After reunification, the eastern German states struggled with structural and economic challenges for a long time. Industries and young talents migrated, and innovations fell by the wayside. That changed a long time ago: Today, East Germany is regarded as a location for innovation, where start-ups are founded, corporations settle and technology centers are established - some of them attracting international attention. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently spoke of a "35-year success story" at the East German Economic Forum 2024. At the same time, politics, business, and research are actively working on digital transformation here.
The region's importance for economic growth and transformation in Germany can be seen at the numerous innovation trade fairs and business summits, which attract thousands of visitors as well as companies and start-ups from technology-oriented sectors every year.
NØRD 2024: Digital solutions for cities and regions
Whether at regional or national level - relevant stakeholders must be brought together for successful digitalization. As was the case in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV) in May: At the Digital Convention NØRD 2024, start-ups, companies and representatives from science, politics and the cultural sector came together to exchange ideas on digital transformation in a good atmosphere and with a broad supporting program. A central topic on site: digitalization approaches that can make everyday life easier for people in both urban and rural areas. Among other things, the focus was on concepts in the areas of smart city, smart region, and AI, which are also relevant beyond MV.
The high level of participation on-site illustrated how great the innovation potential is in the northeast of Germany - and that interest in the region is also growing at a national level. This year, the Digital Hub Initiative was also represented at the NØRD together with the nationwide start-up competition initiative.
Inspiration for the entire country at OWF 2024
How can economic stability and innovation be secured in times of global crises? Answers to these questions can only be found together - this was the consensus at the Ostdeutsches Wirtschaftsforum 2024 (OWF) in Bad Saarow in June.Under the guiding theme of "A new era", participants discussed digitalization, the energy and mobility transition, and geostrategic shifts. The annual event is considered the most important economic summit in eastern Germany and brings together decision-makers from industry, politics, and science - including the most important players from the German government, business associations, the start-up scene, and corporate executives from the energy and financial sectors.
As in the previous year, digitalization was also one of the key topics at the OWF. On-site, the Digital Hub Initiative provided matchmaking formats for in-depth networking between the players, while representatives from the digital hubs gave valuable input on innovation and digitalization at several panels.
Investors Day Thüringen: Opportunities for the start-up scene
Thüringen is also actively working on the digital transformation of the economy and society - largely with the participation of a vibrant start-up scene. To support this, Investor Days Thüringen brings the regional start-up community together with investors in Erfurt once a year. With the motto "The Beat of Innovation", a total of 52 start-ups and scale-ups pitched innovative ideas and technologies on stage this year. The topics: DeepTech, Greentech, Life Science, New Mobility, and other future fields. Many of the concepts presented have the potential to contribute to transformation beyond the business location of eastern Germany. In addition to the pitches, there was a lively exchange on the development of regional and supra-regional start-up ecosystems - including at a panel organized by the Digital Hub Initiative and Start2. One of the long-term goals of the event is to increase financial support for innovative start-up projects through private capital. The investment company of the Free State of Thuringia BMT is also working on this as the largest investor in the region.
East German innovative strength becomes visible in Leipzig
A similar approach is being taken in Leipzig with the HHL SpinLab Investor's Day, which took place this year on May 29th as a satellite event of the MACHN Festival 2024. The event acts as SpinLab Leipzig's central offering for investors from the wider ecosystem, for whom the potential of regional start-ups becomes visible on-site. In 2024, almost 200 participants from the European investment scene gathered to attend numerous pitches in the fields of HealthTech, Bio-Economy, Energy, and Smart City.
The MACHN Festival itself provides the perfect setting for the event - not least because it is closely linked to the Digital Hub Leipzig. The festival serves as a platform for networking and knowledge transfer and is aimed at companies and founders, as well as creative professionals, institutions, and developers. In addition to insights and learning about the status quo in terms of technology and transformation, MACHN offers a stage program with art, music, and culture.
Eastern Germany is driving the transformation forward
Innovation and research clusters, good infrastructures and plenty of potential for investment: The eastern German states are rightly regarded as innovation hubs and hotbeds of transformation. Constantly growing start-up ecosystems, which are actively promoted by the Digital Hub Initiative in locations such as Leipzig, Dresden and Potsdam, contribute to this - as do specialized research and innovation clusters. This potential is visible at dynamic digitalization events and business congresses. Eastern Germany is a vibrant business location - and if you want to experience this for yourself, we recommend visiting the events described here next year.
Source: https://bit.ly/4bSLkuI
