What an eventful year. Together with our members and partners, we achieved a lot in 2023. We organized or supported 14 events to connect people on a wide range of topics from education and youth development to culture, sports and science. We have made many new contacts and maintained existing connections - here locally and with our friends and contacts in San Francisco. Visits and discussions show us time and again how much the exchange is appreciated by both sides. Because the unique thing about the city partnership between Kiel and San Francisco is the people who shape it with their ideas and passion.
Many thanks to all those who support us and are part of The Bay Areas.
Since October, Anna Dornberger has been supported by Beatrix Richter in the office, among other things to make the activities of our association even more visible to members and the outside world. So please follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram. Special thanks also go to Pauline Ewoldt, Joran Pauleit and Ricco Brandt from YoungTBA for their support and ideas.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2024!
Frohe Weihnachten / Merry Christmas
Anna Dornberger, Beatrix Richter - Office
Axel Schulz, Frank Bösenkötter & Gerrit Müller-Rüster - Board of Directors
TBA - Review of the year 2023
Exchange and knowledge transfer between the Bay Areas
Whether sharing data for medical progress or discussing the shortage of skilled workers on both sides of the Atlantic, 2023 has brought exciting encounters and forward-looking projects:
- Transatlantic Innovation WeekConsul General Jason Chue and Lord Mayor Dr. Ulf Kämpfer joined us in welcoming inspiring guests on the topic of "creativity unbound".
- PowersHack: Our CEO Frank Bösenkötter presented the experiences and solutions of employers from Silicon Valley on the subject of the shortage of skilled workers. More
- The Northern Germany Innovation Office celebrated its 5th anniversary and at the Delegation trip with Prime Minister Daniel Günther existing contacts for the future topics of AI and hydrogen were strengthened and new ones established, including for the CAPTN initiative. Read more in the review by our member Linus Kriwat.
- AI Exchange" projectProf. Dr. Claus Glüer brought a close collaboration between UCSF and CAU live with the AI-based tool to detect osteoporosis at an early stage. More
Lively town twinning
The commitment and interest of many people make the partnership between Kiel and San Francisco so special:
- Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco and CINEMARE Ocean Film Festival in KielThe sister festivals have been highlighting marine conservation in impressive images for many years. More
- Lighthouse Swim Kiel and San Francisco: Swimming teams from both cities visit each other to swim together for marine conservation.
- Reciprocal visitsArne Eichberg from Kieler Jugendring e.V. traveled to the "Urban Youth Arts Festival" with street artists Simon Banger and Lennart Winschel and the Max Planck School hosted students from the German International School of Silicon Valley.
- Visit to the San Francisco Public Library in Kiel: The exchange with Kiel City Library demonstrates both a shared love of books and of libraries as places where all social groups can come together, exchange ideas and understand each other. Colorful celebrations included.
Events with many innovative minds
The future belongs to those who are brave enough to question and change existing structures and concepts. Together with our partners, we have once again created a stage for this on several levels this year.
- Digital Challenge: Students from five universities developed innovative, digital ideas and concepts for companies from Schleswig-Holstein.
- High-flyer competition: We send promising start-ups to San Francisco and Silicon Valley to develop their very own spirit of "Think Big" and push their business idea further. More about the High-flyer trip in March 2023. More about the High-flyer final 2023
- Reverse pitch: Established companies pitched their current challenges to start-ups and young talents.
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