International Soft Landings
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International Soft Landings Designation
The InBIA Soft Landings designation lets foreign firms know that International Business
Innovation Association (InBIA), the world's leading organization advancing business
incubation and entrepreneurship, has identified an incubator as having specialized
programs and/or facilities for helping companies break into new markets. Less than
0.2% of incubators throughout the
world have this prestigious designation. To learn more click here.ETSU Innovation Lab's director, Dr. Audrey Depelteau, set a goal in 2011 to create the collaborative partnerships and programs as well as recruitment of 2 international companies in order to meet the prerequisites to apply for and receive this prestigious designation.
Through collaborations and partnerships between The Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Association (NETVRIDA), ETSU Administration, local and regional economic development agencies and various other stakeholders, as well as a shared commitment to the economic development of Northeast Tennessee, The Innovation Lab was awarded the Soft Landings Designation in January of 2015.
Services
- ETSU Assistance
The University offers a wealth of resources to meet the essential needs of the foreign companies
- Language and Cultural Assistance
ETSU Department of Literature and Language can provided services in the following languages;- German
- French
- Spanish
- Japanese
- Korean
- Business Assistance through
- Integration Assistance
The director of the Innovation Lab will assess the needs of and be responsible for the coordination and matching of the international companies to the service providers for their specific needs.
- Community Assistance through local
- Economic Development Councils
- Chambers of Commerce
- Power Boards
Key Highlights of the Northeast Tennessee Region
- Logistically advantageous, Johnson City is located halfway between Boston and Miami.
- Tri Cities Regional Airport is home to both a U.S. Customs Port #2082 and a Foreign Trade Zone #204
- Lower taxes, tax breaks, communities and economic development councils willing to
help
- Competitive Business Costs - NETVRIDA
- The Northeast Tennessee Valley Comes Back Strong
- Tennessee’s Life Sciences Industry Targeted for Growth
- ETSU Assistance
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Success Stories
Springs Made to your Specifications
Conversations around the recruitment of FWG Springs began in the winter of 2012 with the expressed interest of President Manfred Albrecht to enter the US market. Through the collaboration of many partners, background information was collected and sent to Germany for his perusal. A short visit to the Tri-Cities was coordinated and in late March of 2013 Mr. Albrecht arrived and toured various international companies, met with local economic development agencies, international banks, a payroll company and insurance agents. After a successful luncheon, attended by over 45 interested parties, FWG Springs made the decision to enter the US market through the Innovation Lab beginning in May 2013.
After a successful 2 years at the Innovation Lab, that showed considerable growth, FWG Springs graduate from the Innovation Lab into their own 18,000 square foot facility located in Johnson City.
Read more about their story here.
FWG Special Springs, Inc. – U.S.
604 Rolling Hills Drive
Johnson City TN 37604 Tel.: +1 (423) 979-8472
E-Mail: lilly@fwg-springs.com
Wetekam Monofilaments USA LP, located in Dandridge, TN, USA
Wetekam Monofilaments USA Comes to Dandridge
Wetekam Monofilaments USA Locating New Manufacturing Facility in Jefferson County
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Stakeholders
The Tri-Cities area of northeast Tennessee is not only attractive for its lakes and mountains, its rich culture of music and the arts, its educational institutes, but also, for its collaborative and strategic partnerships which has given rise to our extensive list of stakeholders:
- East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
- ETSU Research Corporation
- ETSU College of Business and Technology
- ETSU Department of Literature and Language
- International Enrollment & Services
- The Tennessee Small Business Development (TSBDC)
- Northeast State Community College
- Milligan College
- The Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Association (NETVRIDA)
- The Washington County Economic Development Council
- The Tennessee Valley Authority
- Launch Tennessee
- AccelNow
- The Chamber of Commerce
- The First Tennessee Development District
- The Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development
- First Horizon Foundation
- The Angel Roundtable
- The Law Offices of Baker Donelson
- Baker Donelson Global Business
- Goessling USA Inc.
- Siemens
- ebm-papst
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Current and past International Companies
alfatec specializes in the technical design and selection of electronic components in a wide variety of markets and industries worldwide, including: automotive, industry, telecommunication, medical, renewable energies and white goods.
BorTec specializes in the surface treatment of components to reduce wear and improve corrosion protection by coating steel.
Hebmülller develops valve solutions for modern flow control on aeroplanes, which outdo the most stringent quality levels known in aerospace.
senswork is an expert in machine vision systems and specializes in optical inspection, industrial image processing and testing equipment manufacturing. Our ready-to-use camera technologies for automation and quality assurance are used every day in numerous sectors, including the automotive and medical industries. This includes 3D inspection, optical measuring systems, position detection, completeness control as well as label and surface inspection.
Swardman develops, produces and retails premium reel lawn mowers for home use, which ensure the perfect, precise cut.
SSK is one of the leading distributers of raw material in the scope of steel with its Stahl-Shop.com. Longtime experience and reliableness characterizes Steel Service Krefeld and with its Stahl-Shop.com they build an unique symbiosis from many years of steel expertise and innovative e-commerce.
IT Consulting Robin Attig provides software architecture and design, information security, software development and data privacy solutions.
During his 10 years of IT experience he has worked for clients including Vodafone, AXA Insurance Group, Zurich Insurance Group, German broadcasting company, RPL and Robert Bosch GmbH.
Robin is also very entrepreneurial; he has founded and exited 5 companies in Germany. He is Chief Technology Officer at RPL, Inc. in Kingsport, TN.
wissmann raumobjekte specializes in design and production of furniture and accessories.
Company philosophy in a few words:
- Products with a unique selling proposition
Assembly and packaging of each product in-house in Düsseldorf (Kaarst)/ Germany (quality 3.0assurance) - All pieces of furniture are protected by copyright and the collection is continuously being expanded to include a few models each year.
MPH Haufe is an independent service provider specializing in expert customer advice, reliable on-site support, and high-quality installation in the field of conventional and fully automated logistics systems. Their services include high-bay warehouse automation, conveyor technology, shelving installation, project management, consulting, and ongoing service and maintenance. With an international presence spanning Germany, the UK, and the USA, MPH Haufe guides customers from initial analysis through to final commissioning.
- Products with a unique selling proposition