April 2012 - NAB conference, as the world’s largest media and entertainment event, it draws innovative startups from all corners of the globe. Although the international suppliers are on their way to increase their global visibility, there is a high risk involved and they need support from the pavillion organizers that see opportunities and are willing to assist them on their way to being in the global market. That’s where international governments come across to support those young companies, from their countries, by providing a necessary platform for them and help lead them to their full economic potential.
That’s why at NAB 2012 there was strong presence of international companies corralled in seven international pavilions: Bavarian Pavilion, Belgian Pavilion, Brazil Pavilion, French Pavilion, KOTRA (Korea Trace-Investment Promotion Agency) Pavilion, KBTA (Korea Broadcasting Technology Association) Pavilion and the UK Pavilion c/o Tradefair.
Smart governments know that creating the entrepreneur friendly environment is the main factor for innovation. It is well known that innovative ideas need the authors as well as the investors to flourish. Innovation is a field where financial support from government is strongly desired.
At the UK Pavilion a banner informed attendees that the UK Trade & Investment is the Government Department that helps companies succeed in the global economy and assists overseas companies to bring their high-quality investment to the UK. The companies that exhibit with them could receive government grants up to 1,800 euro.
Bavaria officially participates for the ninth time at NAB with a multi-company stand and information center, where visitors could obtain economic facts on Bavaria as well as assistance finding business partners in this region.
One of the companies, Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT, is a key technology provider and research partner for the broadcast and media industry worldwide. The Fraunhofer IDMT is part of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which is Europe’s largest applied research organization and is partly funded by the German government. Angela Raguse, representing PR & Marketing, said that IDMT is sixth time at NAB and constantly looking for research partners. Today Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is composed of 60 Institutes conducting research in a broad range of areas with 19,000 employees.
This company successfully combines an scientific side with business and showed at NAB 2012 new products and solutions in 3 categories: Acquisition & Production (3D Stereoscopic Equipment; Cameras & Lenses); Distribution & Delivery (Digital Cinema, Encoding) and Post-Production (Mastering & Duplication).
Outside the international corner I stopped by the ToolOnAir both, that provides an integrated suite of powerful Mac-based solutions that combine ingest, playout and real-time graphics into a streamlined workflow with an intuitive timeline-based user interface. Walter Kuntner, CEO & Owner of the company told me that he was exchange student and come to study in America in 1983 when the Macintosh computers come out. His passion for computers drew him into the Apple business. In 1986 he started as Apple dealer and finally five years ago (he calls that his last adventure) he started his own company. That’s how the ToolOnAir launch to the market with its innovative software program for broadcast industry.
ToolOnAir has been present at NAB show as exhibitor the fourth time and started surprisingly at Bavarian Pavilion. Even the Bavarian Pavilion, the company is based in Vienna, Austria, fostered them for the show and the global market entry. (Walter Kuntner's wife, also an owner of ToolsOnAir, is German). After the first year they now have their own both at NAB. The company is growing, added Kuntner, and they have to be here at NAB to build credibility with partners.
As native Polish I would like to see Polish or Eastern European Pavilion at NAB. Cross my fingers for that and see you next year.
Lidia Thompson