Vanessa Johnson
Project Manager - Government Projects & Trade Missions Consulting Services
+1 (404) 586-6838 vjohnson@gaccsouth.com
The Energy Business Trip to the USA is part of the Export Initiative Energy and a funding measure of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). It is aimed at German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that offer technologies and solutions in the field of energy infrastructure and electromobility and are seeking to expand their business into the US market.
The aim of the trip is to establish concrete business relationships with potential American partners from the automotive, energy, and infrastructure sectors. The program includes a specialist conference, networking events, company visits, and individually arranged B2B meetings in the states of Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama, organized by the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc (GACC South).
The aim of the trip is to explore cooperation opportunities between German technology providers and potential American partners from the automotive, energy, and infrastructure sectors. The focus will be on the exchange of experience, the presentation of innovative solutions, and the development of concrete cooperation approaches in the areas of energy infrastructure and electromobility.
The program includes a specialist conference with American industry representatives, where German participants can present their technologies, products, and services to a broad professional audience. The event is complemented by networking events, company visits, and individually prepared B2B meetings, organized by the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc (GACC South) and tailored to the specific target groups of the participants.
To ensure optimal preparation, companies receive a target market analysis with current industry information and a bilingual company profile (German/English) to use when contacting potential business partners. Furthermore, workshops, site visits, and group tours of leading American companies and institutions, including automotive manufacturers, energy providers, and charging infrastructure operators in Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama, offer practical insights into the US energy infrastructure and electromobility market and create valuable opportunities to strategically expand their network within the target market.
The project is being carried out by the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc (GACC South), in cooperation with SBS systems for business solutions GmbH as a partner. The trip is being supported by the Export Initiative Energy of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). Further input is being provided by German industry associations and networks in the fields of electromobility, energy technology, and charging infrastructure, which are contributing to the in-depth exploration of the topics and providing expert guidance for the trip.
With this project, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) supports German companies in their international business activities by strategically establishing and expanding business contacts in the USA. The business trip aims to unlock market opportunities in the energy infrastructure and electromobility sectors and to prepare for long-term sales potential for German SMEs in the energy and technology sectors in one of the world's largest and most innovative markets.
Up to eight German companies can participate in the trip. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) covers the costs of the organizer's services; participants only pay a contribution towards the costs, as well as their individual travel, accommodation, and meal expenses. The project is being carried out by the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc (GACC South) in cooperation with SBS systems for business solutions GmbH.
COMPONENTS OF THE business trip
Zielmarktanalyse mit Profilen der Marktakteure
Participants receive a specially prepared study on the framework conditions and specific business opportunities in the USA, as well as a description and contact details of the companies, institutions, organizations and authorities relevant to the industry and their decision-makers.
Länderbriefing
During a country briefing, you will receive in-depth information about the target market, industry-specific characteristics, and the organizational aspects of the trip. The speakers are industry and country experts from German diplomatic missions abroad, the German-American Chamber of Commerce (AHK USA), and Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), as well as experts from the target country and representatives of German companies with a local presence.
Fachkonferenz
The conference offers German participants the opportunity to present their technologies, products, and services to an American audience of experts. In addition to keynote speeches by German and American specialists, the program includes panel discussions and Q&A sessions, facilitating a direct exchange on best practices and market trends in the fields of energy infrastructure and electromobility.
Workshops
In interactive workshops, delegation members, together with representatives from American industry, address practical issues related to energy infrastructure and electromobility. Topics include German best practices, case studies from the US market, thematic sessions on charging infrastructure, grid modernization and storage technologies, as well as the joint development of strategies for future cooperation projects in Michigan, Tennessee and Alabama.
New business opportunities
The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc (GACC South) and SBS systems for business solutions GmbH are available as your local German-speaking contacts. They will handle scheduling, connect all parties involved, accompany you to meetings, and, if needed, act as interpreters or provide professional moderation.
Site Visits
The program includes site visits to selected reference projects in Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama that demonstrate innovative approaches in energy infrastructure, charging infrastructure, and electromobility. These visits provide direct insight into practical applications of modern technologies and facilitate the exchange of experiences with operating companies and local stakeholders.
Program
Will be announced soon
This project is a project-related funding measure supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) based on a resolution of the German Bundestag.
The costs incurred by your company amount only to your own contribution * depending on the size of your company:
- 250 EURO net for micro-enterprises with less than EUR 2 million annual turnover and fewer than 10 employees
- 850 EURO net for small and medium-sized enterprises with less than EUR 50 million in annual turnover and fewer than 500 employees
- 1,500 EURO net for large companies with an annual turnover of EUR 50 million or more, or with 500 or more employees.
Travel, accommodation and meal expenses are borne by the participants themselves.
The individual consulting services are certified in accordance with the EU's De Minimis Regulation.
Market Information - Business Opportunities in the USA
The US is one of the world's largest energy markets and is undergoing a profound transformation of its energy infrastructure and mobility systems. Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama are among the most dynamic states in this transformation: Michigan as a traditional center of the US automotive industry and battery research, and Tennessee and Alabama as emerging locations for electric vehicle production with billions of dollars in investments from Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and other manufacturers. According to the consulting firm AlixPartners, automotive companies and suppliers are investing over $38 billion in new battery plants in the US alone.
This opens up a strategically important market for German companies . Technologies for charging infrastructure and load management , battery storage and grid integration, smart grid solutions , and digital energy management systems for industry and commerce are particularly in demand. The automotive clusters in Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama offer ideal starting points for pilot projects and technology collaborations with local manufacturers, energy suppliers, and infrastructure operators.
American industry is seeking proven, scalable, and economically viable solutions that can be integrated into existing production and energy processes – an area where German suppliers possess high levels of technological expertise, engineering quality, and international project experience. The combination of a strong German-American industrial presence , growing investment volume, and structural transformation pressures creates excellent business opportunities for German companies seeking to position their technologies in the American market.