Presentation at the Danube eRegion Conference - DeRC, Ljubljana, 20. Sept. 2011

1. International Bodensee University
supporting eRegion Development in
Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and
Switzerland
Danube eRegion Conference - DeRC
Ljubljana, 20. September 2011
Hans-Dieter Zimmermann
FHS St. Gallen, University of Applied Sciences,
St. Gallen, Switzerland
www.hdzimmermann.net

2. Agenda
Building an eRegion:
Experiences from the Bodensee (Lake Constance) Region
Internationale Bodensee Hochschule IBH
Conclusions
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3. DeRC – Yesterday‘s Facebook Discussion
“The New Club of Paris is the agenda developer
for the Knowledge Economy. The Club’s main
objective is to create awareness on what the
knowledge society is and will be, and also
support nations, regions, cities, communities
organizations and companies in their http://new-club-of-paris.org/
transformation into the Knowledge Economy.”
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4. „eRegion Emergence and Impact“
Electronic Markets - Vol 17 (4) (2007)
„As a concept, eRegion denotes
Information Technology (IT)- supported
initiatives that transcend traditional borders
and boundaries.“
[Joze Gricar, Yao-Hua Tan, Doug Vogel, Rolf T. Wigand: 2007
(http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10196780701635765)]
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5. The Bodensee (Lake Constance) Region
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6. The Bodensee (Lake Constance) Region
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7. The Electronic Mall Bodensee (EMB) – Experiences
Bottom Up development of an electronic marketplace
… understood as an open agora
… with a strong regional focus
… covering parts three countries (Austria, Germany, and Switzerland)
... by regional initiatives.
First electronic
marketplace in Europe
with a strong regional focus
First Online June 1995
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8. EMB - the Pioneer
Start of project: January 1995
Online: June 1995
Initiated by
Regional politics
University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Supported by
Federal and local governments in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland
Business Development Agencies
Businesses
Universities
Idea of an Open Agora: Platform for businesses, citizens and households,
government, non-profit organizations
Supported by the EU (Interreg II)
Developed in cooperation with research, government, and industry
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9. EMB - Impact
Emergence of a new media – friendly environment
Emergence of new media companies as University Spin Offs
(e.g., Namics, Crealogix)
Settlement of new media companies through regional economic
development agency
eGoverment projects initiated by the regional government
Foundation of the Institute for Media and Communications Management at
the University of St. Gallen, supported by Bertelsmann (1998)
EMB initiative as a driving force of the Internet development
within the region
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10. EMB - Impact
But: Platform as such did not succeeds
Reasons?
Too early
People
Technology
Different strategies, perspectives, and motivations within the different
involved regions
Bound to national political agendas
Different pace
Different priorities
Different funding options
No common agenda or strategy
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11. eSociety Bodensee 2020 - Project Proposal
Main goal:
Preparation of a strategy for open societal innovation
within the Bodensee region
Submitted to IBH – Internationale Bodensee Hochschule
Main partners:
Zeppelin University, Germany
University of Liechtenstein
FHS St. Gallen University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
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12. INTERNATIONALE BODENSEE HOCHSCHULE
DER HOCHSCHULVERBUND IN DER REGIO BODENSEE
IBH | PPT_Templates | 20.09.2011 | Seite 12

13. A network of 29 universities and colleges
Cooperating across
borders in the region of
Lake Constance
• 10 states/ cantons
in 4 countries D-A-CH-FL
• About 3.9 Mio. inhabitants

14. History
2000 the foundation rectors established the Regional
Rector Conference
2002 the Regional Rector Conference was extended to
become the guiding body of the IBH. It became the so-
called "Cooperation Council" with a chairman and
deputies.
2010 10 years anniversary
IBH | PPT_Templates | 20.09.2011 | Seite 14

15. IBH Facts & Figures
Till now 60 transnational projects have been stimulated
over 400 Students are subscribed to IBH-Masters annually
over 500 alumni profit directly from the offers of the IBH
network
annually Budget is 645.000 € (IBK sponsored) plus max.
500.000 € via INTERREG IV 2009 - 2013

16. International Region of Lake Constance
+ 10 states/cantons in 4 countries D-A-CH-FL
+ About 3.9 Mio. inhabitants
+ Drinking water reservoir for about 5 Mio. people
+ Tourism destination for 10 Mio. people p.a.
+ Average population density 300-700 p/km²
IBH | PPT_Templates | 20.09.2011 | Seite 16

17. International Lake Constance Conference
Internationale Bodensee Konferenz (IBK)
First Lake Constance Conference in 1972
+ Enhancements in 1993 (AR, AI) and 1998 (ZH, FL)
IBK-Statutes
+ budget with fixed distribution key
+ Annual rotation of precidency
+ Coordination Office for administration and public relations
Aims:
Promoting and preserving the quality of living, the natural surroundings,
cultural diversity and economical potential of the Lake Constance region.
IBH | PPT_Templates | 20.09.2011 | Seite 17

18. International Lake Constance Conference
IBH | PPT_Templates | 20.09.2011 | Seite 18

19. Objectives: IBH a network to enhance
+ Transnational mobility (students, researchers …)
+ Joint projects across various school types
+ Regional and transregional visibility
+ Knowledge and technology transfer between schools and
between schools and the region (SME)
+ Projects with a high relevance for the regional
development

20. Example
Knowledge and technology transfer

21. Creation or enhancement of new networks
+ To stimulate research
+ Enhancing synergies
+ Promote/create new
multidisciplinary networks/
projects
+ Encouraging sharing
knowledge and expertise
over boundaries

22. Cooperation in projects
+ More than 60 projects since 1999
+ Accumulation of structure
+ Research and development
+ Transfer of knowledge and technology
+ Cooperative study courses
+ Example: Master in „School Development“
+ Cooperation of 5 universities of education from 3 countries
+ Shapes the high demand of qualification in the area of
formation
+ Sustainable financing with funds of the IBH
+ fully booked courses
IBH | PPT_Templates | 20.09.2011 | Seite 22

23. Conclusions
Regional initiatives require broad support of main players:
Government, businesses, research, …
Universities or University-networks might play a major role
in creating eRegions
… but governmental support is crucial !
ICT as ONE means in the sense of necessary infrastructure …
supporting the defined strategy goals
Regional initiatives need to meet a demand of societies
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24. Contact
Hans-Dieter Zimmermann
FHS St. Gallen University of Applied Sciences
Institute for Information and Process Management IPM-FHS
Teufener Strasse 2, 9000 St. Gallen, Schwitzerland
Tel. +41 71 228 7650
hansdieter.zimmermann@fhsg.ch
www.esociety.net , @FHS_eSociety
www.fhsg.ch/ipm
www.hdzimmermann.net, blog.hdzimmermann.net, @hdzimmermann