Friday, April 13, 2012
The emerging knowledge-based economy is demanding greater investment in education and workplace training. As this trend unfolds, organizations are placing added stress on their ability to innovate, underscoring the importance of research and development.
That's where outsourcing comes in. As not all companies have the resources to devote the needed brainpower to innovate and development new products on a consistent basis, hosted services are stepping in to fill demand.
This is especially apparent in the clean energy market. Leaders such as Germany are beginning to offer expertise and services to developing economies, reflecting a reversal of the traditional outsourcing model. China, for example, is one of the largest investors in German wind power production.
Jade Werke, a Chinese subsidiary, will begin production of steel fundaments for offshore wind parks in Germany early next year. The company is also investing EUR 50 million in a production plant in Wilhelmshaven, with construction planned to begin this summer.
"There are still technical hurdles, and the biggest challenge remains upgrading the energy grid," said Anne Braeutigam, wind energy expert at Germany Trade & Invest. "Given the current market conditions and new financing and R&D programs, it's an excellent time for companies to invest in Germany to help resolve these remaining issues."
