MARKUS MIELE, Managing Partner of the Miele Group, began by giving a concise overview of the history of the company, which today is the world market leader in the premium segment of household electrical appliances. CHRISTIAN KLEINSCHMIDT then dealt with the internationalisation strategies of the pharmaceutical and laboratory supplier Sartorius. Following the Uppsala model developed by S. Carlson, Sartorius had gradually increased its internationalisation activities by first concentrating on the domestic market and gaining experience in exports, before establishing trade representations abroad and finally making direct investments. In the case of adidas and its expansion into the Eastern European market as a first mover, RAINER KARLSCH explained that the focus had initially been on product advertising and later on sports policy. After a tour of the Miele company museum, JÖRG LESCZENSKI presented Messer, the world's largest family-run manufacturer of industrial gases. Lesczenski emphasised that Messer's corporate history had been an interplay of expansion and de-internationalisation. ANN SOPHIE K. LÖHDE dealt with the changing times in the internationalisation of family businesses. Based on surveys of 35 family businesses, she came to the conclusion that family businesses often chose lower-risk, less capital-intensive and more long-term strategies. The closing lecture was given by HARALD WIXFORTH on hidden and obvious champions in East Westphalia-Lippe and their respective internationalisation strategies.