A City in Transformation Economy, Education and Untainted Joie de Vivre ere ’ Life is worth livi CONTENTS 3 Economic Powerhouse PAGE 6 Made in Heilbronn PAGE 6 Heilbronn, a dynamic city PAGE 8 The 2019 Heilbronn Federal Horticultural Show PAGE 10 Education Hub PAGE12 The downtown campus PAGE 13 experimenta. The science centre PAGE 14 Open-minded PAGE16 Colourful and diverse Heilbronn PAGE 16 Joie de vivre PAGE18 Everything that makes life worth living PAGE 19 Shopping and indulging PAGE 23 Nowhere but here PAGE 24 Heilbronn’*s environs make an impression, too PAGE 26 4 HERE LIFE IS WORTH LIVIN’ EDITORIAL 5 “Everything one’s eyes can see is fertile, said German poet and playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe when he let his gaze wander over Heilbronn from Wartberg hill in the late 18th century. This holds true today more than ever. Württemberg’s oldest wine-growing city is undergoing substantial transformation. Cutting-edge education institutions mushroom. The capital of world market leaders never stops to take a breath, which is why products and ideas from Heilbronn are succeeding everywhere on this planet. And every single day people still enjoy the gorgeous scenery so admired by Goethe looking down on Heilbronn, either strolling through vineyards or along the Neckar river at the very centre of A Multi-Faceted City the city.” Harry Mergel, Lord Mayor 6 HERE LIFE IS WORTH LIVIN’ ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE 7 Made in Heilbronn Economic powerhouse. We roll up our sleeves and get the work done. Usually, we do not shout it out to the world at the rst opportunity. But actually we must admit that we indeed have the highest density of world market leaders in all of Germany - and that is quite something to be proud of. But by no means are all of the roughly 100 market leaders residing here large industrial corporations. The economic strength of the Heilbronn-Franconia region is underpinned by medium-sized companies which o entimes are not so well known. We call them the hidden champions. And Heilbronn, the principal city of this region, is situated right at its centre. Being the heart of the modern and future-oriented “Wohlgelegen” industrial park, the WTZ Tower is ideally situated close to the Neckar river and the city centre. Beyond that, it is a perfect location for quite a few young high-tech companies. Many well-established commercial enterprises, cra­ s businesses and B2B service providers benefit from the traditionally high concentration of companies and the strong economic performance of the growth region. INTERSPORT, the world’s largest trade cooperative for medium- sized sporting goods retailers, is headquartered in Heilbronn. Automotive suppliers and their “Made in Heilbronn” high-tech solutions are in particular high demand Retail giants Lidl and Kaufland are further notable employers in internationally. But we also supply globally successful products to the mechanical, plant construction and Heilbronn and the neighbouring city of Neckarsulm. electrical engineering industries, as well as in the packaging, (luxury) food and beverages sectors. 8 HERE LIFE IS WORTH LIVIN’ ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE 9 Heilbronn is one of Germany’s most dynamic cities coming in 9th of all cities ranked nationwide.* Hidden Champions From Innovative Ideas to Pro table Companies Yes, we have them here. Heilbronn can boast giants, such as Audi, Successful Heilbronn entrepreneurs have a penchant for up-and- Intersport or Schwarz Group with its Kaufland and Lidl brands. coming local companies. A unique funding culture is one of our However, companies which are not that well-known equally con- hallmarks. By means of the so-called Heilbronn Future Fund and tribute to the economic might found in this region. The Marbach the Neckar Venture Forum, renowned entrepreneurs from the Heil- company, for example, holds the lion’s share in global cutting dies bronn-Franconia region make sure new ideas from areas such as for cardboard packagings. We are prepared to bet a substantial medical technology, IT as well as soware engineering or the in- amount of money on there being several packagings made with dustrial Internet do not fail just because of financial imponderabi- Heilbronn punching technology in every household. Amphenol¬- lities. Talented entrepreneurs will find everything that they might Tuchel Electronics is another less well-known Heilbronn success need in the future-oriented Wohlgelegen industrial park, the hip story. The electric connectors made by the company for instance innovation park and the Heilbronner Innovationsfabrik (Heilbronn help illuminate Eiel Tower beautifully at night. But who has ever Innovation Factory). And in a more professional environment than heard of them? in any Silicon Valley garage, too. Cross our heart. *2017 FACTS AND FIGURES Area Dynamik-Ranking “No other city of a similar size currently in the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, City 99.88 km2 *1 / 38.56 sq mi *1 1 Heilbronn is a city in transformation. Not invests so ambitiously in its future as does a godsend for all wine makers who created 47 % Agriculture * 36 % Settlement and trafc *1 only can the pace of change be felt by the Heilbronn,” says Harry Mergel, the city’s a unique cultural landscape around 14 % Forest *1 1 people living here, it is also corroborated Lord Mayor. And right he is. Aer all, some Heilbronn over the course of time. The 3% Other uses * by evidence. For several years in a row, 2,000 residential units will be built over the city can look back on 1,250 years of wine- GPS Coordinates 49° 8‘ 33.694“ N 9° 12‘ 39.164“ E Heilbronn has made it to the top-ten group next few years in Heilbronn, whereas other growing, which makes it Württemberg’s Population of the most dynamic German cities in a German cities are wailing over a housing oldest wine-producing city. So it comes City of Heilbronn: 126,557 *2 ranking published by WirtschasWoche shortage. In 2019, the new experimenta, as no surprise that the wine sector is Labour market business news magazine. Among other Germany’s largest science centre, will open still playing a significant role today and 69,270 Employed persons *3 24 % Manufacturing industry *3 things, this is due to the city’s vibrant its gates in Heilbronn. At the same time continues to leave its stamp on Heilbronn. 25% Trade, commerce, transport *3 economy. Job prospects are good, and and fuelled by the Federal Horticultural Economy and education are 51% Other services *3 the relative number of jobs is particularly Show, a completely new and green city inextricably linked. Average remuneration Euro 39,823 per employed person *4 high. There seems to be quite something quarter will be created, a model project in One strength of Heilbronn’s economy Number of companies and businesses in the air hereabouts that wakes a spirit terms of urban planning. Counting 126,500 certainly is the close cooperation with Registered with the Chamber of Industry and of inventive genius in companies. For inhabitants, Heilbronn will see through local educational institutions, first Commerce: 8,159 *3 Registered with the Chamber of Cras: 1,626 *3 example, the world’s first multi-crystalline construction projects worth roughly Euro and foremost the Bildungscampus (or Economy solar cell was developed in Heilbronn. His 1bn during these years. Education Campus) run by the Dieter GDP: Euro 6.4 bn *4 legendary Erbswurst (or pea soup sausage) Favourable Location Schwarz Foundation. Thanks to the existing Retail industry made Carl Heinrich Theodor Knorr the Situated at the heart of the world market networks of manufacturers, suppliers and Purchasing power: Euro 690 m *5 Retail sales: Euro 942 m *5 global pioneer of packet soups. And to leaders’ region, Heilbronn is also located research institutions, all of them located Retail centrality: Euro 154.5 m *5 this very day, the city belongs to the most within easy reach of other conurbations, closely to one another, learners benefit *1 BaWü Statistical Ofce (as of 31 Dec 2015) advanced economic areas worldwide. such as the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan from a multitude of collaboration and *2 Municipal register of residence *3 statistik-bw.de Why is that so? Well, we do not rest on region, Nuremberg or Stuttgart. The synergy eects – and they make ample use *4 VGRdL, 2015 Federal State Accounts our laurels - quite the opposite is true. temperatures here are among the highest of them. *5 GFK Geo Marketing, as of 2017 10 HERE LIFE IS WORTH LIVIN’ ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE 11 Every other year, garden lovers flock to a different German city to feast their eyes on a sea of blossoms at the Federal Horticultural Show (BUGA). A er going without one for 42 years, the Federal Horticultural Show returns to Baden- Württemberg. Heilbronn is pulling out all the stops to put its best foot forward with an unprecedented combined garden show and city exhibition from 17 April to 6 October 2019. “Blossoming Life.” at the Heilbronn Federal Horticultural Show – the colourful summer island invites visitors to unwind and discover the unique atmosphere near the Neckar river on a wooden walkway that runs straight along the riverbank. Garden Show have moved in when the Federal Horticultural Show opens its For the first time in its history spanning almost 70 years and true gates. On the buildings’ ground floors, however, the public may to its “Blossoming Life.” theme, the Federal Horticultural Show still visit exhibitions on the building materials of the future, symbiotically merges the finest of gardening and top-notch urban digitization or mobility. Once the Federal Horticultural Show architecture. Park and meadow landscapes on the waterfront, a ends, the area will develop into a buzzing new urban quarter as multitude of di erent gardenscapes and inspiring flower shows more people move in.