The Global Benchmarking Network (GBN) is an alliance of leading benchmarking centres worldwide, which share a common vision and mission. Current membership comprises 20 benchmarking centres in 20 countries, which represent more than 30,000 businesses and government agencies. The GBN was founded in November 1994 by representatives from benchmarking centres in Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

, the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

Structure

The GBN is a non-profit organization. Funding is raised from affiliates' annual fees and other sources approved at the annual meeting. It has a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, and a Secretary General.

Services

The GBN was established to promote and to support these core benefits for its affiliates:

• to share experience in benchmarking centre operations
• to promote and to assist with international partnering between individual organizations participating in centre activities
• to enhance centres with marketing and promotional support for benchmarking
• to exchange selected publications between affiliates including newsletters and promotional material
• to share advance information on up-coming meetings, activities, and events including national and international awards