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Our Partners and Sponsors
The Open Society Foundations (OSF)
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve this mission, the foundations seek to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, the Open Society Foundations implement a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, we build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. The foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.
Investor and philanthropist George Soros established the Open Society Foundations, starting in 1984, to help countries make the transition from communism. Our activities have grown to encompass the United States and more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Each foundation relies on the expertise of boards composed of eminent citizens who determine individual agendas based on local priorities.
UniCredit Group
UniCredit Group is one of the largest European banking groups, with a core presence in 22 countries and approximately 10,000 branches employing 168,000 people as of December 2009.
The Group benefits from its strong European identity, extensive international presence and network, diversified business model and broad customer base. The business strategy of the Group is characterized by a combination of client segmentation, which alllows specialization and deep local roots, unified under a single master brand. In Western Europe, the Group maintains top positions in Italy, Germany and Austria. In Central and Eastern Europe the Group operates the by far largest banking network in 19 countries, with around 4,000 branches and outlets.
The roots of UniCredit Group are going back to the 14th century when Rolo Banca in Bologna was established. In the recent past UniCredit Group is a result of the merger of several Italian banks and subsequent combinations with the German HVB Group, Bank Austria, which is the hub for the Group’s CEE operations, and the Italian group Capitalia.
OMV
OMV, headquartered in Vienna, is the leading energy group along the European growth belt. As international integrated energy group OMV is active in the following core businesses areas: Refining and Marketing including Petrochemicals (R&M) Exploration and Production (E&P) as well as Gas and Power (G&P).
OMV is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, and an active supporter to the values enshrined in its Code of Conduct. These include a strong sense of responsibility towards the social and natural environment, especially in economically weak regions. OMV continuously addresses economic, environmental and social issues related to its business in a responsible manner. The Company reports on its CSR activities in a sustainability report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines.
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$ 116.8 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of seven independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Semiconductor and LCD.
Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Telekom Austria Group
Telekom Austria Group is Austria's leading provider of telecommunications services. It was listed on the Vienna stock exchange in November 2000. The Group has two main business areas: the Fixed Net segment encompasses fixed line telephony, data, Internet, security and multimedia services and the Mobile Communication segment covers mobile communications. The Telekom Austria Group has international operations in Slovenia, Croatia, Republic of Serbia, Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Belarus and Liechtenstein.
City of Vienna
Vienna, Austria's capital is both - a city and federal province. Due to its excellent geographic location, Vienna is home of more than 300 international corporations and gateway to the growth markets in Central and Eastern Europe. The cultural diversity, more than 50% of green spaces, state of the art infrastructure and modern administration make the city of Vienna one of the most livable cities of the world. The mix of traditions and modern life give the city on the Danube its unique character.
The Federation of Austrian Industries
The Federation of Austrian Industries, currently consists of about 3,500 members and is a voluntary body representing the interests of Austrian industries. Its central goal is to advocate for its members both in Austria and at the European level in a targeted and sustainable manner. “Performance and Responsibility” – this is the motto IV has chosen for its efforts to promote an environment of growth, employment and prosperity in Austria and in Europe. Its structure comprises nine independent regional groups, a central organisation at the federal level and the European office in Brussels.
The “Industrialists’ Association”, the first supra-regional organisation representing the interests of industries in Austria, was founded in 1862. In 1911, Emperor Francis Joseph I opened the “House of Industry” on Schwarzenbergplatz in Vienna. Since that time, its premises have been used by associations working in the interest of industry.
The Vienna Chamber of Commerce - WKO Wien
The Vienna Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of commerce in the country’s capital and speaks with a strong voice for over 100,000 entrepreneurs. The Chamber of Commerce is a corporation under public law and an association of commercial business operators.
Mission: The core of the mission is participating in the shaping of economic conditions within the framework of legislation. This is achieved through representation of interests, advising, services and training for entrepreneurs.
Statutory membership: In order to effectively participate in shaping the economic conditions, it is necessary for commerce to speak with a single voice. The statutory membership allows the chambers of commerce to perform the required balancing of interests between companies within the chambers.
Archaeological Park Carnuntum
As the largest archaeological landscape in Austria, the Archaeological Park Carnuntum is a unique centre for fabulous journeys back in time to the era of the Romans, and exciting insights into the world of archaeology and reconstruction. Our trained staff look forward to transporting you back to Rome’s metropolis on the Danube with a tailor-made tour.
SITA Slovak News Agency
SITA is the largest private provider of complex information services in Slovakia. SITA represents an essential source of information and also provides individual information solutions for the Slovak business community.
It produces over 500 agency news per day, dozens of sector overviews, media monitoring services, media analyses, political analyses, and other information products in Slovak, English and German. Information services of SITA are used by Slovak and foreign media, government institutions, diplomatic missions, banks, telecommunications operators, energy companies, as well as other businesses active in finance and capital sphere.
Slovak Tourist Board (SACR)
Slovak Tourist Board (SACR) is a state contributory organisation specialised in marketing and the promotion of tourism activities in Slovakia. It provides information on tourism in Slovakia, presents Slovakia as a tourist destination, contributes to the positive image of Slovakia abroad, and supports the sale of the country’s tourism products. The SACR is authorised to represent the Slovak Republic abroad and establish detached offices at home and abroad.
Slovak Electricity Transmission System, Plc.
Slovak Electricity Transmission System, Plc. (SEPS) acts as the transmission system operator in Slovakia. Its mission is to operate the transmission system reliably, ensuring its dispatching control, maintenance and development to guarantee reliable and quality electricity supply.
Allianz
Allianz - Slovenská poisťovňa has been operating on the Slovak insurance market for several decades and is an undisputed leader in providing high quality services and products. Allianz - SP belongs to the European Allianz family, Allianz Societas Europaea, which administers the contracts of millions of clients in Central and Eastern Europe. Thanks to its international expertise in 70 countries around the world, it has been successful in putting this experience into practice and adapting it to the local conditions of Slovakia.
Being the largest universal insurance company in Slovakia, Allianz - SP respects its commitments by providing clients with professional services and by offering a broad range of innovative quality insurance products in life and accident insurance, private property insurance and motor insurance, as well as in industry and business insurance.
At the end of 2009, according to preliminary results, Allianz – SP maintained a 30 percent market share, holding a 24 percent market share in life insurance and almost a 38 percent market share in non-life insurance in the Slovak insurance market. At present Allianz - SP administers more than 6.5 million insurance policies and it holds the first place in the Slovak insurance market.
DATALAN
DATALAN is a major Slovak provider of innovative business solutions and IT services, IT outsourcing and consultancy. Key solutions provided by the company are Document and Information Management, Process Management and Collaboration and IT Infrastructure Optimisation. The goal of DATALAN is to provide quality services and solutions that maximise clients’ efficiency in fulfilling their requirements and help them to improve their business activities.
The company DATALAN, a.s. has been operating in the IT market of Slovakia since 1990; its quality management system is ISO 9001:2000 certified and its environmental engineering system is EN ISO 14001:2004 certified. Among DATALAN clients are telecommunications and industrial production companies, financial institutions and public sector organisations. In 2007, DATALAN merged with Ability Development SK, a.s. forming one of the biggest IT companies in Slovakia with an annual turnover of over 1 billion SKK. With the purchase of Euroaltis company, DATALAN became one of the largest and most experienced suppliers of solutions for municipalities. The solutions are provided under the name DATALAN Digital City.
Kooperativa poisťovňa a. s. Vienna Insurance Group
KOOPERATIVA poisťovňa, a.s. Vienna Insurance Group was established in 1990 as the first private universal insurer in Slovakia. KOOPERATIVA is a member of Vienna Insurance Group with representations all over Europe. KOOPERATIVA offers private customers and natural and legal persons more than 100 life and non-life insurance products. The number of policies exceeds 1.5 million.
In recent years, KOOPERATIVA has recorded a steep growth in its market share and extended its business activities, acquiring the KOMUNÁLNA poisťovňa, a.s. Poisťovňa Slovenskej sporiteľne has also joined the Group, after the Erste Group Bank concluded the sale of its insurance companies in Central and Eastern Europe to Vienna Insurance Group in 2008. The common market share of the insurance companies of Vienna Insurance Group in Slovakia (KOOPERATIVA, KOMUNÁLNA poisťovňa and Poisťovňa Slovenskej sporiteľne), as of 31 December 2009, exceeded 31 percent.
Slovak Telekom
Slovak Telekom is the largest Slovak multimedia operator with many years of experience. The merger of Slovak Telekom, a.s., and T-Mobile Slovensko, a.s., gave rise to a universal operator offering residential and corporate clientele comprehensive benefits and solutions provided from a single source. The company offers a full-array of data and voice services via its brands T-Com and T-Mobile. It owns and operates fixed and mobile telecommunications networks covering the entire territory of the Slovak Republic. It is also the largest provider of broadband internet in Slovakia and offers interactive digital television via both fixed (metallic and optic) and satellite (DVB-S2) technology.
The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency
The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) is a government-funded organisation that works under the supervision of the Slovak Ministry of Economy. SARIO’s primary objective is to improve the standard of living of Slovak citizens by increasing employment and reducing regional disparities. SARIO works actively to make Slovakia a country with a well developed economy, an educated population, and a high quality of life. In order to achieve these goals, SARIO utilises valuable contacts both in Slovakia and abroad. After receiving the “European IPA Award” in 2003, SARIO was recognised again in 2007 when it won the “Best European Investment Agency Award for High-Tech” at the World Investment Conference in La Baule (France).
JAVYS a.s.
The nuclear decommissioning company JAVYS a.s. operates and decommissions nuclear facilities. Its mission is to do this safely, reliably and effectively, and to treat radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel with minimum impact on the environment. Its strategic goal is to establish itself in the European market as a highly professional company experienced in the provision of services related to processing radioactive waste.
GUEST magazine
GUEST magazine provides information about tourism, the hotel business, catering and restaurant facilities, interviews with representatives of hotels and travel agencies, and attractions from Slovakia and around the world, focusing on the hotel segment, news from the world of gastronomy, interesting events, congresses, and workshops.
GUEST users and magazine readers are members of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Slovak Republic and SACR (Slovak Agency for Tourism), contractors in tourism, owners and directors of hotels, pensions, restaurants, accommodation and gastronomy facilities, spas, travel agencies, and promotional agencies, organizers of events, suppliers of food and beverages, participants in special events, and the wider public.
Slovak Health Spa Piestany
Spa Piestany is one of the most famous spas in central Europe and is visited by more than 40,000 guests every year. It has earned its fame based on the unique healing power of thermal mineral water and the Piestany sulphur mud, linked with its professional healthcare services of doctors and physiotherapists. The beneficial effects of the mud and water help with motion disorders, some neurological disorders, and post-operative conditions. Spa Piestany offers more than 60 medical and relaxation treatments that are included within its Curative, Regeneration, Slim Figure and Detox stays. Within the greenery of Spa Island, you can find 2, 3, 4 and 5 star spa hotels with medical offices, diagnostic workplaces and swimming pools. For golfers there is a 9-hole golf course, driving range, putting and chipping area, club house, and two golf simulators. You can also play tennis, beach volleyball and croquet at Eva thermal swimming pool. The river Vah and Slnava dam offer a sporting paradise for yachting, canoeing, boating, water-skiing and fishing.
TIPOS
TIPOS, a.s. is the national lottery company of Slovakia. The main business activity of the company is the operating of the state lottery, especially number lotteries, gambling games on internet and special bingo. The company has been doing business in the Slovak lottery market, through its own business activity or via daughter companies, in the competitive environment of operators of instant lotteries, fixed-odds betting, and gambling games in casinos.
The Bratislava Culture and Information Centre (BKIS)
The Bratislava Culture and Information Centre (BKIS) is the main tourist information operator in Bratislava. BKIS organises events and provides services in the area of culture, tourism and sport. It offers sightseeing tours (14 languages), educative events, and eco-tourism. It provides information on accommodation, transfers, offers tailor-made programmes and presents Bratislava as a tourist destination. Its Bratislava City Card offers discounts on transport, city tours, trips, museums, galleries, restaurants and many other services.
Minerálna voda Mitická
For over 200 years, Mitická mineral water has harmonized the human body through its delicate balance of natural minerals. This unique mineral mix is found to be effective in osteoporosis prevention, digestion improvement, relief of inflammations, and allergic reactions. Mitická’s portfolio consists of three types of natural mineral water (sparkling, soft sparkling, and still), four types of flavored mineral water (lemon, peach, mango/orange, and elderberry/grapefruit), and four types of wellness mineral water. Mitická mineral water is produced by Trenčianske minerálne vody, a.s., a part of the Slovintegra Group.
Carat Distillery
The manufacturing company CARAT DISTILLERY, spol. s r. o. took up spirits production on July 11, 2005. The company’s management invested significant amounts into modern manufacturing and packaging equipment, high-capacity a storage premises and the selection of the best ingredients for its products of high quality standard, based on the original recipes of the old masters.
In January 2006, the new CARAT DISTILLERY premium brand was launched on the market - standing for quality and image.
Vino Nichta
Vino Nichta is a family wine company founded in 1997. Its establishment follows generations of grape cultivation. A wine making tradition dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. The company is based in Cajkov - a village in the Tekov region famous for its wine making and vineyards. Vino Nichta cultivates 30 hectares of young vines and makes a wide range of quality wines. Many of Vino Nichta wines have been given awards at prestigious wine making exhibitions.
Kulla
Kulla Company was founded in 1991. Its activities cover interior decoration, the sale of plants, flowers and trees, flower arrangements, the import of decorative accessories, trimmings and exotic furniture, and hiring of greenery. Since 1993 the company organizes the international flower exhibition Flora Bratislava.
KULLA Company prepared flower arrangements at Expo Valencia (1994) and Expo Lisbon (1998). In 2002 the company designed and managed the Slovak part at the world flower exhibition Floriade in the Netherlands and was awarded a bronze medal. In 2003 it won a silver medal at the World Exhibition in Germany.
PSS - Prva stavebna sporitelna
PSS, a.s. is a bank specialising in housing finance since 1992. The corporate mission of PSS, a.s. is to increase the standard of living in Slovakia in the long term, so that it gradually reaches a European level. During the last 17 years, PSS, a.s. has lent about 400,000 loans worth € 4 billion. In total, it has provided more than € 5.8 million for housing finance purposes. Three million clients contributed to this refinancing potential in the past. The deposits of over 900,000 building contracts ensure this lending potential also for the future. The figures demonstrate the market significance of PSS, a.s., underlined by an 85 % market share in the Slovak building savings market, and even more importantly, a 40 % share in the housing finance market.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in networking for the internet. Today, networks are an essential part of business, education, government and home communications, and Cisco Internet Protocol-based (IP) networking solutions are the foundation of these networks.
Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create internet solutions that allow individuals, companies, and countries to increase productivity, improve customer satisfaction and strengthen competitive advantage. The Cisco name has become synonymous with the internet, as well as with the productivity improvements that internet business solutions provide. Cisco’s vision is to change the way people work, live, play and learn.
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines has been numerously awarded for its exceptional service and quality during the last years. It offers a dense network of short-haul connections as well as many long-haul destinations, from business destinations to leisure spots. The current network comprises 120 destinations worldwide. Austrian Airlines is a member of Star Alliance.
The Twin City Liner
Twin City Liner (TCL) - from Vienna to Bratislava in only 75 minutes. The catamarans, specially designed for the shallow waters of the Danube Canal, cross as many as four times a day between Schwedenplatz in the center of Vienna and the sights of the Slovakian capital. TCL is the most important project of Central Danube Region Marketing & Development GmbH.
Blaguss
Since 1929 Blaguss Travels has been a very successful and thriving bus company. Besides 350 vehicles, 9 travel agency offices in Austria, 8 subsidiary firms, the Business Travel Center and a travel agent, Blaguss also owns Vienna’s biggest and most modern bus terminal, the VIB.
Media Partners
ORF
The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) is an independent public-service broadcaster. As Austria’s biggest media organisation the ORF provides a wide range of tri-media programme offers in radio, television and on the Internet consisting of information, culture, entertainment and sports. With its nine regional studios the ORF is the most important Austrian medium in the big German-language media market.
APA - Austria Press Agency
APA - Austria Press Agency is the country’s national news agency and the leading information service provider for Austria. Austrian newspapers and the ORF TV and Radio network own the agency.
The APA-Group includes the APA news agency, as well as ten subsidiaries. Its work focuses on the areas of a news agency, photo agency, information management, and information technology. The APA editorial departments supply real-time news service in word, image, graphics, audio and video. The subsidiaries offer dissemination, research, and knowledge management services, as well as information technology solutions. The APA-Group targets its work towards professional users (information managers, PR experts) in the fields of media, politics, public authorities, and economics. APA fulfils its duties independent from the state, governmental, and political party influences and in accordance with the principles of reliability, speed, balanced information and avoidance of any one-sidedness and party influence.
Der Standard
Der Standard is the leading quality newspaper in Austria with a national readership of 6% (421,000 readers) on weekdays and 6.7% (474,000 readers) on weekends. Der Standard’s readers tend to be very successful in their professional lives, have a high level of quality awareness and a great interest in international events. Der Standard’s readers like to use the newspaper and its weekend lifestyle magazine supplement, RONDO, to inform themselves about the latest products. They choose Der Standard because it fulfils their demand for information and the most respected editorial articles.
Die Presse
The Austrian quality newspaper Die Presse is favoured by its readers for its first-class news coverage, well-grounded analysis, background reports on politics, culture and economics, and discerning commentaries. Since 1848, Die Presse represents an irreplaceable daily companion for demanding readers. As Austria’s first quality newspaper, Die Presse established a Sunday issue in 2009 – Die Presse am Sonntag. DiePresse.com is one of the largest news websites in Austria. High-quality content is of course also the focus of the online service. With its mobile service diepresse.com/mobil and its numerous other news services, DiePresse.com can be considered the most innovative digital news platform in Austria.
The Vienna Review
The Vienna Review is Austria’s only English language paper, an independent journal of news and opinion covering the life and times of Vienna and the Central and Eastern European Region. Published monthly, 10 times a year, by the Vienna Journalism Institute at Webster University, The Vienna Review provides a voice and a forum for Vienna’s international community; it includes contributions from a distinguished list of area journalists and intellectuals and is a member of Project Syndicate. The paper is available by subscription, at public newsstands in Vienna and major Austrian cities, in coffeehouses and at English-speaking theatres and bookstores.
Austrian Journalists Club
The Austrian Journalists Club (ÖJC) with more than 6.000 members is the largest independent organisation for journalists in Austria. The ÖJC with its new Vienna International Press Center is meant to be a connection between east and west, a meeting place for communication.
The Austrian Journalists Club issues the two most prestigious awards in Austrian journalism: the Dr. Karl Renner Publizistikpreis and the Prof. Claus Gatterer-Preis for socially engaged journalists. Moreover the ÖJC awards the European Journalist Price.
Webnoviny.sk - News Portal
Webnoviny.sk is a specialized news portal of SITA Slovak News Agency intended for general internet users. It distributes the news services of SITA, press releases, and advertisements to dozens of other Slovak internet portals.
