The Trade Show and Project Commission (MPK)

August 29, 2011 - 2:16pm, Corinne Niklaus

Export promotion is an activity that also occurs on the market. To support the market presence of Swiss companies ("trade show funds"), Osec provides subsidies that can be used for joint promotion of exports.

The Osec Business Network SwitzerlandDas Business Network Switzerland ist ein umfassendes Netzwerk von Kompetenzpartnern im In- und Ausland zur aktiven und lokalen Unterstützung von Schweizer und Liechtensteiner Firmen bei der Entwicklung ihrer Auslandsaktivitäten. Koordiniert wird es vom offiziellen Schweizer Exportförderer Osec. works with the Trade Show and Project Commission (MPK) to ensure that the use of these subsidies is effective, efficient and balanced. The MPK is made up of 5-7 members that represent key industries and sectors of the Swiss export economy and themselves have many years of experience in trade shows and events and/or the regions where they are held. The duties, powers and responsibilities of the MPK are documented in the "Tradeshow and Project Commission By-Laws".

Ernst A. Brugger, Professor Dr.
Peter Denger
Christine Lettenbauer
Reto Morger
Franz U. Schmid, Dr. jur.
Reto Schoch
Corinne Niklaus, Secretary

The MPK supports roughly 80 projects annually which are carried out in many markets around the world by associations, chambers of commerce, the Osec and other organizations. The export activities of 1,000 companies are thus supported efficiently and to their satisfaction.

Support of Joint Export Promotion Projects abroad

Organisers of trade shows and market development activities ("project initiators") can receive subsidies for these activities as long as the project demonstrates a long-term and significant impact, has a basis in the industry and is well-planned.

Projects always have a "company-specific" and a "general economic" component. The former includes the costs a company has to pay to participate and the latter the activities for industry advertisement. The subsidies are designed to support the general economic component of the project, i.e. those activities that benefit an entire industry or the Swiss economy overall. No support is provided for individual companies or the company-specific component.

The "Rules on funding for support of joint projects to promote exports" provides information on who may request funding and which activities are eligible. This document also regulates the process, the quality and fulfillment criteria as well as the corporate identity. These documents can be found under downloads at the end of the text. Please also note the Trade Fair Manual which describes the CI/CD reglementations.

Project requests must follow a set model that includes all information for assessment to ensure that the decision-making process is transparent here as well. The budget must give a realistic picture of the project and show costs transparently. The key indicators for assessing project efficiency are derived from the budget.

How to apply for project subsidies?

Standardized models/templates are prepared for a correct project application. After completion they need to be sent electronically to the secretarial office of the MPK (MPK@osec.ch).

What needs to be done after the realization of the project?

The project initiator must demonstrate the success of the project and the exhibitor satisfaction in a final report once the project is over. Within three months after the project a detailed statement of costs with a comparison of target/actual budget needs to be sent to the MPK. After examination of the project reportings the MPK will release the awarded subsidies.