[Translate to English:]

CEE Congress SeriesRSS

Since its establishment in 2007, the Competence Center has been organizing a recurring congress series with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The primary goal of this congress series is to provide insights into contemporary developments in emerging Europe and to underscore the challenges that international and local enterprises encounter when expanding into and competing within CEE markets. The congress series serves as a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences among representatives of foreign companies operating in CEE, distinguished local firms and entrepreneurs, academics, and business students with a profound interest in the burgeoning markets of this region.

Grow East Congress

GROWEAST

The GROW EAST CONGRESS series was a collaborative initiative of Arnold Schuh, former Director of the Competence Center, and Manfred Berger, founder of Neusicht Think Tank. The inaugural congress on “The Future of Brands and Retailing in CE and SEE” was convened in 2007. In subsequent years, the organizers addressed various management topics: restarting growth in central and south-eastern Europe, innovations for and from CEE, how to manage complexity in CEE, winning business concepts in turbulent times in CEE.

Danube Region Impact & Vision Talks

DRIVEEAST

In light of the perpetually evolving economic landscape of CEE markets and the challenges stakeholders face in conducting business, the Grow East Congress series concluded its run in 2024 and is slated to be re-launched as the Danube Region Impact & Vision Talks (DRIVE EAST CONGRESS) in late 2025. The new congress series will be organized in collaboration with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) and The Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM).

Past Congresses

[Translate to English:] foto

Grow East Congress 2021

On November 26, 2021, the 12th Grow East Congress on "Engines of Growth in Central and Eastern Europe: Market-creating innovations, agile organizations and motivated people" was held in an online…

[Translate to English:] logo

Grow East Congress 2020

On 27 November 2020, the 11th Grow East Congress took place for the first time in a virtual format. The Congress theme focused on the restart of the CEE economies after the breakout of the Covid-19…

[Translate to English:] foto

Grow East Congress 2019

Central and Eastern Europe’s role in Europe and beyond: Where is the region heading? The 10th Congress addressed CEE’s role today in Europe and in the world. The societies of CEE have become wealthier…