EN Automotive, Automation and E-Technology Brief Industrial Profile of the West Palatinate Region 1 Foreword Dear readers, Rhineland-Palatinate is a forward- looking industrial location with a business-friendly climate. We provide the critical hard and soft location fac- tors, which are equally as attractive to companies, as they are to employees and investors. With its position in the middle of Eu- rope, right next to important sales markets, our federal state is attrac- tive for SMEs, as well as for industry. Companies from many sectors col- laborate very closely in many cases with scientific institutions. Nothing is too far away. On top of that, there is the family-friendly and pleasant surrounding area with a high quality of life. The West Palatinate’s position, bordering Germany, France and Benelux, with its international transport connections and a very good supply of skilled work- ers make the region attractive for many companies. With a high density of universities, research institutes and scientific facilities in the relevant topic areas, the West Palatinate is a well-developed techno- logical location . The West Palatinate is eager to welcome you! Dr. Volker Wissing Minister for Economics, Transportation, Agriculture and Viticulture and Deputy Minister President of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate 2 3 The Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate is situated in Germany´s dynamic southwest, in the immediate An excellent business location … vicinity of France, Belgium and Luxembourg. It also boasts excellent connections for anyone wanting to develop worldwide business relationships, thanks to the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate has rapid transportation routes by The attractiveness of the federal state in terms of edu- Rhine-Main area being the European economic centre that it is. land, by water and by air. This saves companies time and cation is based on more than 40 research institutes and money. The proximity to the hub that is Frankfurt airport, universities, as well as a first degree free-of charge. Both efficient motorways, the European high-speed train net- the university education and dual training system with Position in Europe work and the position on the Rhine, the most important well-educated specialists and master craftsmen are re- waterway in Europe, all collectively form the backbone of nowned worldwide. an exceptionally well-connected transport system. Area: And finally, a word on mentality: Rhineland-Palatinates 2² 19.854 km The innovative, overwhelmingly middle-sized economy are cosmopolitan, sincere and uncomplicated. Visitors cooperates closely with the sciences and is internation- appreciate the hospitality of the Rhineland-Palatinate; Inhabitants: ally in the lead. The combination of global players like with its abundant culture and delights, it is a favourite 4.1 million BASF, Daimler, Schott and Boehringer Ingelheim with holiday region for many people from near and far. middle-sized world market leaders is unique. Important industry sectors: Finland · Chemistry and pharmacy · Healthcare · Automotive industry Norway · Metal processing Russia Sweden · Mechanical engineering Estonia “Continuouseconomicgrowth,ahighexportquote,aswell · Nutrition asexceptionallyattractivehousingandqualityoflife: Latvia Withitshealthymedium-scaleeconomicstructures,the Lithuania Rhineland-PalatinateisoneofGermany’sleadingbusiness Denmark locations.” Belarus Ireland Daniela Schmitt State Secretary of the Ministry for Economics, Transportation, Agriculture and Viticulture Great Britain Poland The Netherlands Germany Belgium Ukraine Rhineland-Palatinate Luxembourg Czech Republic … and a perfect environment for innovations. West Palatinate Slovakia Austria Hungary · targeted strengthening and promotion of France Rumania The Rhineland-Palatinate offers world-class quality in Switzerland particularly promising fields of business and science. infrastructure and competence development in Slovenia Croatia Therefore, the state government focuses on the areas research and development, Bosnia & in which the competitive advantages are greatest and Herzegovina Serbia · support for ambitious research and technology unique selling points are particularly pronounced. With Bulgaria projects, Monte- Kosovo a view to leveraging the opportunities that come from Italy negro · creating the best starting conditions for innovative Macedonia global mega trends, as well as the newest market-lead- ing and technological developments. start-ups, Spain Albania Portugal · ensuring access to new research for all companies, Greece The identified potential areas are consistently promoted, as well as e.g. by: · the offer of research, innovation and technology promotion from a single source. 99,7 7 2 57,6 percent of all companies in the Rhineland- Every seventh person employed in Rhineland- In the Germany-wide satisfaction ranking of the founders, Rhine- percent export quote in Rhineland-Palatinate Palatinate are medium-sized. Thanks to Palatinate works in a high-tech field. Because of this, land-Palatinate is in second place among the 16 federal states in 2018 (Germany 50.3 %) their flexibility, they react quickly to global the federal state is in national top position. challenges. 4 5 Traffic and accessibility Western Palatinate would experience a noticeable pop- ulation decline in the coming years. In recent decades, The West Palatinate Whether on one of the numerous motorways that cross however, especially in the centres, things have devel- the region or the good local and long-distance rail con- oped much more favourably than previously feared. nections, the West Palatinate can always be quickly and The West Palatinate region is situated in the Southwest of Germany in the federal state of easily reached. Special feature: from Kaiserslautern, the The official population statistics don’t even include Rhineland-Palatinate. Besides the regional centre of Kaiserslautern, it includes the independent metropolis of Paris is only about 150 minutes away by the some 50,000 Americans, who have been pres- train. More importantly: the biggest German airport, ent in the Western Palatinate for 70 years, as well as cities of Pirmasens and Zweibrücken, as well as the districts Kaiserslautern, Südwestpfalz, Kusel the international hub Frankfurt/Main may be reached members of NATO countries and their families. The and Donnersberg. It borders France in the south, Saarland in the west, the Rhine-Main area in by car in under an hour. More regional airports in the US-American community is the largest outside the the northeast and the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region to the east. In comparison to its neigh- area round out this enticing offer. USA, which is reflected in a traditionally high level of English language proficiency among the local pop- bours, the West Palatinate region offers companies particularly attractive locations in terms of ulation. This presence, the large number of foreign price and accessibility, favourable conditions for investors and for employees, employment in Labour market, population students, foreign companies and their employees future-oriented industries and an environment with a high quality of life. and the border with France with its numerous cross- In recent years, the number of employees subject to border commuters all make the Western Palatinate social security contributions has increased significantly an especially international region. to around 165,000 in 2018. At the same time, the num- ber of unemployed people has continued to decrease. Due to demographic change, it was forecast that the Position in Germany 100 km Rotterdam Frankfurt/Main 480 km Rhine Mainz BELGIUM LUXEM- Hahn BOURG GERMANY Luxembourg Kaiserslautern Mannheim Paris Saarbrücken 420 km Zweibrücken Pirmasens Metz Travel by train to Kaiserslautern Karlsruhe Mannheim 40 Min. Direction Paris Frankfurt 90 Min. Paris 150 Min. FRANCE Stuttgart Travel by car via A6 Mannheim – Saarbrücken A63 Kaiserslautern – Mainz/Frankfurt A6/A62 Trier/Luxembourg Strasbourg Travel by aeroplane via State borders Saarbrücken Airport approx. 50 km Motorway Frankfurt-Hahn Airport approx. 50 km Waterway Frankfurt Rhine-Main Airport approx.100 km ICE route 520.000 50.000 132 8 20.000.000 Around 520,000 people live in the Americans live in and around Kaiserslautern Citizens from 132 various international airports An estimated 20 million people live within a two-hour drive West Palatinate overall. Practically (“K-Town”) as the biggest American nations live and work in West less than a two-hour drive away. around the West Palatinate. though, it is closer to 570,000, community outside of the USA. Palatinate. because ... 6 7 When it comes to complex research projects, people are increasing- ly turning to networks or so-called “clusters” in which cooperation partners from science and industry pool their different competencies. An example of this is the Science & Innovation Alliance Kaiserslautern (SIAK) Research foci at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern include innovative vehicle and mobility concepts, intelligent driving and operating comfort systems, as well as energy- efficient vehicles and assis- tance systems, among others. A dense network of first-class research facilities ensures that research and development work has practical relevance, provid- ing the transfer points where results are put into practice. The plastics industry based in the West Palatinate is an impressive example of the ongoing adaptability of our companies to changing conditions. Economy and Technology