It all started On…
June 17, 2018 Berlin and New York formally agreed to start collaborating on innovation. The agreement includes an action program for the two cities supporting ideas and entrepreneurs for the benefit of the two cities.
The collaboration is unique in its kind and marks a milestone for the economic development agencies tasked with carrying the agreement forward. It also marks an even bigger milestone for TEP.
The idea of a different kind of Transatlantic collaboration started during rough times -figuratively and literally. The financial crisis made the USEuropean dialogue difficult and Superstorm Sandy hit New York City hard.
It was also the time when aTransatlantic group explored this new kind of partnership: A positive contribution to inter-national relations based on mutual benefit where it matters most -economic development for the future of cities by supporting startups to scale.
It was at that time when cities were under extreme pressure to stir economic development and provide new opportunities.
In 2013 the first step was made: New York’s economic development powerhouse, the NYCEDC, organized a special program for Berlin startups during TEP’13.
In 2015 Brooklyn and Berlin agreed to collaborate more broadly following an invitation by the Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams. Other global cities followed, leading to the Start Alliance, a collaboration of ten global cities. People from eight of the ten cities are coming together in NYC for the first time during TEP’18.
Over 200 companies have benefited from TEP and its partners. While the work is just beginning for these cities, TEP and its partners have shown that positive impact can be achieved even in difficult times and nothing is stronger than cities working together for their citizens.