Frank Besinger
Hi,I am an entrepreneur started an oil and cosmetics business after I worked at my own consulting firm. Before that I worked an McKinsey and Company. I received my PhD at Cambridge University England. Apart from that I love my kids and like to go hiking in the mountains or cycling or running.
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Papers by Frank Besinger
To start with, the authors and the TSB Technology Foundation Berlin arrived at the conclusion that the creation of a “Turbine Engine Initiative Berlin- Brandenburg” would likely strengthen research in the field of turbine engines. At the same time, it would revitalize the regional industry beyond the five major companies currently located here and improve the image of metropoli- tan Berlin as an industrial location.
Berlin-Brandenburg has the highest concentration of turbine engine man- ufacturers in Europe. Within a radius of less than 30 km, five international com- panies operate large facilities in which turbine engines are manufactured and maintained. The focus of these operations is on gas turbines (aircraft engines and stationary turbines for the energy sector) and technologically related turbo compressors.
The “Big Five”, ALSTOM Power Service, MAN Diesel & Turbo, MTU Mainte- nance, Rolls Royce and Siemens Energy Sector have a total workforce of around 6,300, mostly highly-skilled employees, and annual sales of around EUR 1.6 billion. Preliminary engineering and pre-production work in the region is val- ued at around EUR 200 million and secures at least 2,000 additional jobs. These five companies operate in rapidly growing worldwide markets, consistently invest significant amounts in Berlin as a business location, and are currently hiring more employees.
The balance is similarly positive when it comes to public-sector research. At least twelve organizations in the region, including two technical universi- ties, two Fraunhofer Institutes and six technical colleges (polytechnics), work in turbine engine-related disciplines. The focus of expertise – turbine engine manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul – largely coincides with the key activities of the regional industry.
The congruence of research and development on one side, and fields of industrial activity on the other, results in a significant synergy potential that should be used for intensifying applied research and improving industrial com- petitiveness through joint ventures. This is made even more important in view of the fact that securing long-term jobs in the region requires more innovation and potentially new business models – particularly in the service industry.
Within the last twelve months, the preliminary activities of the organiza- tions and state governments confirm the viewpoint of the authors and the TSB that intensifying cooperation can lead to success:
The acquisition of a Fraunhofer Society innovation cluster by two Fraun-
hofer Institutes in cooperation with the technical universities in Berlin and Cottbus, along with all five turbine engine manufacturers, led to the establishment of a large research network that goes far beyond bilateral cooperation
Based on a jet engine initiative supported by the Berlin Brandenburg Aerospace Alliance e. V. (BBAA), a new supply company jointly developed by SMEs was established. This company clearly demonstrates the turbine engine industry’s potential to support regional SMEs as suppliers and help them enter new markets
TheBerlinstategovernmentiscommittedtoestablishingBerlinasaninno- vative industrial location and has already taken steps to implementing this strategy within the framework of the “Master Plan for Industry”
InitiatedbytheTSBTechnologyFoundationBerlin,adiscussiongroupmade up of researchers and business representatives from the turbine engine sec- tor developed a common mission statement that is supported by the state governments of Berlin and Brandenburg. This document shows that the factories in metropolitan Berlin, in respect to their position in internal cor- porate competition, are increasingly interested in strengthening the busi- ness location.
The authors’ investigations resulted in a specific profile of strengths and weak- nesses in the turbine engine sector in Berlin-Brandenburg. This information can be used to derive development potential and needs for action.
To start with, the authors and the TSB Technology Foundation Berlin arrived at the conclusion that the creation of a “Turbine Engine Initiative Berlin- Brandenburg” would likely strengthen research in the field of turbine engines. At the same time, it would revitalize the regional industry beyond the five major companies currently located here and improve the image of metropoli- tan Berlin as an industrial location.
Berlin-Brandenburg has the highest concentration of turbine engine man- ufacturers in Europe. Within a radius of less than 30 km, five international com- panies operate large facilities in which turbine engines are manufactured and maintained. The focus of these operations is on gas turbines (aircraft engines and stationary turbines for the energy sector) and technologically related turbo compressors.
The “Big Five”, ALSTOM Power Service, MAN Diesel & Turbo, MTU Mainte- nance, Rolls Royce and Siemens Energy Sector have a total workforce of around 6,300, mostly highly-skilled employees, and annual sales of around EUR 1.6 billion. Preliminary engineering and pre-production work in the region is val- ued at around EUR 200 million and secures at least 2,000 additional jobs. These five companies operate in rapidly growing worldwide markets, consistently invest significant amounts in Berlin as a business location, and are currently hiring more employees.
The balance is similarly positive when it comes to public-sector research. At least twelve organizations in the region, including two technical universi- ties, two Fraunhofer Institutes and six technical colleges (polytechnics), work in turbine engine-related disciplines. The focus of expertise – turbine engine manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul – largely coincides with the key activities of the regional industry.
The congruence of research and development on one side, and fields of industrial activity on the other, results in a significant synergy potential that should be used for intensifying applied research and improving industrial com- petitiveness through joint ventures. This is made even more important in view of the fact that securing long-term jobs in the region requires more innovation and potentially new business models – particularly in the service industry.
Within the last twelve months, the preliminary activities of the organiza- tions and state governments confirm the viewpoint of the authors and the TSB that intensifying cooperation can lead to success:
The acquisition of a Fraunhofer Society innovation cluster by two Fraun-
hofer Institutes in cooperation with the technical universities in Berlin and Cottbus, along with all five turbine engine manufacturers, led to the establishment of a large research network that goes far beyond bilateral cooperation
Based on a jet engine initiative supported by the Berlin Brandenburg Aerospace Alliance e. V. (BBAA), a new supply company jointly developed by SMEs was established. This company clearly demonstrates the turbine engine industry’s potential to support regional SMEs as suppliers and help them enter new markets
TheBerlinstategovernmentiscommittedtoestablishingBerlinasaninno- vative industrial location and has already taken steps to implementing this strategy within the framework of the “Master Plan for Industry”
InitiatedbytheTSBTechnologyFoundationBerlin,adiscussiongroupmade up of researchers and business representatives from the turbine engine sec- tor developed a common mission statement that is supported by the state governments of Berlin and Brandenburg. This document shows that the factories in metropolitan Berlin, in respect to their position in internal cor- porate competition, are increasingly interested in strengthening the busi- ness location.
The authors’ investigations resulted in a specific profile of strengths and weak- nesses in the turbine engine sector in Berlin-Brandenburg. This information can be used to derive development potential and needs for action.