in this and reached more. In 8 years from my arrival in Germany, our business grew by 4000% (meaning steady 500% growth annually!!!).
Europe still invest in technology but in States, so far that European investments in US exceed by 6 billion annually the US investments in Europe.
I see that not "new" agenda for the Digital Europe 2020 would not do much either.
Help me with argumentation to the contrary you all euro-enthusiasts by commenting below.
regards
Stefan
Digital Agenda for Europe is one of flagships of Europe 2020 – the Commission’s proposal on a new economic strategy
The Digital Agenda: challenges for Europe and the mobile industry - speech by Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Digital Agenda
Other highlights:
Europe's Digital Competitiveness Report 2009
Other highlights:
eYouGuide to your rights online
Broadband gap and economic recovery
i2010 was the EU policy framework for the information society and media. It promoted the positive contribution that information and communication technologies (ICT) can make to the economy, society and personal quality of life. The strategy is now coming to an end and is going to be followed by a new initiative – the Digital Agenda – in 2010.
Highlights:
Vice-President for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes welcomes Ministers' support for the European Digital Agenda, in particular the Ministerial Declaration on Digital Europe
This very ambitious Agenda has unfortunately disappointed the many supporters of progress on the continent. The Europe still lags beside the US in the number of higher educate populace, in the number and size of High Technology business, and in several aspects of a modern and fast growing society.
F
I was one of these believers in late 1980's. I sold my house and moved with family to realize the dream of a century. Europe was about to open up and reunite with the Central and Eastern economies that are now part and some like Poland quite successful within EU.
We did succeed in this and reached more. In 8 years from my arrival in Germany, our business grew by 4000% (meaning steady 500% growth annually!!!).
Europe still invest in technology but in States, so far that European investments in US exceed by 6 billion annually the US investments in Europe.
I see that not "new" agenda for the Digital Europe 2020 would not do much either.
Help me with argumentation to the contrary you all euro-enthusiasts by commenting below.
regards
Stefan
Digital Agenda for Europe is one of flagships of Europe 2020 – the Commission’s proposal on a new economic strategy
The Digital Agenda: challenges for Europe and the mobile industry - speech by Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Digital Agenda
Other highlights:
Europe's Digital Competitiveness Report 2009
Other highlights:
eYouGuide to your rights online
Broadband gap and economic recovery
2010/05/03
Follow the trend or create a new one? How company should act in order to be called innovative and pioneering?
Helen has given great overview, usefull for all in the business. I think.
Below you may find research-based action tips for improvement of innovation performance in your very company.
1: Conceive of innovation as a business discipline, and then manage and execute it systematically. Please make it an end-to-end uniform process, from insight development and idea generation to development and marketplace launch.
2: Craft a precise definition of innovation’s role in the overall corporate strategy based on the company’s industry, market, and competitive environment. Define specific goals. What innovations do you need to build a sustainable competitive position and what value are the innovations expected to generate? Make innovation definition broad enough to no one be let off the hook. It is perfect to end up in the situation when [innovation is about continuously finding new sources of value and therefore executives are looking at the processes they currently have in place for identifying new sources of value, setting up teams to explore and execute around those sources, managing the teams, and measuring results.]
3: Focus much more time and resources on breakthrough, long-term, game-changing innovation. Play for high stake delivering breakthrough innovations based on “big bet” initiatives and spend less time on incremental innovation that yields only short-term benefits.
4: Take more risks, reward failure, and encourage continuous improvement. Thinking big and acting big will lead you to breakthrough innovations. Cultivate such skills and make them a corporate culture. It’s vital.
5: Measure innovation performance and results as you do other business functions, such as marketing, strategy, and operations. Keep your eyes open all the time: track detailed, disciplined, and consistent metrics about innovation performance, measure past success and estimate the future market impact of new products.
6: Focus on the customer experience and less on technology. Zero in on a problem looking for a technology solution rather than a technology solution looking for a problem. Listen and hear the very voice of the customer. For this use ethnographic, best-practice observational customer understanding techniques. You can’t develop something just because a room full of engineers think it’s cool.
7: Embrace open innovation and open innovation tools. Use external sources as far as keeping all innovation activities within your company is a recipe for failure.
8: Encourage idea generation from everywhere, both inside and outside your company. Include everyone from the highest levels of the company to the lowest. Often the most innovative ideas are submitted by junior employees.
9: Consider appointing a chief innovation officer and setting up a uniformity of command for corporate innovation accountability. Designating an executive to be accountable and leading innovation execution report results in [dramatically higher satisfaction levels across all aspects of their innovation performance.]
10: Have a dedicated budget for innovation. You will need an adequate level of resources to fund the innovation infrastructure. Just appointing a chief innovation officer isn’t enough.
To sum up the above stated try to combine innovative sole and brains, thoughts and actions and you will be able to achieve growth through innovation. What do you think of this? Would you use these tips or just consider them to be high-flown words?
Welcome with your opinions.
BR,
Helen Boyarchuk
Altabel Group
www.altabel.com
By Helen Boyarchuk, Marketing Manager at Altabel Group
Below you may find research-based action tips for improvement of innovation performance in your very company.
1: Conceive of innovation as a business discipline, and then manage and execute it systematically. Please make it an end-to-end uniform process, from insight development and idea generation to development and marketplace launch.
2: Craft a precise definition of innovation’s role in the overall corporate strategy based on the company’s industry, market, and competitive environment. Define specific goals. What innovations do you need to build a sustainable competitive position and what value are the innovations expected to generate? Make innovation definition broad enough to no one be let off the hook. It is perfect to end up in the situation when [innovation is about continuously finding new sources of value and therefore executives are looking at the processes they currently have in place for identifying new sources of value, setting up teams to explore and execute around those sources, managing the teams, and measuring results.]
3: Focus much more time and resources on breakthrough, long-term, game-changing innovation. Play for high stake delivering breakthrough innovations based on “big bet” initiatives and spend less time on incremental innovation that yields only short-term benefits.
4: Take more risks, reward failure, and encourage continuous improvement. Thinking big and acting big will lead you to breakthrough innovations. Cultivate such skills and make them a corporate culture. It’s vital.
5: Measure innovation performance and results as you do other business functions, such as marketing, strategy, and operations. Keep your eyes open all the time: track detailed, disciplined, and consistent metrics about innovation performance, measure past success and estimate the future market impact of new products.
6: Focus on the customer experience and less on technology. Zero in on a problem looking for a technology solution rather than a technology solution looking for a problem. Listen and hear the very voice of the customer. For this use ethnographic, best-practice observational customer understanding techniques. You can’t develop something just because a room full of engineers think it’s cool.
7: Embrace open innovation and open innovation tools. Use external sources as far as keeping all innovation activities within your company is a recipe for failure.
8: Encourage idea generation from everywhere, both inside and outside your company. Include everyone from the highest levels of the company to the lowest. Often the most innovative ideas are submitted by junior employees.
9: Consider appointing a chief innovation officer and setting up a uniformity of command for corporate innovation accountability. Designating an executive to be accountable and leading innovation execution report results in [dramatically higher satisfaction levels across all aspects of their innovation performance.]
10: Have a dedicated budget for innovation. You will need an adequate level of resources to fund the innovation infrastructure. Just appointing a chief innovation officer isn’t enough.
To sum up the above stated try to combine innovative sole and brains, thoughts and actions and you will be able to achieve growth through innovation. What do you think of this? Would you use these tips or just consider them to be high-flown words?
Welcome with your opinions.
BR,
Helen Boyarchuk
Altabel Group
www.altabel.com
By Helen Boyarchuk, Marketing Manager at Altabel Group
2010/04/14
2010 returns by Lance Spicer
Click to view this email in a browser
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/230163/96e7e192bb/513000276/77647ad340/
Dear Reader,
Before I get to our extended Guaranteed Return Offer, I'd like to talk
about this morning's fabulous Intel earnings release and what it means
for the broader market.
If you missed it, Intel announced earnings that were 4 times higher
than they were last year and they beat the analysts' estimates very
easily and on top of that raised their earnings guidance for the next
year. Terrific stuff! It shows that business is back (and to a lesser
extent consumers, but that will soon come) buying computers and
electronic equipment that require computer chips having put off
purchases for over two years to cut expenses and save cash. This is
one of the best indicators that the world economy is recovering from
the devastating Global Financial Crisis.
Obviously, when Wall St opens tonight we'll see tech stocks do very
well as the sector is always buoyed by any good announcements from
Intel.
But it's not just Intel that's doing well, the feeling of the general
markets, as indicated by the fear or volatility index, the VIX hasn't
been lower in two years. It now sits at 15 which is where it would
normally be in a bull market. This means professional traders and
investors are very comfortable where the market is and are prone to
keep this bull market going for the time being. Although, I do expect
a minor correction in coming weeks as is perfectly normal in a
situation such as this. I see these little "glitches" as nothing more
than opportunities to buy more stocks, and as you well know, I have
been pounding the table about tech stocks now for about a year.
Well, after the fabulous run they have had am I still bullish?
Yes, but now I'm starting to look towards the next phase of the
technology "boom" and this will encompass more companies at the
cutting edge of technology such as those suppling chips and parts for
things like Apple's new iPad and new advances in networking and
wireless technology. However, I'm not forgetting other great companies
involved in the mining industry and infrastructure - they have a role
to play in the economic recovery too and will be increasing their
earnings over the next year.
The next year or two will be an exciting time to be an investor.
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/230163/96e7e192bb/513000276/77647ad340/
Dear Reader,
Before I get to our extended Guaranteed Return Offer, I'd like to talk
about this morning's fabulous Intel earnings release and what it means
for the broader market.
If you missed it, Intel announced earnings that were 4 times higher
than they were last year and they beat the analysts' estimates very
easily and on top of that raised their earnings guidance for the next
year. Terrific stuff! It shows that business is back (and to a lesser
extent consumers, but that will soon come) buying computers and
electronic equipment that require computer chips having put off
purchases for over two years to cut expenses and save cash. This is
one of the best indicators that the world economy is recovering from
the devastating Global Financial Crisis.
Obviously, when Wall St opens tonight we'll see tech stocks do very
well as the sector is always buoyed by any good announcements from
Intel.
But it's not just Intel that's doing well, the feeling of the general
markets, as indicated by the fear or volatility index, the VIX hasn't
been lower in two years. It now sits at 15 which is where it would
normally be in a bull market. This means professional traders and
investors are very comfortable where the market is and are prone to
keep this bull market going for the time being. Although, I do expect
a minor correction in coming weeks as is perfectly normal in a
situation such as this. I see these little "glitches" as nothing more
than opportunities to buy more stocks, and as you well know, I have
been pounding the table about tech stocks now for about a year.
Well, after the fabulous run they have had am I still bullish?
Yes, but now I'm starting to look towards the next phase of the
technology "boom" and this will encompass more companies at the
cutting edge of technology such as those suppling chips and parts for
things like Apple's new iPad and new advances in networking and
wireless technology. However, I'm not forgetting other great companies
involved in the mining industry and infrastructure - they have a role
to play in the economic recovery too and will be increasing their
earnings over the next year.
The next year or two will be an exciting time to be an investor.
2010/04/12
Unisena Inc, an embedded software company new web presence
The Canadian company Unisena Inc. based in Ottawa, Ontario has new put new face in the web after 2 years since last major upgrade. The company has offices in Carlsbad, Ca, Zurich, Switzerland and is in the business since 1992. The company has also a subsidiary in Germany and in Czech Republic (independent capital subsidiary).
To contact them click on the web site URL: www.unisena.com
To contact them click on the web site URL: www.unisena.com
Productivity Pro Tip of the Week: Who’s in Charge: You or Your “Stuff”?
Who’s in Charge: You or Your “Stuff”?
Do you own your possessions, or do your possessions own you? It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the stuff you've accumulated -- everything from toys and clothing, to tools and all the stuff you regularly use that still counts as clutter. If you're tired of all your stuff weighing you down, here are some ideas that may help you regain control.
1.Have a systematic plan to get and stay organized. The key to getting organized is FOCUS. Focus on getting one thing completed before moving to the next area. Act like a postage stamp: stick to one thing until you get there.
2.Eliminate clutter and resist adding more. Don't let your belongings control you. For a start, get rid of unhappy reminders from the past, stop keeping old magazines and newspapers, and don't buy things just because they're on sale.
3.Keep your briefcase, tote, or purse organized and clutter-free. Don't carry stuff around just because you might need it someday: all you'll end up with is a cluttered mess and a backache. Carry only what you need on a daily basis, keep everything tucked into its own slot, and always put things back after using them.
4.Maintain clutter-free drawers and closets. Don't just toss things in drawers and forget them. Make liberal use of file folders, trays, and dividers, and use baby food jars as handy paperclip holders and junk catchers. Closets should be subjected to a thorough cleaning at least twice a year.
5.Organize memorabilia such as photos and keepsakes. Before taking the time to organize an item, determine if it's something you should be keeping in the first place. Don't keep stuff that doesn't have any specific meaning or use to you.
6.Keep kids' toys, clothes, and books organized. Any family with children inevitably fights the battle of the messy monster. Having toys, clothes, and books around is inevitable, but clutter is not. Keep what's used, and get rid of the rest.
7.Set up and maintain your kitchen in an organized fashion. We spend so much time in the kitchen putting groceries away, preparing meals, and doing dishes, it's important to maintain an organized space. Be picky about what you keep, and always have frequently-used items close at hand.
8.Keep your car organized and clean. You don't want to have a two-ton trashcan on wheels. Organize the clutter that stays in the car, and never let anyone get out empty-handed -- make sure your trash leaves the car whenever you do.
9.Set up an effective "office" space in your home. A home office isn't a luxury these days; it's just about a requirement. Offices can serve as the family computer center, a place to do paperwork, and the occasional work-at-home office.
10.Keep your house neat, and tidy up daily. Cleaning up doesn't require anything fancy. Just make sure everything's in or near when it should be, and regularly put things away so it's easier to maintain a peaceful, productive frame of mind. If owning too much is a problem for you, get serious about de-cluttering your life. Otherwise all the clutter will weigh you down, putting pressure on your other pillars of productivity. Start organizing and thinning out your possessions a little bit at a time, and eventually you'll get there. You'll be amazed at how good you feel, and how much easier life will be, when all the junk's gone! © 2010 Laura Stack www.TheProductivityPro.com.
1.Have a systematic plan to get and stay organized. The key to getting organized is FOCUS. Focus on getting one thing completed before moving to the next area. Act like a postage stamp: stick to one thing until you get there.
2.Eliminate clutter and resist adding more. Don't let your belongings control you. For a start, get rid of unhappy reminders from the past, stop keeping old magazines and newspapers, and don't buy things just because they're on sale.
3.Keep your briefcase, tote, or purse organized and clutter-free. Don't carry stuff around just because you might need it someday: all you'll end up with is a cluttered mess and a backache. Carry only what you need on a daily basis, keep everything tucked into its own slot, and always put things back after using them.
4.Maintain clutter-free drawers and closets. Don't just toss things in drawers and forget them. Make liberal use of file folders, trays, and dividers, and use baby food jars as handy paperclip holders and junk catchers. Closets should be subjected to a thorough cleaning at least twice a year.
5.Organize memorabilia such as photos and keepsakes. Before taking the time to organize an item, determine if it's something you should be keeping in the first place. Don't keep stuff that doesn't have any specific meaning or use to you.
6.Keep kids' toys, clothes, and books organized. Any family with children inevitably fights the battle of the messy monster. Having toys, clothes, and books around is inevitable, but clutter is not. Keep what's used, and get rid of the rest.
7.Set up and maintain your kitchen in an organized fashion. We spend so much time in the kitchen putting groceries away, preparing meals, and doing dishes, it's important to maintain an organized space. Be picky about what you keep, and always have frequently-used items close at hand.
8.Keep your car organized and clean. You don't want to have a two-ton trashcan on wheels. Organize the clutter that stays in the car, and never let anyone get out empty-handed -- make sure your trash leaves the car whenever you do.
9.Set up an effective "office" space in your home. A home office isn't a luxury these days; it's just about a requirement. Offices can serve as the family computer center, a place to do paperwork, and the occasional work-at-home office.
10.Keep your house neat, and tidy up daily. Cleaning up doesn't require anything fancy. Just make sure everything's in or near when it should be, and regularly put things away so it's easier to maintain a peaceful, productive frame of mind. If owning too much is a problem for you, get serious about de-cluttering your life. Otherwise all the clutter will weigh you down, putting pressure on your other pillars of productivity. Start organizing and thinning out your possessions a little bit at a time, and eventually you'll get there. You'll be amazed at how good you feel, and how much easier life will be, when all the junk's gone! © 2010 Laura Stack www.TheProductivityPro.com.
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