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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

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Grow East Congress 2016

In the last years, the economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have been mired in post-crisis stagnation. Foreign investors have faced turbulent times in these markets with weak purchasing…

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Grow East Congress 2014

Congress Theme Fast growing firms from emerging economies are the new stars in the international arena. While most of the attention was given to BRIC or Asian firms so far, we would like to shed light…

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Grow East Congress 2013

Congress Theme Doing business in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has become increasingly complex in the last years. On the one hand, this complexity results from structural factors such as the…