German solar wholesaler extends its reach into Italy and Austria after networking at key industry events.

Josef Mittermeier, founder and executive director of JMS Solar Handel GmbH, is grateful to the Enterprise Europe Network for helping his Grainau, Bavaria-based SME become truly international.

Mittermeier’s company, a specialist wholesaler and installer of photovoltaic systems, was recruited by the Network to participate in Klimahouse 2008, an international trade fair on energy-efficient construction in Bolzano, Italy.

Once JMS Solar registered for the expo, Network expert Tamar Moscovici of Bayern Handwerk International GmbH personally contacted Mittermeier to inform him about a brokerage event being held around the same time by the Export Organisation Südtirol, part of the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce.

“The brokerage event covered the same sectors and subjects, so I asked all exhibitors at our stand if they would like to participate in the brokerage event as well,” Moscovici explains. As a result of networking at both events a company that had previously only been active in Germany was able to get new business in Italy. The Enterprise Europe Network also helped JMS Solar Handel obtain a grant from the Bavarian authorities, which it used to create marketing material in Italian and translate the company’s website, now available in three languages.

The Enterprise Europe Network organises around 12,000 brokerage events and company missions each year. Often held during major trade fairs, these events help businesses like JMS Solar Handel connect with potential partners in their sectors. “We would definitely work with the Enterprise Europe Network again,” says Mittermeier.