Working with Scottish Enterprise, the agency is developing the concept to maximise the economic impact from the growing number of major events being staged in Scotland.

It is an idea that has earned Australia £830bn since 2000 in trade and investment involving more than 300 companies who have used key international events - such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cups - for networking.

Earlier this year, Australia’s trade minister Simon Crean launched ‘Business Club Australia Beijing 2008’. “The programme will deliver an exciting calendar of networking events in the run up to and during the Beijing Olympic Games,” said Crean. 

“They will span a range of sectors, from financial services to mining equipment and technology and from clean energy to sports infrastructure and services.”

Even before its launch, 35 Australian companies had already taken advantage of the opportunities presented by the Games to secure new business.

EventScotland sees significant potential in using events to provide additional benefits to Scottish business. Already a number exist, such as The Open Championship, which are used strategically to promote business links between Scottish businesses and international customers.

But with the increasing number of events, such as the Edinburgh Festivals, the 2014 Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games, the agency says there is a clear opportunity to formalise the existing activity in a sustainable way.