successful companies for a successful region

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1 successful companies for a successful region mittelpunkt the Industrial Initiative for Central Germany magazine perdata The Industrial Initiative for Central Germany brings together key corporations, business chambers and local authorities from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia with the common aim of promoting the successful development and marketing of the traditional economic region of Central Germany. Central Germany Business and the arts in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia

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3 Magdeburg SAXONY- ANHALT Dessau-Roßlau Halle Erfurt THURINGIA Jena Gera Leipzig Dresden Chemnitz SAXONY Welcome to the new Central Germany! In 21st century, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia a region whose rich culture and thriving economic activity go back centuries are building on their strengths and have become a modern, dynamic location with a high quality of life. Showing ingenuity and dedication, the people have given their region a new vision. Acting in accordance with the principle of successful companies for a successful region, the Industrial Initiative for Central Germany is buoying the region by strengthening its strengths. It is doing so within its globally unique cluster process, under which commercial companies, research centres and related institutions from the strongest related industries and sectors are teaming up within joint networks, sharpening the region s profile. Browse the following pages and get to grips with Central Germany s strengths. Apart from clusters such as Automotive, Energy and the Environment, and Chemical and Plastics, not to mention Solar Valley, one of them is our abundant cultural heritage, which includes the Bauhaus, Weimar Classicism and celebrity painter Neo Rauch. Discover Central Germany we re on the move! Best regards, Hanka Fischer Head of Corporate Communication, Industrial Initiative for Central Germany

4 The Central German powerhouse

5 4 Introducing Central Germany The new heart of Europe 8 east German Automotive Cluster Powerful new drive 12 Biotech-Life Sciences Cluster An alliance for life 16 Chemical Industry and Plastics Cluster The right chemistry 20 food Cluster The sweet smell of success 22 energy and Environment Cluster An energetic region 25 Solar Cluster Sunny prospects 28 Information Technology Cluster Source code of the future 32 Jena Optoelectronics Cluster Global precision 33 Silicon Saxony Microelectronics Cluster Smaller, faster, better! 34 Central Germany s cultural heritage Restless calm a tour 42 Industrial Initiative for Central Germany 44 Regional contacts IMPRINT

6 Introducing Central Germany The new heart of Europe The region of Central Germany, an area where culture, industry and commerce have been interwoven for centuries, is nowadays made up of the German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Central Germany is known far and wide for its worldfam ous cultural heritage underlined by celebrities like Luther, Bach and Handel, as well as the Church of Our Lady in Dresden, the Nebra sky disk, and the Bauhaus in Dessau. In the late 19th century, industry and trade began to transform this region rich in raw mater ials into a leading European metropolitan region. Central Germany s efficient infrastructure comprising brand-new three-lane motor ways, InterCity rail links and a 24-hour intercontinental airport interconnects the metropolitan network. It also ensures that in terms of logistics, the region is fully integrated into its international surroundings between Berlin, Prague and Frankfurt. Nowadays, owing to its central location and outstanding infrastructure, Central Germany has become the main gateway region for the exchange of know-how, information and goods between Western and Eastern Europe. Global corporations like Porsche, BMW, Globalfoundries, Dow Chemical, Bayer and DHL as well as a raft of innovative medium-sized companies are concentrated within a radius of about 100km, increasingly making Central Germany the hub of the new Europe. 4

7 products and services from Central Germany: in demand across the world The international competitiveness of the economy in Central Germany is apparent from its export quota, which has been rising for years. And despite the global economic downturn, the share of manufacturing s total turnover accounted for by sales abroad has remained stable since Development of export quota (share of foreign sales within total turnover) in the manufacturing sector in Central Germany [Regional departments of statistics of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia] % 30.7 % 29.8 % 26.3 % 25.5 % 21.4 % 16.5 % 12.7 % flexible production location Compared to the rest of Germany and even Europe, Central Germany s well-trained, highly motivated skilled labour, low unit wage costs, close-knit research community and focused investment subsidies make it a reliable, attractive production centre with potential for growth. Both traditional industries such as automotive and machinery production as well as high-tech areas like microelectronics, photovoltaics and optics are attracted by the region s ideal conditions for investment and development. Rising turnover and employment: manufacturing and industry Central Germany s dynamic economy has placed it at the top of several national and international league tables. During the past 15 years, the combined turnover of process manufacturing companies alone has more than doubled. And some sectors such as the chemical industry and photovoltaics enjoy doubledigit growth annually Turnover in bn (2008) Employees in 10,000 (2008) Turnover of process manufacturing in bn [Source: Regional departments of statistics of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia] The Central German powerhouse 5

8 Top 12 in Central Germany (correct as of 2009) State Sector Turnover ( m) Employees 1 VNG Verbundnetz Gas AG, Leipzig 2 Total Raffinerie Mitteldeutschland GmbH, Spergau 3 Dow Olefinverbund GmbH, Schkopau 4 Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH (Zwickau/Dresden/Chemnitz) 5 Leipziger Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbh (LVV) 6 envia Mitteldeutsche Energie AG, Chemnitz 7 BMW car plant Leipzig 8 Opel Eisenach GmbH, Eisenach 9 E.ON Thüringer Energie AG, Erfurt 10 Sachsenmilch AG, Leppersdorf 11 ENSO Energie Sachsen Ost AG, Dresden 12 Q-Cells SE, Thalheim Saxony Energy 5, Saxony- Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony Energy 5, Chemical 4,800 2,300 Saxony Automotive 4,400 7,200 Saxony Municipal 3,202 5,008 services Saxony Energy 2,277 2,430 Saxony Automotive 2,600 Thuringia Automotive 1,650 Thuringia Energy 1,460 1,497 Saxony Food 1,419 1,570 Saxony Energy 1,314 1,471 Saxony- Anhalt Solar 1,251 2,568 [ Source: Fokus Mittelstand, December 2009 ] Central Germany 2015: Europe in its sights By 2015, Central Germany will become one of Europe s most attractive and pioneering industrial regions, combining dynamic growth with a high quality of life. That s the bold vision of the Industrial Initiative for Central Germany. Uniting more than 60 major corporations, business chambers and local authorities from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, the IICG has set itself the aim of developing and marketing Central Germany. The goals of this network of regional decision-makers from business, science and government include strengthening the innovation of small and medium sized enterprises, building up sustainable, internationally competitive clusters, making the region more attractive to in vestors and creative heads, and developing a single economic environment. Development of GDP % Central Germany % Germany Development of GDP (chain-linked, shown in real terms, 2000 = 100%) [Source: National accounts] 6

9 Learning fur a common future: science and research on a european scale The higher education and research policy of Central Germany is geared to present and future industrial priorities and has made the region one of the densest areas of science and learning in Europe. Central Germany has 48 universities and colleges along with well over 100 research centres, including 19 Fraunhofer institutes, 14 Leibniz institutes and 14 Max Planck institutes. Public expenditure on research and development (R&D) in Central Germany is far higher than the national average and outstrips countries in Eastern Europe like the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. The practical transfer of knowledge between industry and science is facilitated by numerous networks of excellence and cooperation projects. As a result, the region is already a forerunner in many areas and is thus building on its proud scientific heritage from the 19th and 20th centuries. Universities Universities of applied sciences Colleges Academies Applied research Cluster development in Central Germany Central Germany looks back on a long, distinguished history in many different fields. With its car industry in Eisenach and Zwickau as well as the chemical industry in Leuna and Bitterfeld, it was one of the leading industrial regions in Europe and even the world in the early 20th century. And by deliberately building up its strengths, Central Germany is now picking up the threads of its successful past again. The cluster process initiated by the Industrial Initiative for Central Germany is designed to methodically interlink those related industrial sectors (including research centres, suppliers and service providers) in which Central Germany already has a competitive advantage. This leads to higher specialisation, lower costs and higher competitiveness as a whole. In addition, the clusters make an attractive setting for investors. Info: Tomorrow s medium-sized businesses Central Germany is also an outstanding environ ment for start-ups and university spin-offs. Tomorrow s medium-sized firms benefit from a raft of advantages in the region such as quick, flexible local government, supporting networks and partners as well as inexpensive real estate and rents. Success stories such as PC- WARE, Q-Cells and Funkwerk go to show that by using imaginative business models, young employers and entrepreneurs from Central Germany are increasingly conquering markets throughout the world and hence becoming an important economic factor in the region. The Central German powerhouse 7

10 Until 2001, the area where BMW s car plant now stands was just a vast field surrounded by hedges and trees. When I was still at school, I used to work here in the holidays: sort ing out rocks on a trailer drawn by a tractor. I thus earned my first wages on the site of the future factory. Later on I became a trainee automotive electrician. Since I live near the BMW plant, I was able to watch it being built from day one. Now I m working on the same site the second time round, you might say but this time in my dream job! Tino Lasch, parts quality manager at BMW s Leipzig car plant

11 east German Automotive Cluster powerful NeW drive The automotive industry in Central Germany is built on a successful history. Owing to the early car factories run by the likes of DKW, Horch, Wanderer and Audi, and their subsequent merger to form Auto Union, the region around Zwickau, Chemnitz and Gera is still regarded as the cradle of the automotive industry. Under the East German regime, these centres became known for the production of Trabants and Wartburgs. The international reputation of Central Germany as a centre of automotive engineering at the heart of Europe has been revived by the arrival of Porsche and BMW in Leipzig, as well as Opel in Eisenach, and Volkswagen in Zwickau, Chemnitz and Dresden. But the automotive backbone in eastern Germany also includes a network of highly specialised suppliers staffed by superbly trained manpower. And thanks to the professional networking of automotive suppliers in Central Germany, the East German Automotive Cluster is forging a platform for cooperation and knowledge transfer between companies. 50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5, Number of employees in the East German automotive industry [Source: German Department of Statistics] The biggest car manufacturers in Central Germany Top 5 in Central Germany Vehicles produced Employees 1 Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH 212,000 7,300 2 BMW Werk Leipzig 138,000 2,600 3 opel Eisenach GmbH 133,000 1,450 4 Porsche Leipzig GmbH 34, Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfelde GmbH 31,929 2,440 [Source: Details provided by the companies concerned for 2009] Automotive 9

12 Selected manufacturers in the East German car industry Volkswagen s Chemnitz engine plant wins Factory of the Year 2009 Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH s engine plant in Chemnitz received the Factory of the Year 2009 award from consultants A.T. Kearney and trade publication Produktion in the category Outstanding Innovation Management. Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH has a workforce of 7,300. Premium sporty cars from Leipzig Porsche Leipzig GmbH builds the Panamera and Cayenne series at its state-of-theart factory employing a workforce of over 600. The advanced system of mo dular production and the highly dynamic manufacturing process enable the flexible, demand-based fabrication of custom cars tailored to drivers individual requirements. BMW plant to become centre of excellence for electric cars BMW produces up to Series, 1 Series and X1 cars at its Leipzig plant every day. The plant is become the BMW Group s centre of excellence for the construction of electric vehicles with the first Megacity runarounds to come off the production line in New driving gear ideas from Haldensleben The products developed and manufactured by the IFA ROTORION Group in Haldensleben include weight-optimised gear shafts as well as innovative ste ering joints for front, rear and four wheel drive cars and light commercial vehicles built by famous names. The biggest producer of cardan shafts in Europe, IFA ROTORION is living proof that increased driving comfort and reduced fuel consumption need not be mutually exclusive. Selected automotive centres of excellence in eastern Germany Institute of Automotive Engineering Dresden University of Technology Vehicle Research Institute Dresden University of Applied Sciences Institute of Mechatronics Chemnitz University of Technology Institute of Vehicle Engineering Zwickau University of Applied Sciences Department of Automotive Engineering Ilmenau University of Technology INFERTA GmbH Institute of Production Technology in Automotive Construction in Magdeburg CCC Harzgerode Creativity and Competence Centre Department of Design and Production Cottbus University of Technology Department of Mechanical Engineering Stralsund University of Applied Sciences 10

13 Joint progress Aluminium Electrics/ electronics Lightweight construction/ exterior east GeRmAN AUTOmOTIve CLUSTeR Powertrain Interior The East German Automotive Cluster combines the expertise and activities of its members in five clusters of excellence, boosting technical innovation and encouraging interregional cooperation. meeting places for the international automotive industry The annual congress of the East German Automotive Cluster has evolved into an influential meeting place for representatives of government, business, science and higher education from Germany and abroad. The latest trends and strategies of the automotive industry are debated at the presentations and specialist forums featuring prominent speakers. The Z Subcontracting Fair and intec (the trade fair for manufactu r- ing, tools and special-purpose machine construction) are held in Leipzig at the same time and give visitors an extensive overview of the suppliers on the market. The two shows make up the biggest indus trial exhibition in eastern Germany where the latest components, modules and technologies for the automotive industry and machine construction are displayed by over 1,300 exhibitors. for more INfORmATION, CONTACT: east German Automotive Cluster: Dietmar Bacher ACOD GmbH Nuthedamm Ludwigsfelde AmZ Sachsen: Dr Claudia Scholta Annaberger Strasse Chemnitz mahreg Sachsen-Anhalt: C.-Friedrich Fahlberg Steinfeldstrasse Barleben Automotive Thüringen: Michael M. Lison Gewerbegebiet Kindel Am Künkelhof Hörselberg Automotive Berlin/Brandenburg: Harald Bleimeister Strasse der Jugend Ludwigsfelde Automotive mecklenburg-vorpommern: Dr Andreas Vietinghoff automotive-mv e. V. c/o REFA Landesverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Lange Strasse 1a Rostock Automotive 11

14 Originally I intended to study medicine. Healing people was what I had in mind. But I actually went on to read chemistry at university. In the end, though, my dream still came at least partly true. Although I don t work at patients bedsides, I help them by developing new types of drugs. Here in Halle, we conduct research into peptides and proteins, the building blocks of which amino acids arrange themselves into chains. And in our work, I m also part of a chain. After all, drug development is too complex to achieve anything all by yourself. That s why research, experiments, development and publishing are all done jointly. That s real teamwork. Susanne manhart, head of peptide chemistry at probiodrug AG, Halle/Saale

15 Biotech-Life Sciences Cluster AN ALLIANCe for LIfe Central Germany has evolved into one of the top biotech locations in Germany thanks to the presence of over 200 biotech companies and 100 service providers employing altogether more than 16,000 people coupled with investment topping 1 billion. Various areas of expertise have crystallised at the various science locations in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, including above all bioinstruments, protein engineering, plant biotech, the neurosciences, diagnosis and analysis, materials development, regenerative medicine and white biotechnology. Universities Universities of applied sciences Independent research centres Leibniz institutes Max Planck institutes Fraunhofer institutes Helmholtz centres Research facilities in the Central German Biotech-Life Sciences Cluster The region of Central Germany is nowadays one of the densest research landscapes with over 50 university and non-university research centres tackling biotechnology and the life sciences. They include four Fraunhofer Institutes, nine Max Planck Institutes, and five universities with over 110,000 students. Given the high concentration of specialised university institutes and modern research centres staffed by top international specialists, the Biotech-Life Sciences Cluster working closely together with the three regional agencies Bioinstrumente Jena (Thuringia), biosaxony (Saxony) and BioMitteldeutschland (Saxony-Anhalt) are a source of highly qualified employees and ensure the brisk transfer of know-how between industry and science. Info: Biotech-Life Sciences 13

16 The Biotech Life Sciences Cluster: examples of outstanding projects Patient-specific vaccines from plants Icon Genetics from Halle has developed a technology which employs the natural generation of proteins in plants to make biopharmaceuticals. The proteins produced for the first time in tobacco plants are currently undergoing clinical trials. To combat cancer of the lymphocytes, these vaccines are intended to activate treatment by the patient s own immune system in order to spot and destroy malignant cells by using the body s defences. Using algae to produce green active agents Algae contain valuable ingredients for use in pharmacy, cosmetics and food. Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, BIO Mitteldeutschland GmbH, and the two com panies GICON and Salata GmbH have now teamed up in the Biotech-Life Sciences Cluster to estab lish algae biotechnology in Central Germany. They plan to draw up a joint research agenda in order to develop and commercially exploit processing techniques to tap the entire potential of algae. Harnessing the power of plants Being the cradle of German plant breeding, it s no surprise that the region contains four research centres in this field all enjoying an international reputation: the BAZ German Research Centre for Cultivated Plants in Dresden, the Max Planck Research Unit for the Enzymology of Protein Folding, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Halle, and the IPK Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Gatersleben. Biotech centres and their special fields In Central Germany, biotechnology is above all concentrated in six biotech centres which have total space of more than 60,000 sq m. Clean rooms, S2/S3 laboratories, isotope laboratories, greenhouses and even animal laboratories are all available at internationally competitive rates. Biotechnologie-Zentrum Gatersleben green biotech (2,500 sq m), BioInnovationsZentrumDresden molecular bioengineering (11,000 sq m), Bio-Zentrum Halle/Saale I + II drugs research (10,850 sq m + 8,000 sq m), BioCity Leipzig regenerative medicine (19,500 sq m Flächenangebot), Jena Bioinstrument Centre bioinstruments + optics (7,000 sq m), ZENIT Magdeburg Centre for Neuroscientific Innovation and Technology (5,100 sq m), 14

17 Eye scans for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer s Alzheimer s disease is the most frequent neurodegenerative disease, affecting over 8 million new patients throughout the world every year. Diagnosis is currently very complicated and does not identify those at risk of contracting Alzheimer s at some stage in the future. But now Molecular Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases in the Eye or MINDE a research alliance involving Carl Zeiss AG, Dyomics GmbH and Jena University Hospital plans to develop a system of inexpensive screening coupled with the early diagnosis of Alzheimer s disease. Antifreeze proteins Cryo-conservation is the chief method used to store human cells and tissue for extended periods without losing their functions for instance in connection with cancer treatment, stem cell biotechnology and tissue engineering. Previously, substances were used which were aggressive and toxic. But now the IZI Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology and Leipzig firm Bioplanta are looking for plant-based substitutes. And the best hope for the development of new types of harmless alternatives appears to be natural antifreeze proteins, which enable plants to survive frost and ice. Selected cooperation networks biotech-life sciences B CUBE Dresden (regenerative medicine and molecular bioengineering) Leipziger research programme LIFE (interdisciplinary research into the molecular causes of environmental and lifestyle associated diseases) HALOmem interdisciplinary science centre (structurally-based active agents for pharmaceutically relevant membrane proteins) JenAge Jena Centre for the System Biology of Ageing (Systembiologie / Bioinformatik) Jena School for Microbial Communication (molecular and applied microbiology) Research Academy Leipzig (promoting junior scientists) Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering Biotech/Life Sciences Cluster in Central Germany (network management) For more information, contact: Saxony: biosaxony Tatzberg Dresden Saxony-Anhalt: BIO Mitteldeutschland GmbH Weinbergweg Halle/Saale Thuringia: BioInstrumente Jena Winzerlaer Strasse Jena Cluster management: Martin Pohle [email protected] Biotech-Life Sciences 15

18 True, chemical plants look especially impressive at night-time when they re lit up. But frankly, we re more interested in other aspects such as operational safety in the interests of both our staff and our neighbours. I ve been working in the chemical industry for 17 years now. And I ve not regretted it for a single day. I m fasci - nated by the complexity of the interaction between man and machine. Our industry provides the basis for countless products that each and every one of us use every day and without which modern life would be inconceivable. After graduating in chemical engineering in 1989, my first taste of working in the chemical industry was at Dow s Teutschenthal site in Central Germany. I now manage the brine and chemical tank farm at Teutschenthal. From 2006 until 2009 I was the production manager of a plant at the Böhlen site which chiefly produced chemical raw materials for the packaging industry. Now together with my staff I make sure that the production facilities in Schkopau are reliably supplied with brine and chemicals for plastic production at Teutschenthal brine and tank farm. I enjoy the work it s by no means routine and there are always fresh challenges and responsibilities awaiting me! Petra Hanisch, production manager, Dow Olefinverbund GmbH

19 Chemical Industry and plastics Cluster THe RIGHT CHemISTRY The dynamic development of the chemical industry and plastics processing is one of the greatest success stories in Central Germany. With a heritage dating back more than a century, the chemical industry nowadays comprises nearly 800 companies with some 71,000 employees and annual turnover of 21 billion helping to shape the economic structure of Saxony, Saxony- Anhalt, Thuringia and Brandenburg. A string of multinationals like Dow, BASF, Bayer, Lanxess and Linde have set up shop in the highly networked chemical industry parks, which thanks to innovative billioneuro investments and pioneering development programmes have become growth centres for the region, setting an ex ample for the global chemical industry Employees Companies Turnover 70, , , , , , Employees and companies [Sources: Regional departments of statistics, cluster management calculations] Turnover in bn [Sources: Regional departments of statistics of Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, calculations by isw GmbH, companies with at least 20 employees] Central Germany s largest chemical industry and plastics corporations Top 5 in Central Germany Turnover Employees 1 ToTAL Raffinerie Mitteldeutschland GmbH 4.363bn Dow olefinverbund GmbH 4.130bn* 2,300 3 BASF Schwarzheide GmbH 826m 1,900 4 DoMo Caproleuna GmbH 407m infraleuna-gruppe 276m 638 [ Source: Information provided by companies for 2009; *Dow Group s total turnover in Germany ] Chemical and plastics 17

20 Centres of excellence for polymers The region has developed into one of the world s centres of excellence for the production and processing of polymers. Central Germany s chemical industry covers the entire value chain from research and polymer synthesis to plastics processing. The products produced by mainly medium-sized yet pioneering companies provide the basis for innovations in many other industries and areas of life. Indeed, without plas tics from Central Germany, advanced medicine, new concepts in the automotive industry, waterproof and breathable fabrics, and the further development of regenerative energies would all be unthinkable. Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials, Halle KuZ Leipzig Plastics Centre KKZ Halle-Merseburg Polymer Competence Centre Thuringian Institute of Textile and Plastics Research Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research, Potsdam-Golm PAZ Fraunhofer Pilot Plant Centre for Polymer Synthesis and Polymer Processing, Schkopau CBP Chemical-Biotechnological Process Centre, Leuna Research institutes and centres of plastics engineering (selection) Clusters and networks for joint success The Chemical/Plastics Cluster brings together companies, trade associations, educational establishments, research centres and service providers as well as representatives of government and local administration from all over Central Germany. Their common aims are to establish regional value chains in the Central German chemical and plastics industry and to strengthen their innovative potential and competitiveness. One example of cluster networking is the MKN Central German Plastics Network, which fronts the three regional networks AMZK (Saxony Automotive Suppliers Plastics Network), POLYKUM (Saxony-Anhalt) and PolymerMat (Thuringia). Close ties also exist with FEKM (Plastics Engineering Research and Development in Central Germany) an innovation network bringing together non-university R&D centres serving industry. Knowledge sites: Central Germany s chemical industry parks Central Germany is the birthplace of the chemical industry parks effectively one-stop shops providing all the auxiliary processes and other services required by the companies based there. In addition, the chemical industry parks in Central Germany are increasingly developing into knowledge sites thanks to the arrival of specialised research centres and work close ly together within CeChemNet the Central Euro pean Chemical Network. ibi Innovative Lignite Integration in Central Germany: The integrated extraction of hydrocarbons from lignite is being studied in a joint research project funded by the BMBF German Ministry of Education and Research. ChemLog: The aim of this European cooperation project is to boost the chemical industry s competitiveness by improving logistics connections with the new growth markets in Central and Eastern Europe. ChemClust: Seven European chemical industry clusters have joined forces within this EU project in order to further improve their innovativeness. 18

21 Clusters and networks for joint success ethylene Naphtha Hydrogen ethylene Böhlen Crackers, acrylic acid, aniline, hydrocarbon resins Schkopau Polymers Chemicals Refinery products Rostock-Böhlen pipeline Stade Central Germany pipeline Hydrochloric acid Leuna Refinery, polymers, basic chemicals, catalysts, special chemicals, industrial gases ethylene, propylene, divinyl, aromatic compounds Hydrogen, industrial gases Ammonia, carbamide Industrial gases Hydrogen, industrial gases piesteritz Nitrogen products Schwarzheide Polyurethane raw materials and systems, plastics, foam materials, pesticides, water-based paint methanol druzhba ( friendship ) crude oil pipeline Adipic acid Hydrogen Zeitz Adipic acid, nitric acid, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, base oils/refinery, special waxes, glue/adhesives Bitterfeld/Wolfen Inorganic compounds, chlorine products, special chemicals, solar silicon Chlorine Hydrochloric acid Nitric acid, ammonia pipeline Rostock-Schwedt Central Germany s six chemical industry parks are connected to each other as well as the global flows of raw materials and goods by the 430km-long feedstock pipeline starting at the Baltic Sea port in Rostock an ideal situation attracting a stream of new investors. [ Source: based on the cluster atlas of the chemical industry and plastics in Central Germany ] for more INfORmATION, CONTACT: Cluster spokesman: Dr Christoph Mühlhaus c/o InfraLeuna GmbH Am Haupttor Gebäude 4310 D Leuna Tel: Fax: [email protected] Chemical industry spokesman: Wolfgang Blümel Verband der Chemischen Industrie, Landesverband Nordost Kleine Klausstrasse 14 D Halle/Saale Tel: Fax: [email protected] plastics spokesman: Dr Reinhard Proske CircleSmartCard GmbH In den Weiden 4 D Erfurt Tel: Fax: [email protected] Chemical industry parks and feedstocks spokesman: Andreas Hiltermann InfraLeuna GmbH Am Haupttor D Leuna Tel: Fax: [email protected] Cluster management is coordinated by isw GmbH: Dr Gunthard Bratzke / Andreas Dockhorn Hoher Weg 3 D Halle/Saale Tel: Fax: [email protected] CeChemNet is coordinated by isw GmbH: Fiene Grieger project manager Hoher Weg 3 D Halle/Saale Tel: Fax: [email protected] Chemical and plastics 19

22 food Cluster THe SWeeT SmeLL Of SUCCeSS Halloren chocolates and Zetti chocolate flakes, not to mention mustard from Bautzen, sausages from Thuringia, Rotkäppchen sparkling wine, Kathi cake mix, Radeberger beer and Altenburger goat s milk cheese: the list of brands and products from the Central German food industry which have made their way into supermarkets throughout Germany and onto customers tables is very long. This marks the successful continuation of a tradition dating back centuries. Back in the 15th century, the recipe for Dresden Stollen, the Christmas cake now enjoyed all over the world, was approved by Pope Innocent X. In 1804, Germany s oldest chocolate factory still in operation was opened in Halle. And in 1813 the famous letter-shaped biscuits known as Russian Bread were first made for Tsar Alexander. Tasty food has always been a fine art in Central Germany. Germany 100 % 153 % 129 % 233 % Saxony Thuringia Saxony-Anhalt Share of the food sector within total manufacturing industry (German average = 100 %) [ Source: Statistical Almanac Germany 2009; Annual Economic Report Saxony-Anhalt 2009; Statistical Almanac Saxony 2009; Statistical Almanac Thuringia 2009 ] expansion through quality Since 1990, the food sector in Central Germany has successfully managed to adapt to the totally transformed market and the reputation of its products has grown continuously. The successful combination of innovative companies, well-trained staff and outstanding geographical factors coupled with large farms and the use of state-of-the-art technology have made the food industry one of the most competitive and important sectors in the region. The some 800 businesses in the food industry employ nearly 60,000 people and generate annual turnover of more than 17 billion. What s more, Central Germany s food sector enjoys continuous growth. In Saxony alone, its turnover more than doubled between 1990 and 2008 to 7.6 billion. And the industry s share within manufacturing as a whole in terms of turnover and employment throughout Central Germany far exceeds the national average. Scientific research centres Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Departments of Agriculture, Ecotrophology and Food Technology Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences University of Leipzig, Institute of Food Hygiene Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Institute of Nutrition Dresden University of Technology, Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering Dresden Process and Packaging Engineering Research Association 20

23 The healthy future: a business opportunity Within the cluster process of the Central German food industry, numerous companies such as ÖHMI Analytik GmbH, Pauly Biskuit AG and Wikana Keks und Nahrungsmittel GmbH are working to develop new functional foodstuffs that really do have a beneficial impact on human health. Products and market trends for the future along with additional growth opportunities for companies based in the region are already taking shape there. Germany s northernmost wine-growing region In addition to its world-famous china, the town of Meissen is also well known for its sun-soaked historical wine-growing districts along the River Elbe. The most northerly wine-growing region is located not far away in the heart of Central Germany at the confluence of the Saale and the Unstrut near Naumburg. Above all fine white wines are produced there and have proved a big tourist attraction. The 55 km Wine Road stretching from Pirna to the idyllic Elbe wine villages around Diessbar-Seusslitz and taking in Dresden, Radebeul and Meissen en route feature countryside moulded by eight centuries of viniculture. piesteritz Agricultural Chemistry park Modern fertilisers have been produced just outside Wittenberg since Piesteritz Agricultural Chemistry Park is home to SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH, the biggest German producer of urea and ammonia, which runs its own R&D department. The more than 30 businesses and institutions there including the Agrochemical Institute combine modern research and industrial production management with regional farming. for more INfORmATION, CONTACT THe following AGRICULTURAL marketing BOARdS: Agrar-marketing Sachsen e. v.: Agrarmarketinggesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbh: Agrarmarketing Thüringen: food 21

24 Being a trained maintenance mechanic, I ve got nuts and bolts in my blood! My training was all about oily fingers and working on pretty bulky items. Mind you, I m open to other areas, too and solar cells became my special field. It s real precision work. I have to wear gloves and a white coat at work. Any form of impurity would damage the highly sensitive solar cells, which are later used to build entire solar power systems. I m fascinated by the notion that a tiny cell sometimes no bigger than 150mm 150mm can actually transmit energy from the sun. Whenever I m on holiday, I keep catching myself looking up to see whether there are any solar panels on the roofs. Are they ours? The use of solar energy is still in its infancy but I m already part of it. michael Harms, operator, Q-Cells Se, Thalheim

25 Energy and Environment Cluster An energetic region Central Germany has long played a prominent role in the energy sector. Highly advanced mining and the latest clean power-plant technologies based on indigenous fuel maximise the reliability of energy supplies for residential and business customers in the region. The structural transformation of the energy sector and the unprecedented revegetation of postmining landscapes since 1990 have produced numerous innovative techniques. This wealth of experience has made Central Germany into a world-famous centre of environmental expertise. Moreover, the region has also developed into an outstanding centre of renewable energies such as photovoltaics, wind power and biomass thanks to corporate investment and the pres ence of high-profile research centres. EEX: Europe s biggest power exchange in Leipzig The Leipzig-based European Energy Exchange operates marketplaces for trading in electricity, nat ural gas, CO 2 emissions permits and coal. With more than 240 participants from 22 countries, EEX is the leading energy exchange in continental Europe in terms of both traders and turnover. The EEX Group Concentrated research into energy and the environment National expertise in environmental research is concentrated at the DBFZ German Biomass Research Centre and the Leipzig Institute for Energy housed at the site once occupied by the East German Institute of Energy Studies. The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with a workforce of over 900 at its sites in Leipzig, Halle and Magdeburg explores the complex interaction between humans and the environment in urban and industrial conurbations as well as semi-natural landscapes. Other energy and environmental expertise is nurtured at the German Federal Environment Agency in Dessau- Rosslau, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology and Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. also includes European Commodity Clearing AG (ECC) operating throughout Europe, whose services include the clearing and settlement of exchange transactions concluded on EEX and its partner exchanges as well as OTC transactions. The biggest energy utilities in Central Germany Top 7 in Central Germany Turnover Employees 1 Verbundnetz Gas AG (VNG), Leipzig 4,763m envia Mitteldeutsche Energie AG, Chemnitz 2,916m 2,378 3 Stadtwerke Leipzig GmbH 2,812m 1,158 4 E.ON Thüringer Energie AG, Erfurt 1,378m 2,518 5 ENSO Energie Sachsen Ost AG, Dresden 1,305m 1,366 6 DREWAG Stadtwerke Dresden GmbH 1,049m 1,269 7 Mitgas Mitteldeutsche Gasversorgung GmbH 646m 349 [ Source: 2009 annual reports of the companies concerned ] Energy and Environment 23

26 pioneers in clean energy 10m MWh 9,061,820 1m MWh 0.5m MWh 2.5m MWh 2,327,506 Windpower Hydropower* 679,415 Solar Biomass ** 530, , ,180 4,195, , ,580, ,234 20, , [Figures in MWh; *excluding pumped storage power plants; **solid biomass. Source: Regional departments of statistics of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia; own calculations] modern mining Apart from the Ruhr, Central Germany is the foremost mining region in Germany. Mining corporation MIBRAG s opencast sites Profen in Saxony-Anhalt and Vereinigtes Schleenhain in Saxony produce up to 20 million tonnes of lignite annually, which are used to generate power and heat at the modern power plants in Schkopau and Lippendorf. Since 1994, MIBRAG has invested more than 1.3 billion in efficient, environmentally be nign technology. MIBRAG provides modern jobs for 2,000 people. from lignite mining to a lakeland paradise The lignite mines which once ravaged the countryside between Borna and Bitterfeld are now being flooded and turned into a Central German lake district complete with plenty of facilities for leisure and nature conservation. In fact an entirely new region of recreation and tourism is successively taking shape comprising around 40 artificial lakes with a total water area of more than 175 square kilometres. energy from wind and plants The 4,000 staff working at Enercon GmbH s plant in Magdeburg build the biggest wind generators in the world. The prototype of the E-126 is currently undergoing test runs. Each of these wind turbines nearly 200 metres tall and with a rotor dia meter of 127 metres will generate 7.5 megawatts of electricity. Meanwhile, Germany s largest biomethane production plant in Könnern just outside Halle produces around 6 million cubic metres of biogas out of 50,000 tonnes of liquid manure, grain and maize silage every year. This biomethane can be used just like natural gas and is fed into gas company MITGAS s distribution network. 24

27 Solar Cluster Sunny prospects The development of the solar sector in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia is sensational. Within the space of just a few years, it has grown into a key industry and one of the pillars of manufacturing in the region. In fact Central Germany has the highest density of solar firms anywhere in the world. Total employment at companies such as Q-Cells SE based at MicroTech-Park in Thalheim, Bitterfeld, Bosch Solar Energy AG (Erfurt), SCHOTT Solar AG (Jena), PV Crystalox Solar AG (Erfurt and Bitterfeld), Solar- Watt AG (Dresden), SolarWorld AG and Deutsche Solar AG (Freiberg) already exceeds 11,000. What s more, thanks to major solar companies opening R&D departments in Central Germany and the excellent public scientific community, the region has become one of the world s leading centres of technology and innovation in the solar industry. This provides a sound basis for the dynamic growth of the solar industry in Central Germany to be continued in the years to come. A Central German success story in figures 65% of all German PV companies 14.5% of all the solar cells made in the world Four companies in the world s top ten 11,000 direct employees 43% of the turnover of the German PV industry Local production, R&D and training Together to the top Solar Valley Central Germany fronts 29 corporations and companies operating throughout the world as well as 9 research centres and 9 universities from three German states. Their joint objective is to make solar power financially competitive with conventionally generated electricity. One major milestone is the achievement of grid parity by 2013 i.e. the point at which it becomes cheaper for private individuals to produce their own solar electricity rather than buy power from the major utilities. It is to this end that the partners in Solar Valley Central Germany, which is supported as a top-level cluster by the BMBF German Ministry of Education and Research, are working throughout the photovoltaic value chain from silicon production to building integration, from pure research to innovative applications. Solar Valley Central Germany s activities span three main areas. Central port of call The cluster management team of Solar Valley Central Germany coordinates photovoltaic activities in the region and supports the development of a solar network there. One key aim is to boost the attractiveness of the region to national and international investors, to support higher education spin-offs, and to represent the solar region throughout Germany and abroad. Solar 25

28 The sun an employment generator Solar Valley s share within total PV employment in Germany Employees at suppliers in Solar Valley Employees in the PV industry in Solar Valley The photovoltaic industry in Central Germany already employs nearly 11,000 people and the number is rising. [Source: Solarvalley Mitteldeutschland e. V.] Cheaper, better and longer The aim of all R&D activities in the solar industry is to cut the costs of solar power across the value chain. Furthermore, the efficiency of both crystalline silicon technology and thin-film silicon technology is to be improved and the lifetime of solar power system increased. Solar Valley Central Germany s R&D programme currently includes 12 joint projects revolving around the development of new product and manufacturing solutions. The results will be rapidly transferred to the various stages of the value chain, enabling the region to be the first centre of the solar industry anywhere in the world to accomplish grid parity. And state-of-the-art technology from Central Germany will make a decisive contribution to meeting global electricity demand on the basis of green solar power. ThinWafer: The development of ultra-thin silicon wafers with a thickness of 80µm using multi-wire saw technology will cut material costs. FZSil: This joint project intends to establish the float-zone technique as an eco nomically viable method for making monocrystalline silicon for wafers with an efficiency exceeding 20%. BIPV: This project aims to reduce the costs of photovoltaic energy and hence reach grid parity by improving building and system integration. Tomorrow s experts One of the main factors behind the dynamic growth of the photovoltaic industry in Central Germany is the availability of highly qualified employees from microelectronics, the chemical industry and mechanical engineering. In addition to the jobs already in existence, up to 40,000 new jobs could be created by Given this impressive future scenario, securing the demand for highly qualified staff and management is set to play a key role in the further expansion of Central Germany s solar industry. 26

29 New careers in the solar industry Four new bachelor s and master s programmes as well as six endowed chairs have been set up at universities in Central Germany. Meanwhile, the Thuringian Centre of Excellence in High Technology and the Solar Industry is a unique training institute in Germany for careers in the solar industry. In addition, a raft of other measures is planned so that the high expectations of the increasingly specialised photovoltaic industry concerning the practical training of its workforce can be met. Anhalt University of Applied Sciences: bachelor s in solar technology Martin Luther University of Halle Wittenberg: endowed chair and degree course in photovoltaics Ilmenau University of Technology: master s in electrical power and control engineering and photovoltaics Jena University of Applied Sciences: bachelor s in photovoltaic and semi conductor technology Thuringian Centre of Excellence in High Technology and the Solar Industry: training for 25 different occupations in solar technology, renewable energy, semiconductor technology and microsystems Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Institute of Solid-State Physics: research into photovoltaics Freiberg University of Technology and Mining Academy: SolarWorld AG foundation fund For more information, contact: Solarvalley Mitteldeutschland e. V. (Solar Valley Central Germany): Solar Valley GmbH Konrad-Zuse-Strasse Erfurt Solar Valley Erfurt branch: Dr Peter Frey CRO [email protected] Margarete Brandt assistant [email protected] Christian Schalldach MA marketing and communication [email protected] Dr Ralf Engelmann R&D planning [email protected] Solar Valley Halle branch: Birgit Puppe MA R&D controlling Tel: Fax: [email protected] Dr Carsten Rudolf R&D management [email protected] Solar Valley Dresden branch: Dr Robert Franke (VDI/VDE-IT) internationalisation Tel: Fax: [email protected] Solar 27

30 I was never someone you d call a computer geek. As far as I was concerned, computers were just for writing s, chat forums and generally surfing the internet. Anyway, I had to make up my mind what to do after leaving school. University? An apprenticeship? I looked around and found out about the cooperative engineering courses combining a degree course with vocational training. Theory and practice hand in hand. That sounded marvellous. Now I m training to be an engineer and I m really enjoying it. And I can already imagine what I ll do after graduating. I did my first work experience in a hospital. I saw at first hand how beneficial electronics can be in medicine by providing access to vital data and improving diagnosis. It s all about technology for people. And that s the field I want to work in. Andra Seidler, who is studying for a Bachelor of engineering in electrical engineering, IT and systems electronics on a cooperative engineering course at Siemens and Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences

31 Information Technology Cluster SOURCe COde Of THe future Information technology in Central Germany is a powerful, highly innovative service sector, whose impact outside the region is continuously increasing. Whenever... Someone in Gdansk turns up the heating A rubbish skip in Melbourne is emptied An air traffic controller in Berlin reads their payslip A large electric windlass is switched on at the Port of Varna A council worker in London answers the phone Somebody in a bank in Dubai switches on their computer... you can be sure that pioneering solutions and talented specialists from Central Germany are involved! Central Germany s largest IT companies Top 10 in Central Germany Turnover Employees 1 PC-WARE 890m 1,583 2 KoMSA SACHSEN AG 695m 1,200 3 Cyberport GmbH 209m T-Systems Multimedia Solutions GmbH 100m blue chip Computer AG 75m GiSA GmbH 73m Unister GmbH 60m regiocom GmbH 42m HL komm Telekommunikations GmbH 37m intershop Communications AG 32m 264 [ Source: Hoppenstedt 2009, ] Joint aims: the regional cluster process in information technology IT companies from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia have joined forces to launch a cluster process and set themselves the following goals: The networking of companies in connection with trade associations and business groups Establishing companies from Central Germany as preferred partners for industries in Central Germany and beyond Cooperation with universities in Central Germany to ensure the long-term training of qualified graduates through mutual support and to reduce the brain drain Reinforcing the region of Central Germany Developing and marketing new, innovative IT-based services Close ties between IT firms and applied research To learn more, visit: IT 29

32 Outstanding investment environment Qualified, motivated personnel, low wage costs, and attractive investment conditions thanks to high subsidies and affordable rents mean that more and more companies are now discovering Central Germany as an ideal European near-shore investment location for business process outsourcing. Firms such as GISA GmbH, regiocom GmbH and perdata GmbH perform customer-care and operating services for the energy sector 24/7. IT service companies from Central Germany specialise in areas such as system operation and customer care in the ERP and HR sectors as well as high-quality consul t ing in out-tasking and managed services. Telecoms companies a success story in Central Germany 94 telecoms carriers in Central Germany Over 10,000 employees Turnover exceeding 7 billion Constantly rising turnover despite tough competition Electronic ticketing for public transport Working on behalf of transport federation MDV serv ing Central Germany, Leipzig firms itcampus and perdata have developed a central management system for the first electronic bus and train tickets in Leipzig and Halle. The MDV Entitlement System enables ticket data to be compared with the travel rights details saved by each transport operator. Following the successful launch of the system and the sale of over 120,000 electronic tickets, pioneering findings are now available for the blanket introduction of etickets among other transport operators. 30

33 Innovation for international success The some 700 IT companies in the region currently employ more than 25,000 people. More and more software and hardware manufacturers, infrastructure service providers and IT consultants like perdata GmbH, Gisa GmbH and TSA Teleport Sachsen- Anhalt Service GmbH have managed to establish themselves nationally and internationally. Meanwhile, small ground-breaking companies are also playing their part in niche markets abroad. In the main cities in particular, a large number of young companies are working on individual solutions such as web-based services for corporate networks and offer various other services. What s more, Central Germany has increasingly evolved into a near-shore investment location for customer care and development centres with companies like Dell (Halle), IBM (Chemnitz) and SAP (Dresden) thanks to forwardlooking courses at vocational training centres and universities in areas such as IT systems, programming, administration, and even specialisation in certain hardware suppliers like Cisco&Co. This is demonstrated by the arrival of branches of large system and consulting firms, the large number of new businesses springing up in IT and the media, and the many cutting-edge ideas and products entered for the IQ Innovation Award for Central Germany. Attractive to qualified personnel The future success of the IT sector in Central Germany largely depends on its attractiveness to highly qualified personnel and executives. To raise the region s profile, the members of Central Germany s Information Technology Cluster, IT companies from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, and recruitment consultant DIS AG have teamed up to launch a national campaign do IT here. The aim of this project is to provide information about the attractive career opportunities in Central Germany and to strengthen qualified personnel s ties to the region. Apart from advertisements on billboards, other campaign activities have so far included visiting universities and attending events like the Central Ger many Graduate Fair. Moreover, information for those interested is shortly to be posted on For more information, contact: Cluster Informationstechnologie Mitteldeutschland e. V. c/o GISA GmbH Klemens Gutmann chairman Leipziger Chaussee 191a, Halle/Saale [email protected] IT 31

34 Jena Optoelectronics Cluster Global precision The outstanding global reputation of Central Germany s optical industry arose back in the days of Carl Zeiss, Otto Schott and Ernst Abbe. Nowadays the Jena region is the driving force behind innovative optical solutions in Europe. At the core of this hightech region are not just world-famous corporations like Carl Zeiss, Jenoptik and Schott, but above all highly specialised SMEs employing state-of-the-art technology for their optical and optoelectronic components and systems. Annual turnover is currently 2.5 billion. The unique environment of businesses, universities and other research institutes, including the Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering, has been dubbed Optics Valley and guarantees the rapid transfer of the latest scientific findings to industry. Network for the optical industry The OptoNet (optical technologies) network of excellence brings together corporations and companies, research institutes, centres of training and higher edu cation, financial backers and public institutions with the common aim of boosting the development of optical technologies in Thuringia. Fronting more than 90 members, the network focuses the interests of Central Germany s optical industry. Info: Key figures of the optical industry Businesses Trainee quota Training companies Employees (including temporary workers) Research centre employees No. of employees forecast for % 90 13, % p. a. [ Source: OptoNet sector report 2009 ] Reliable weather reports for Europe Jena-Optronik developed the software enabling data from the MetOp-A satellite operated by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites to be evaluated at the touch of a button. Using this technology enables the weather in Europe to be precisely forecast for the next six days. Centre for Advanced Micro- and Nano-Optics Featuring an electron ray laser lithography system, the centre is run by the University of Jena s Institute of Applied Physics, although the system is also used by the Institute of Physics High Technology. This is the first time that a microstructure technology manufacturing system of the type normally only encountered in the microchip industry has been made available to European micro- and nano-optics. 32 Optoelectronics

35 Silicon Saxony Microelectronics Cluster Smaller, faster, better! The Dresden region has evolved into a technology power house in the semiconductor, electronic, microsystems and software industry. Everyday life has been made easier by products from Saxony such as computer chips for cars, mobile phones, desktop computers and laptops. And prestigious corporations like GlobalFoundries, Infineon, ZMD and Siltronic have all set up production plants and R&D facilities in the area. This has prompted the emergence of an entire semiconductor industry value chain from the design and development of wafers to the manufacture of memory chips and packaging with the added involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises. Moreover, the concentration of nine Fraunhofer Institutes creates a unique climate of technological innovation. This development has encouraged the growth of exciting sunrise industries around Dresden working on areas such as organic electronics, software, nanotechnology and photovoltaics. New materials: innovations from Dresden drive industry The development of new products hinges on the development of new mate r- ials. In Dresden, there are already more than 1,000 materials researchers contributing their expertise to this process. They specialise in the production of thin films and related systems with applications ranging from nanoeletronics and optics to new photovoltaic technologies for use in solar cells. Cool Silicon: cutting CO 2 in the world of IT All over the world, computers and communication systems are using more and more energy. Cool Silicon is the name of this ambitious project under which the more than 60 partners are devising the technology needed to ensure that in future IT products only consume a tenth of the energy they currently use. Dresden leads the field in organic electronics In terms of both R&D and production, Saxony is home to the biggest organic semiconductor cluster in Europe. More than 15 companies and 8 research centres in the Dresden region cover the entire value chain from fundamental university research to finished high-tech products. Silicon Saxony The Silicon Saxony network initiative is a communication and cooperation platform serving its 280 members with the aim of permanently strengthening Saxony as a centre of high tech. Intelligent cooperation among them facilitates know-how transfer, creates synergies and promotes innovation. Info: Other networks Nanotechnology Centre of Excellence Functional Thin Films: Organic Electronics Saxony: European Society of Thin Films: RFID Saxony: Microelectronics 33

36 Neo Rauch exhibition at the Eigen+Art gallery, Spinnerei, Leipzig

37 Central Germany s cultural heritage Restless calm a Tour The Gewandhaus concert hall in Leipzig, Magdeburg Cathedral, Handel s roots in Halle, the Green Vault in Dresden and the Masters Houses in Dessau are all indicative of the cultural variety for which Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are rightly known far and wide. Yet it s not just the main cities in Central Germany where the vibrant presence of art and culture can be felt. We sent an author out and about to write down her experiences as she set off on the trail of music, museums and some marvellous individuals in Central Germany. Central Germany has been a place of high culture for more than 3,000 years, declares Dr Harald Meller. The director of Saxony-Anhalt s Department of Heritage and Archaeology holds the proof weighing 2 kg in his hands: the Nebra sky disk. This, the oldest concrete depiction of the heavens dating from 1600 BC, isn t just an astrono m i- cal sensation. It also corroborates that the region enjoyed brisk trade links all over Europe even back in those days. Dr Harald Meller is the regional archaeologist and director of the Saxony-Anhalt Department of Heritage and Archaeology. When I held the Nebra sky disk in my hands for the very first time, I had goose pimples. The fascination I felt was immense. We now know it s one of the most important archaeologi cal finds ever. It s the earliest known depiction of the cosmos anywhere in the world. And it also proves that the people here were innovative and highly productive even back in the Bronze Age. Dr Meller works in Halle, the first stop on my cultural tour of Central Germany. Halle is situated on the River Saale and is also picturesque for other reasons. It s one of the few German cities to contain an almost completely intact mediaeval core. Wandering along the boulevards and across the marketplace, I feel as though I have travelled back in time to an age when hackney carriages instead of trams sped across the cobbles, and when Halle s most famous son, composer George Frideric Handel, could be seen on his way to work at the Protestant cathedral. Form and function This almost unhurried beauty contrasts sharply with the concept behind the Bauhaus in Dessau. Barely 50 km away from Halle, it was in 1925 that one of the first colleges of design was opened, creating a new home for the Bauhaus originally founded in Weimar in The flat transparency of this new functionalism in design and architecture is reflected everywhere in Dessau. I am very taken with the Masters Houses, the house made of steel plate, the labour exchange and the loggia apartment buildings, all boasting the useful lightness so typical of the Bauhaus. Following all this clarity of form, it s time to journey on to somewhere a little more romantic. On staring out of the train window, my eyes are capti v- ated by the green fields and heathland Regina Bittner from the Dessau Bauhaus Foundation runs the Bauhaus graduate programme on the urban future. The Bauhaus in Dessau is held in high regard internationally. In addition to being an inno vative training centre, after its foundation it remained a venue for international discussion. This provided a perfect backdrop for the Bauhaus graduate programme focusing on urban issues, which was set up in Designers and scholars from diverse fields such as architecture, art and the social sciences from all over the world come together for a year. They develop completely new approaches and design concepts for the future of our towns and cities. Each year is devoted to a different aspect. The programme is always taught here in Dessau. Even though we deal with issues such as migration in Istanbul, European integration in Sibiu and post-socialist urban development in Minsk, there is always something new that can be learned about the situation in Saxony-Anhalt, too. only interrupted by expanses of bright yellow rape. In the distance I can make out the silhouette of a town: Wittenberg. The blonde woman sharing the compartment with me points to a spire: Culture 35

38 Sven Helbig, a musician, composer and producer, established the Dresdner Sinfoniker orchestra in His productions have been staged in cities such as London, Paris and Dresden. I am on a constant quest. In different forms of music, I seek the great emotion that connects them. Pain, yearning, passion. New worlds of sound that previously appeared to be insurmountable distances can then arise on this emotional level. Wagner meets Rammstein, synthpop meets classical. In order to develop my ideas, I keep returning to Dresden. This is where I find the peace and harmony I need to allow everything to mature. And as the Elbe slips by, I find I can finally concentrate on my work. 7 items on UNESCO s World Heritage List in Central Germany 1994 Collegiate church, castle and old town of Quedlinburg Germany s largest heritage area 1996 Luther memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg historic sites of the Reformation 1996 The Bauhaus and its sites in Weimar and Dessau examples of the revolutionary architecture it propagated 1998 Classical Weimar buildings and parks bearing witness to Weimar Classicism 1999 Wartburg Castle turned into a cultural monument by the minstrels contest, St Elizabeth of Hungary and the translation of the New Testament 2000 Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm an Englishstyle park created during the Age of Enlightenment and based on philosophical principles 2004 Muskauer Park/Park Muzakowski an English park laid out in the 19th century by Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau That s part of the famous Castle Church. Known for its door to which Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses against the selling of indulgences in 1517, thus ushering in the Reformation, it s at number three on the Germans list of favourite places. Glory and splendour Travelling upstream along the majestic Elbe is a beautiful route leading straight to Dresden. Shortly before arriving at Florence of the Elbe, I spy to the right Albrechtsburg Castle, the symbol of Meissen, the town of white gold. Meissen has been home to Germany s very first porcelain factory ever since Johann Friedrich Böttger became the first European to discover the secret of porcelain manufacture in the early 18th century. On arriving in Dresden, I set off for the Green Vault. Located inside Dresden Palace, it contains one of the largest collections of treasure in the world. Glistening gold pendants, gleaming silver: the riches of the Saxon rulers lit erally sparkle. But what impresses me most is a delightful piece just 1cm in diameter a cherry stone carved with 185 faces each with different expres sions. The very thought of how it was created makes me shudder! There s nothing for it but to sun myself by tak ing a walk along the banks of the Elbe. Mind you, it s not easy to break through the crowds of Japanese tourists photographing the sights. This group of 40 people is just some of the 11½ million people who visit Central Germany every year. In 2006, they included around 43,000 culture vultures from Japan. Strolling along the Elbe, I leave Zwinger Palace designed by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, Brühl s Terrace, Semper Opera House, Kreuzkirche (the Church of the Cross) and all the other art treasures of world renown stored in the Old Mas ters Picture Gallery in the Semper Gallery and the New Mas ters Gallery in the Albertinum. And I enter a different world: a sense of calm takes hold as the general clamour is replaced by the gentle sound of the river and the willows swaying softly in the breeze. Lake Cospuden is the first section of the New Lakeland district south of Leipzig to be completed. Measuring 4.4 sq km, it offers pure relaxation. All in all, the lakes emerging as the disused lignite mines are flooded will eventually have a combined surface area of some 70 sq km. 36

39 Along the pathway are dotted small cafés where wine is served from the district around Dresden at some 300 hectares, the smallest wine-growing area in Germany. Continuing alongside the Elbe would take me to Saxon Switzerland, an area of imposing sandstone climb ing peaks. Elbe sandstone was the build ing material of choice in the ba r oque era. Even the Church of Our Lady was rebuilt using yellow sandstone quarried here to keep it authen tic. But instead, I ve decided to continue on my travels to Lusatia, which the Germans know as Lausitz. In many areas, the old lignite mines have been reculti vated to produce charming lake districts and other recreational areas. Some of the towns appear to have fallen into a deep slumber. Things tend to move at a somewhat Urban life and a love of nature are indivisible. slower pace in Lusatia and I find myself starting to run to avoid succumbing to this more leisurely approach to life! I then arrive in Bautzen, which really is a shining example of bicultural integration. The Sorbs, the Slavonic nation living in the area, are probably the smallest ethnic group in Europe. Olaf Schubert has been an urban forest warden since 1994 and is the head of Jena s urban forests. Jena has already received many awards for its outstanding sustainable forestry. We have a real urban forest. Jena is surrounded by deciduous woods containing lots of different species such as beech, oak, maple and lime, not to mention conifers like pines. The forest is Jena s green belt. Urban life and a love of nature are indivisible. It s therefore no wonder that the people of Jena take a close interest in what s going on in their woodlands. They come here to recharge their batteries and to relax. I often take visitors to my favourite places in the woods and show them the hidden beauties of nature around Jena. Looking down on the city from the surrounding hills is always fascinating. You re surrounded by the peace and quiet of nature yet the hustle and bustle and the world of high-tech down in the city are only a stone s throw away. That s a marvellous contrast but also a professional challenge. Culture 37

40 In and around Bautzen, the Sorbs live so closely alongside the Saxons that you d hardly notice the difference if it wasn t for the bilingual signposts containing the word Budysin Sorbian for Bautzen. Even the street names are written in both Sorbian and German. I pass a Sorbian school and meet a young girl wearing a brightly coloured dress and a colourfully embroidered bonnet. But it s already time for me to say Božemje goodbye in Sorbian and head for the Erzgebirge. city is famous for the production of two very different cars the Horch, one of the very first luxury cars to be built in Germany, and the infamous Trabant. It s also the birthplace of Robert Schumann. Unadulterated Romanticism. In fact I get the impres sion that in Central Germany the cradles of some of the world s greatest com posers must have stood more or less adjacent to each other: names such as Bach, Handel, Schütz and Wagner all spontaneously spring to mind. of its territory covered by woodlands, Thu ringia contains more forest than almost any other region in Germany. Since the majority of the trees are decidu ous, the view must be simply stunning here in autumn when the countryside is bathed in deep red and warm yellow. Thurin gia refers to itself as the green heart of Germany although in actual fact there are two hearts beating here. The German heart does indeed pulsate here for the Dr Michael Maul, a researcher at the Leipzig Bach Archive, has been systematically sifting through libraries and archives in Central Germany in search of documents related to the great composer. Everyone listens to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. When it s snowing outside and the delightful smell of gingerbread is emanating from kitchens everywhere, who could possibly not listen to the Christmas Oratorio? Unfortunately, we know very little about Bach himself and so in 2002 I set off in search of documents that could tell us something about the man behind this brilliant music. So far, my quest has taken me to more than 400 places throughout Central Germany. When I discovered the Bach Aria in the Anna Amalia Library in Weimar, I was overwhelmed. I simply couldn t believe it. It was the first time that an original manuscript by Bach been found since My quest has taken me to more than 400 places in Central Germany. The Erzgebirge mountain range is about 130km long and forms the southern border of Central Germany. The region and especially Mount Fichtelberg is above all well known as a winter sports region and the place where many world-famous medal-winners such as Jens Weissflog were trained. It s therefore perhaps only inevitable that the town of Klingenthal contains Vogtland Arena the most modern large ski jump anywhere in Europe. Then again, Central Germany s athletic achievements are by no means limited to winter sports. In fact more than 1.25 million inhabitants are organised in more than 10,970 sports clubs. The most popular sport is of course football, played by nearly a quarter of members. Shortly before crossing the border from Saxony to Thu ring ia, I stop off in Zwickau. The What tells me I ve arrived in Thuringia is the local accent. In actual fact, in the area north of the famous Rennsteig trail there are seven different Thuringian language areas, as well as two Franconian ones to the south. Some of the words they employ date back to Old High German and have long since died out everywhere else in the country. Of course, some words don t change such as the 1,000-year-old brâtwurst, which tells us much about the lifestyle and eat ing habits of our ancestors, explains Professor Rosemarie Lühr from the University of Jena. The blend of Thurin gian dialects can be heard at one of the many jamborees celebrations which were originally held to consecrate new churches. Thuringia is famous for its vast expanses of forestland stretching as far as the eye can see. In fact with about 32 % country s geographical centre is just a few kilometres south of Mühlhausen. Talking of hearts and minds, my next port of call is Jena, where the close links between science and technology are almost historic. Classical intelligence The University of Jena (now known as Friedrich Schiller University) was founded back in 1558, making it one of the oldest universities in Germany. The lu min aries to have studied here include the phil - oso phers Johann Fichte and Georg Hegel as well as of course Schiller himself, one of the leading lights of German lit erature. At present the number of students enrolled in Central Germany totals 214,341: 107,000 alone in Saxony along with 51,000 in Saxony-Anhalt and 49,000 in Thuringia. In Jena, the 38

41 Central Germany s prominent sons and daughters Clara Schumann Pianist, composer, wife of Robert Schumann and once the face on the 100-Deutschmark note, born in 1819 in Leipzig Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Born in 1646 in Leipzig; philosopher and writer in the Age of Enlightenment Kurt Weill Composer born in 1900 in Dessau; works include The Threepenny Opera (written with Bertolt Brecht) Johann friedrich Böttger Born in 1682 in Schleiz; the first European to crack the secret of manufacturing porcelain Neo Rauch Artist and prominent exponent of the New Leipzig School; born in 1960 in Leipzig Johann Sebastian Bach Composer and organ virtuoso; born in 1685 in Eisenach erich Kästner World-famous author; children s works include Emil and the Detectives; born in 1899 in Dresden Caroline Neuber Born in 1697 in Reichenbach, Caroline Neuber is regarded as the founder of modern German theatre by transforming it into a place of learning in the French classicist style advance ment of European research has also been moulded by breakthroughs in astron omy, chemistry, optics and glass production. And it is associated with names like Carl Zeiss, Ernst Abbe and Otto Schott, who coupled scientific development with commerce. Science and technology went hand in hand. My next stop is classical Weimar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Where else can so much goodness be found in such a small space? asked Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Many great German writers and thinkers once lived and worked in Weimar, including Friedrich Schiller. Indeed, both he and Goethe worked in what is now the German National Theatre. These days, productions of their plays are just as popular as they were 150 years ago. Mind you, theatre-lovers in Central Germany certainly are spoilt for chance. In 2006, the 34 public theatres put on more than 11,000 performances and drew more than 3.5 million spectators. The fact that Weimar is symbolic of the spirit of idealism is also due to two other great thinkers: Christoph Martin Wieland and Johann Gottfried Herder for it was they who, together with Goethe and Schiller, shaped cultural Weimar with their humanistic views. Yet such humanist ideas are shaken to the core by a visit to the former Buchenwald concentration camp. Two worlds that could hardly be more diametrically opposed. Time for a quick detour to the capital of Thuringia. In Erfurt I stroll past the pavement cafés and stop to take in the delicious smell of a genuine Thurin gian bratwurst. Sausage-seller Jakob Hausmann tells me that Thuringia is worth visiting for the cuisine alone. He warmly recommends trying Thuringian potato dumplings the next time I come. 169,500 monuments count em! Now it s off to Saxony-Anhalt. Quedlinburg and Magdeburg are two import ant places I don t want to miss. Culture 39

42 View from Albrechtsberg Castle across the Elbe valley The Bauhaus in Weimar Old Masters Picture Gallery, Dresden I whizz past castles and palaces, monasteries and churches more than I can count. But again, that s no surprise for Central Germany actually contains more than 2,500 palaces and castles, along with another 169,500 monuments and listed buildings. Heaven knows how long it would take merely to read out the names of them all! Assuming one line per monument, 80 would fit on a single sheet of paper. But we re still talking about 2,119 pieces of A4! I m a fast reader, so two minutes per page ought to suffice, but even so it ll mean about three sleepless days and nights. Goodness me. And I m not even going to think about how long it would take to visit them all! Instead I ll make my way to Quedlinburg. I m welcomed by a woof: Quedel, a guard dog, is proudly borne on the town s coat of arms. Quedlinburg puts a face on a thousand years of history between the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and the fall of the Third Reich. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Quedlinburg was the favourite place of Saxony s rulers and hence played a significant role in Germany s imperial policy. A thousand years later, the collegiate church featuring architecture from different eras became a shrine for Nazi Germany. One outstanding feature of Quedlinburg is its 1,200 half-timbered houses, landing it a place on UNESCO s World Heritage List. Moreover, the mediaeval town walls have been largely preserved, while the town also contains a number of Gothic hall churches to be admired. Moreover, Quedlinburg is located in the eastern foothills of the Harz A potted history of Central Germany 9th/10th C Magic spells from Merseburg are the only evidence of Old High German texts with pagan content. 929 Saxony is the oldest free state in Germany. Its origins can be traced back to Meissen Castle built by Henry I. Martin Luther pub lishes his 95 theses in Wittenberg The Gewandhaus Orchestra is founded in Leipzig as Das grosse Concert, making it the oldest civic concert orchestra anywhere in Germany. Its roots actually stretch back to The first Baumkuchen (the Queen of Cakes ) is baked by Johann Schemikow in Salzwedel Philipp Griebel makes the world s first garden gnome out of terracotta in the Thuringian town of Gräfenroda The first edition of the now famous Duden dictionary is published in Leipzig The world s first canned sausages are produced in Halberstadt. Melitta Bentz from Dresden invents the coffee filter by piercing the brass bottom of a sauce pan and placing a piece of blotting paper from her eldest son s exercise book on it The tape recorder is invented (using paper) by Fritz Pfleumer from Dresden. The first practi c- able colour film in cinema history is produced at the film factory in Wolfen The first literature institute is established in Leipzig. Nowadays, the German Institute of Literature provides university tuition for wouldbe authors. 40

43 Semper Opera House, Dresden Nebra sky disc, Halle World-famous craftsmanship from the Erzgebirge Mountains, making it one of the areas with the least rainfall in Germany. The Harz National Park is nearly 6,000 hectares in size and is full of myths and legends to boot. And some fabulous tales are set on the peak of Mount Brocken and Hexentanzplatz where the witches are said to dance. I was enthralled by the potential. Bertram Schultze, manager of the Baumwollspinnerei arts centre in Leipzig, Kathleen Schladitz heads the Franco German nursery school Au Clair de la Lune in Magde burg. The children come from different coun tries. Prince for example comes from Cameroon. In summer he saw an earthworm for the very first time and was terribly frightened. Then again, he tells us about animals that the children from Magdeburg have only ever seen at the zoo. The fact that we are able to instil our children with so much openness for other cultures, languages, ideas and religions is a real gift. There are some fabulous things happening in Magdeburg too. Away from the imposing buildings and some terrific scenery, I meet Kathleen Schladitz. Her job is to educate some of the city s youngest inhabitants at Au Clair de la Lune the Franco-German kindergarten in Magdeburg. Having already come across many people and ideas from Central Germany who went on to influence events all over the world, now I experience the world in Central Germany. In this bilingual nursery school, French festivals are celebrated and German customs are also experienced, hence making the children aware of other cultures. By the way, Saxony-Anhalt has 1,915 childcare centres more per head of the population than anywhere in the world. My tour of Central Germany is sadly drawing to a close. My final destination is Leipzig. I watch the inhabitants strolling through their city with an air of self-confidence past the first Renaissance town hall in Germany. Leipzig quickly rose to importance as a centre of market fairs and commerce by virtue of its position on the crossroads of two major trade routes: via regia (Kings Road) and via imperii (Imperial Road). This explains the presence of so many prestigious townhouses and trade fair buildings along with the famous arcades. I explore Leipzig s past in the Museum of City History one of the more than 800 museums and collections in Central Germany, which every When I entered the old cotton mill for the first time, I immediately fell in love with the sheer charm of this little factory town. The huge red brick workshops, the iron staircases covered with rust. I was enthralled by the potential nestl ing in the old buildings. A hundred thousand square metres of floor space! The old factory is now full of contemporary content. Artists and galleryowners of world renown have moved in here, accounting for more than half the tenants. And that s attracted other creative people, too, such as architects, advertising agents and guitarmakers, to name but a few. This commercial use for the arts is globally unique. And everyone can see that we mean to permanently establish international art here: from cotton to culture. year attract around 14.7 million visitors. My tour finally comes to an end in a café, in front of which two buskers are performing on the mouth organ and the accordion. You see, culture in Central Germany isn t confined to museums, theatres and concert halls, but can be experienced everywhere you go to be enjoyed by everyone! Culture 41

44 INdUSTRIAL INITIATIve for CeNTRAL GeRmANY IICG the Industrial Initiative for Central Germany brings together key corporations, business chambers and local authorities from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia with the common aim of promoting the successful development and marketing of the traditional economic region of Central Germany. Aims Boosting SMEs innovativeness Establishing sustainable, internationally competitive clusters Making Central Germany more attractive to investors and creative forces The joint marketing of Central Germany Developing a uniform economic framework Encouraging the main towns, cities and businesses to join IICG Activities Central German clusters process The cluster process facilitates networking in those industries with an above-average concentration of interrelated companies and research centres and forges the region s economic profile. IQ Innovation Award for Central Germany This award is the only one of its kind in Germany and promotes innovative techniques, products and services from the regional clusters. Entries competing for the prize money totalling some 80,000 can be submitted online at Graduate Fair The Central Germany Graduate Fair is the central career and recruitment platform for university gradu ates and companies from Saxony, Saxony- Anhalt and Thuringia. Central German Evening The Central German Evening is a high-level dialogue platform for important regional and interregional partners and institutions from the realms of industry, science and government. Spheres of action Promoting innovation and sustainability IICG promotes the creation of a sustainable framework throughout Central Germany to promote innovation in the economy by focusing and networking existing campaigns and activities and supporting the development of successful cooperation models. Organising and supporting growth processes IICG organises and supports processes of sustainable economic growth, particularly for the benefit of SMEs. All participants, networks and partners can participate on an equal footing, enabling added value to be achieved as a team effort. Promoting communication and marketing IIGC promotes communication processes throughout Central Germany, enabling decision-makers from industry, commerce, science, politics and government to forge closer contact and share ideas more efficiently. Information mitte punkt Half-yearly magazine mitte news Quarterly printed newsletter containing information on IICG Online newsletter News round-up from the region and IICG published every Friday The latest news, background information, downloads, events calendar and much more from Central Germany Industrial Initiative for Central Germany Wirtschaftsinitiative für mitteldeutschland GmbH / e. v. Nikolaistraße Leipzig Tel: Fax: [email protected] 42 Industrial Initiative for Central German

45 Imagine had been sponsored by you That s just what the Stifterverband did. Today, 3000 companies and private individuals jointly support the Nobel Prize winners of tomorrow. The Stifterverband is committed to promoting science and innovation and strengthening the cooperation among science, industry, and politics. Let your donation nurture the Heisenbergs of tomorrow. For more details visit _AZ_Heisenberg_195x250_ENGL_RZ.indd :58

46 Regional contacts Agrar-Marketinggesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbh: Agrarmarketing Sachsen e. V.: Agrarmarketing Thüringen: AMZ Sachsen: Dr Claudia Scholta Annaberger Strasse Chemnitz Automotive Berlin/Brandenburg: Harald Bleimeister Zukunftsagentur Brandenburg c/o SWFG Teltow Fläming Zinnaer Strasse Luckenwalde Automotive Cluster Ostdeutschland: Dietmar Bacher ACOD GmbH Nuthedamm Ludwigsfelde Automotive Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Dr Andreas Vietinghoff automotive-mv e. V. c/o REFA Landesverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e. V. Lange Strasse 1a Rostock Automotive Thüringen: Michael M. Lison Gewerbegebiet Kindel Am Künkelhof Hörselberg BioInstrumente Jena e. V.: Winzerlaer Strasse Jena Bio Mitteldeutschland GmbH: Weinbergweg Halle/Saale Biosaxony: Tatzberg Dresden Biotech-Life Sciences Cluster: Martin Pohle [email protected] Bundesvereinigung Logistik: Saxony: Hans-Peter Kloppe [email protected]» Saxony-Anhalt: Holger Seidel [email protected]» Thuringia: Michael Hofmann [email protected] CeChemNet: Fiene Grieger [email protected] Chemical Industry and Plastics Cluster: Andreas Dockhorn [email protected] Information Technology Cluster: Klemens Gutmann Cluster Informationstechnologie Mitteldeutschland e. V. c /o GISA GmbH Leipziger Chaussee 191a Halle/Saale [email protected] Solar Cluster: Dr Peter Frey [email protected] Optoelectronics Cluster: Dr Klaus Schindler [email protected] Silicon Saxony Microelectronics Cluster: Gitta Haupold [email protected] GFA W Gesellschaft für Arbeits- und Wirtschaftsförderung des Freistaats Thüringen mbh (employment and economic development): Warsbergstrasse Erfurt IMG Investitions- und Marketinggesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbh: Kantstrasse Magdeburg Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft Thüringen mbh (LEG): Mainzerhofstrasse Erfurt MAHREG Sachsen-Anhalt: C.-Friedrich Fahlberg Steinfeldstraße Barleben MKN (Central German Plastics Network): Dr Peter Bloß [email protected] Nanotechnology Centre of Excellence Functional Thin Films: Saxon Telecoms Centre: Association of the NE German Chemical Industry: Dr Paul Kriegelsteiner [email protected] Saxon Association of IT, Telecoms and the New Media: Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Magdeburg (economic development corporation): Ölweide Magdeburg Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Gera (economic development corporation): Kornmarkt Gera Tourismus-Marketing Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH: Am Alten Theater Magdeburg Thüringer Tourismus GmbH: Weimarische Strasse Erfurt Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen mbh: Bautzner Strasse 45/ Dresden Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Dessau-Roßlau (economic development corporation): Zerbster Strasse Dessau-Roßlau Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Halle (economic development corporation): Marktplatz Halle/Saale Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Jena (economic development corporation): Tatzendpromenade Jena Wirtschaftsförderung der Stadt Leipzig (economic development corporation): Martin-Luther-Ring Leipzig IIGC Wirtschaftsinitiative für Mitteldeutschland GmbH: Nikolaistrasse Leipzig Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH (economic development corporation): Bertolt-Brecht-Allee Dresden

47 IMPRINT mitte l punkt the Industrial Initiative for Central Germany magazine Published by Wirtschaftsinitiative für Mitteldeutschland GmbH Nikolaistrasse Leipzig Germany Responsible under the German Press Act: Prof. Dr. Georg Frank, President of the Board of Directors of IICG Edited by IICG ABCreativ Agentur für Text und Bild Daniela Rutsch Date of going to press: 31 August 2010 Written by Daniela Rutsch Mandy Schalast Klaus Wurpts Kai Bieler Translated by Chris Abbey Layout, typesetting and production by KOCMOC.NET Printed by Druckerei Thieme GmbH & Co. KG Photo Credits Matthias Knoch: Cover picture pp 2 3 Leads pp 8, 12, 16, 22, 28, 34 Interviews: pp Graphics: pp 17, 20 Dresden-Werbung und Tourismus GmbH, Sylvio Dittrich: p 404 (1) Landesmarketing Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt Juraj Liptak: p 41 (2) LEG Thüringen: p 40 (2) Pixelo.de: p 10 (6) Punctum: p 39 Q-Cells SE: p 7 Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH: p 40 (3), p 41 (1)/(3) Our members and partners are gratefully acknowledged for kindly allowing the use of their photographs and illustrations.

48 successful companies for a successful region mittelpunkt the Industrial Initiative for Central Germany magazine perdata The Industrial Initiative for Central Germany brings together key corporations, business chambers and local authorities from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia with the common aim of promoting the successful development and marketing of the traditional economic region of Central Germany. Central Germany Business and the arts in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia