Finnish companies’ products and services in the interactive TV field raise interest on global markets. Finpro starts an internationalization programme where companies can grasp the new opportunities that the markets are offering.
Watching Internet-, digital terrestrial and mobile TV is growing rapidly all over the developed world. People want to participate in the programmes and to have an impact on the programmes’s course by sitting comfortably on their own sofa. Head of ICT Industry of Finpro Marjaana Karjalainen believes that Finnish companies have interesting technologies, content and services to make the audience happy.
”We made a pilot project in Italy last year, and the experiences were extremely positive”, Karjalainen tells us. “The participants of the Digitalia 2005-project received valuable feedback from the markets and started business negotiations with a number of potential partners and broadcasters. Finnish know-how in interactive TV was really appreciated on the market. Since the feedback was so good, we are now launching this kind of projects in other countries as well as making a second round in Italy.”
Three leaps to the market
The goal of the Interactive TV programme is to give participants a clear picture of the opportunities offered by the international markets as well as of potential clients and partners. The programme consists of three parts: Company-specific consulting, fact-finding trips to two markets to test the strategy and the company’s offering and finally a company-specific action plan on steps to be taken in order to start business. The target markets of the project are the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
“In the first phase we define each company’s strengths and how to utilize them in a best possible way in negotiations with clients and partners. The road shows to the markets are intensive three-day trips when we meet broadcasters, mobile operators and other interesting companies. In the end we reflect what we have learnt and each company will have an action plan on how to continue”, Karjalainen describes the project.
The programme participants will receive valuable market feedback for further development of their products and services. It is also important to encourage Finnish companies to partner up among themselves. Big foreing broadcasters and operators are easier to approach if you can offer a wider range of concepts than a one single start-up company has to offer.
Act quick to get onboard!
Got interested? Want to participate? Please contact:
Marjaana Karjalainen, Finpro, Head of ICT Industry
marjaana.karjalainen(at)finpro.fi, puh +39 02 319 1071
