For visionary entrepreneurs The business location Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein. Germany‘s True North. Contents Preface – 3 Reasons to choose Schleswig-Holstein Investment location Schleswig-Holstein – 4 Optimal position in Europe – 6 Great location for global business – 7 Leading industries – 8 Clusters in Schleswig-Holstein – 12 Specialists – 14 Potential subsidies in Schleswig-Holstein – 16 Tips and important information on residence permits, founding and taxing a company Entry and residence – 18 Founding a company in Germany – 20 Company taxation – 22 Chinese company chooses Schleswig-Holstein – 25 Work-life balance High quality of life – 26 Strong companies from Schleswig-Holstein – 29 One-Stop-Office Comprehensive service from WTSH – 30 WTSH networks – 31 Imprint – 32 2 Ladies and Gentlemen, Dr Bernd Bösche, Managing Director of the Wirtschafts förde rung Entrepreneurial decisions require vision and foresight. und Technologietransfer »Schleswig-Holstein. Germany‘s True North.« offers Schleswig-Holstein GmbH – the ideal location for your company, and an inspiring WTSH environment which makes it easier for you to make the right choice. The northernmost federal state in Germany provides many But it is not only the hard location factors which speak advantages. Conveniently located for transportation, for Schleswig-Holstein. In our federal state, there is close Schleswig-Holstein is the gateway to the markets in cooperation between business, politics, administration Scandinavia, the Baltic states and in central and eastern and economic development. We don’t just have lengthy Europe. The basis for this is an infrastructure designed discussions about problems – we resolve them together. to meet the needs of the future. The A7 motorway, as the There is a good reason why the happiest people in most important north-south connection in Germany, is Germany live in the true north! The region between the being expanded to meet future needs, and will then have North Sea and the Baltic Sea is ideally suited for life and 6 lanes along most of the route. The Fehmarn Belt Fixed work. Link will establish another efficient transport connection with Scandinavia. With its fibre optic strategy, Schleswig- We cordially invite you: you could also be one of the Holstein is a pioneer nationwide, and is thereby creating entrepreneurs with vision and foresight. the most state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure in the We look forward to welcoming you. whole of Germany. Best regards, Schleswig-Holstein’s population will continue to develop on a stable basis in the coming years. Qualified, specialist staff are the foundation of a dynamic economy, and ensure that the SME-characterised industry of the state can further expand its strong market position. Dr Bernd Bösche 3 Investment location Schleswig-Holstein • In 2016 goods to the value of 20.2 billion Euros were exported abroad from Schleswig-Holstein. • Lübeck (Germany's second-largest Baltic Sea port) alone handled a transshipment volume of 24 million tonnes. • There were 2.1 million passengers at the cruise and ferry Perfect location for business port of Kiel. The northernmost federal state in Germany lies in the • On the Kiel Canal, over 29,200 ships transported a total centre of Europe, directly on the main north-south of 83.7 million tonnes of cargo. transportation axis with Scandinavia. With its direct access to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Schleswig- Holstein is an important transport hub for northern and Thriving SMEs eastern Europe and the Baltic region. The close proximity Schleswig-Holstein is a state of the SMEs – 99 percent of to Hamburg also enables fast access to German and the companies are small or medium sized enterprises. world-wide markets via all transport routes. Amount of internal expenditure 700 €689 for research and development 600 per employee subject to social €611 insurance contributions in 500 €502 Schleswig-Holstein €462 €477 400 €420 €409 €350 300 200 R&D expenditure per employee in € R&D expenditure 100 0 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 4 Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit; Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft Schleswig-Holstein in figures Superb climate for companies Schleswig-Holstein offers companies a very Surface area: 15,800 square kilometres business-friendly climate: Population: approximately 2.8 million inhabitants • high availability of qualified personnel Employed persons: approx. 1.35 million • low wage costs Gross domestic product: €85.6 billion • low local business taxes Change in GDP in 2015, • targeted transfer of technology and knowledge in price adjusted: 1.4 % compared to the previous year businesses Tourism: around 27 million overnight stays • moderate property and land prices Students: approx. 57,800 • modern financial assistance programmes and Students at vocational schools: approx. 92,300 expert advice • support from networks and clusters Source: Statistikamt Nord, as of 2015 • comprehensive support services for start-ups • fast Internet thanks to fibre optics and therefore unique across Germany This creates the basis for very positive developments: Schleswig-Holstein is characterized by many business Many companies in the true north are highly specialised, start-ups, and a rate of high self-employment. internationally successful, and often world market leaders. In particular, important future industries are In addition, many companies from Germany and abroad highly- represented: are drawn to the true north. So, for example, in 2016 a total • food industry of 154 new companies settled in Schleswig-Holstein, and • renewable energies thereby created 1,374 jobs. • healthcare industry • information and communication technology Schleswig-Holstein is also perceived as an attractive • logistics location internationally. In the year 2016 there were new • maritime economy arrivals from China, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland and • mechanical engineering Japan. • medical technology • tourism Commercial registrations per 10,000 inhabitants 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Number of commercial Berlin 121.4 registrations per 10,000 inhabitants in Germany by Hamburg 114.4 federal state in 2015 Hesse 104.3 Bavaria 96.2 Schleswig-Holstein 93.2 Rhineland-Palatinate 87.2 Germany 87.1 North Rhine-Westphalia 86.5 Baden-Württemberg 84.8 Bremen 80.2 Lower Saxony 76.4 Saxony 73.1 Brandenburg 70.3 Saarland 70 Mecklenburg-West Pomerania 65.6 Source: Federal Statistical Office; Statistical Offices of the federal government and the federal states 5 Optimal position in Europe Kemi Fast connections Flight times from Hamburg Airport to Oulu • Copenhagen: 50 mins. • Amsterdam: 1 hr 5 mins. • Frankfurt: 1 hr 10 mins. • Zurich: 1 hr 25 mins. Holmsund • London: 1 hr 40 mins. Husum FINNLAND • Helsinki: 1 hr 55 mins. Tunadal FINLAND • Moscow: 2 hrs 45 mins. Iggesund • Dubai: 6 hrs 20 mins. Rauma Kotka Uusikaupunki Turku Helsinki NORWEGEN SCHWEDEN Hanko NORWAY SWEDEN St. Petersburg Oslo Ust-Luga Stockholm Tallinn Skandinavien Paldiski Scandinavia ESTLAND RUSSLAND ESTONIA RUSSIA Moskau Baltikum Göteborg Baltic States Gothenburg Ventspils LETTLAND Riga LATVIA Liepaja DÄNEMARK LITAUEN DENMARK Kopenhagen Helsingborg Klaipeda LITHUANIA Copenhagen Malmö WEISSRUSSLAND Trelleborg Wilna BELARUS Kaliningrad IRLAND Rödby Baltijsk Minsk IRELAND Rendsburg Dublin Puttgarden Kiel Brunsbüttel Travemünde Osteuropa Lübeck Eastern Europe Großbritannien Hamburg Britain Bremen NIEDERLANDE Warschau VEREINIGTES KÖNIGREICH Amsterdam Warsaw UNITED KINGDOM NETHERLANDS Hannover Berlin London Kiew Rotterdam POLEN DEUTSCHLAND POLAND GERMANY UKRAINE Brüssel BELGIEN Brussels BELGIUM Prag Prague Luxemburg TSCHECHISCHE REP. Luxembourg CZECH REPUBLIC SLOWAKEI SLOVAKIA Bratislava Paris Wien Vienna ÖSTERREICH Budapest AUSTRIA SCHWEIZ UNGARN RUMÄNIEN SWITZERLAND HUNGARY ROMANIA FRANKREICH Bern FRANCE Ljubljana Bukarest SLOWENIEN Zagreb SLOVENIA KROATIEN Verona CROATIA BOSNIEN BOSNIA Belgrad Südeuropa Belgrade Southern Europe Sarajevo SERBIEN SERBIA Sofia BULGARIEN BULGARIA ITALIEN MONTENEGRO ITALY Skopje ALBANIEN MAZEDONIEN 6 Rom ALBANIA MACEDONIA Madrid Rome PORTUGAL Tirana GRIECHENLAND Lissabon SPANIEN GREECE SPAIN Athen Athens Great location for global business The most important roadwork projects Kemi • 6-lane expansion of the A7 • further construction of the A20 Oulu Short distances • B404 to be upgraded to motorway between Travel time by car from Kiel to the A1 and A24 (per BVWP 2030) • Neumünster: 31 mins. • gaps to be closed in the A23, and expansion • Flensburg: 1 hr 5 mins. of the B5 Holmsund • Lübeck: 1 hr 11 mins. • 4-lane expansion of the B207 Husum • Hamburg: 1 hr 20 mins. • Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link FINNLAND Tunadal 7 Motorway FINLAND Iggesund Port Rauma Kotka Airport Uusikaupunki Aabenraa Turku Helsinki DÄNEMARK NORWEGEN DENMARK SCHWEDEN Hanko NORWAY SWEDEN St. Petersburg Tønder Oslo Ust-Luga Sønderborg Stockholm Tallinn Skandinavien Paldiski Scandinavia ESTLAND RUSSLAND ESTONIA RUSSIA Moskau Niebüll Baltikum Flensburg Göteborg Baltic States Gothenburg Dagebüll Ventspils LETTLAND Riga LATVIA Kappeln Liepaja 7 DÄNEMARK LITAUEN DENMARK Kopenhagen Helsingborg Klaipeda LITHUANIA Copenhagen Malmö WEISSRUSSLAND Schleswig Trelleborg Wilna BELARUS > Skandinavien > Baltikum Kaliningrad > Scandinavia > Ost Europa IRLAND Rödby Baltijsk Minsk > Baltic StatesOSTSEE Husum > Eastern Europe IRELAND BALTIC BAY Rendsburg Eckernförde Dublin Puttgarden Kiel Brunsbüttel Travemünde Osteuropa Lübeck Eastern Europe Friedrichstadt Großbritannien Hamburg Heiligenhafen Tönning Rendsburg Kiel Britain Bremen 210