The Europe+ Foundation, organizer of La Baule–WIC, has discerned today the 2008 Best Investment Awards.
This year, for the first time, companies have been recognized jointly with national development agencies for their contribution to reinforcing the attractiveness and competitiveness of Europe and the Mediterranean region.
In the spirit of the 6th Annual La Baule–WIC and its main themes, three award categories for European investment have been singled out in the sectors of high–techs, knowledge management and clean technologies.
In addition, the Europe+ Foundation has attributed a Special Investment Award and a Mediterranean Investment Award.
- Best High–Tech Investment Award
Sony and Invest in Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency have received the Best High–Tech Investment Award for two projects developed in Nitra, Slovakia in the past two years of over 100 million euros, which have created more than 3,000 jobs in the region.
This Prize has been awarded to Serge Foucher, Executive VP of Sony Europe GmbH and Peter Hajas, CEO of Invest in Slova Investment and Trade Development Agency.
- Best Knowledge Management Investment Award
Saint–Edwards University and the French West Atlantic Agency have received the Best Knowledge Management Award for the setting up of the university´s European campus in Angers, France. This project is committed to helping students demonstrate knowledge of politics, economics, culture and communication through a global framework and to participate in international experiences. This is the second American University to set up a campus in France.
This Prize has been awarded to Professor George E. Martin, President of Saint–Edwards University, Texas and Jean–Luc Firmin, CEO of West Atlantic.
- Best Clean Technologies Investment Award
Solfocus and Interes, Invest in Spain have been distinguished for the development of solar plant in Puertollano in Spain, creating several hundreds of new jobs and investing over 50 million dollars. This significant investment is a direct result of the Solfocus´ participation in the 1st California Technology Showcase.
This Prize has been awarded to Gary Conley, CEO of Solfocus and Begona Cristeto, CEO of Interes, Invest in Spain.
This year´s Special Investment Prize has recognized BT Global Services and the Hungarian Investment and Trade Agency for the setting up of BT´s Regional Knowledge and Delivery Centre, thus creating 600 new jobs in Budapest and Debrecen. This 31.4 million euros project will make BT become one of the most significant employees in the region.
This Prize has been awarded to François Barrault, CEO of BT Global Services and György Retfalvi, CEO of Hungarian Investment and Trade Agency.
The Best Mediterranean Investment Award has been attributed to Valeo and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) for a transmission and internal control project developed in Ben Arous and Jedaïda, which has created more than 1,000 jobs and encouraged the exchange of best practices in the Euro–Mediterranean region.
This Prize has been awarded to Thierry Morin, CEO of Valeo and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA).
About Fondation Europe+
The Europe+ Foundation is an independent platform that supplies analytical tools and governance guidance to promote the attractiveness and competitiveness of the European Union, its Member States and regions. The Foundation´s aim is to take the conclusions of WIC working groups further and ensure follow–up of recommendations addressed to the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as to governments and Member States. "Europe+ is a dynamic platform founded on the exchange of best practices, the diversity of its members, the multiplicity of its experiences and public–private partnership. We are neither a lobby associated with particular interest groups, nor a traditional think tank working on general or purely theoretical positions," remind the two Co–Chairmen of the Foundation. The high–level think tank of Europe+ gathers more than a hundred international personalities drawn from the world of business, government and academia.
