FOR HIGH-FLYERS Successful in Cottbus

www.egc-cottbus.de/en FOR THE DISCERNING Successful in Cottbus

We are advisors, facilitators, and partners. As the intermediary between municipal administration and the economy, we help businesses in Information, Communication and Media Centre successfully establishing themselves in Cottbus. For already established (IKMZ) at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg companies, we offer support in their growth process with strategic analysis, solution-oriented advice, and joined-up operations. Always committed, confidential, and always in the interest of the entire business location.

Tina Reiche, Managing Director at EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus www.egc-cottbus.de/en

EGC WIRTSCHAFTSFÖRDERUNG COTTBUS PRESENTS ITSELF

Welcome to Cottbus, an emerging city in transition with energy in its DNA and where every corner resonates with momentum. In Cottbus, projects are promoted with full commitment – be it for entrepreneurs, investors, or established companies: Cottbus offers space for all with an interest. Your idea, too, is perfect here. Discover the promising economic potential and site advantages – let us together turn your vision into reality.

To successful cooperation!

Tina Reiche Managing Director at EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus

VITAL MOMENTUM FROM EGC

The key mandate of EGC Wirtschafts- förderung Cottbus is to structure the city's economic development in a future-proof and sustainable manner. In doing so, EGC is independent, neutral, competent, and very discreet. Together with businesses and stakeholders, EGC's objectives are active urban development and the creation of a diversified economic structure.

2 | 3 FROM OUR WORK

VerbraucherRitter – 120 new jobs Forsa Institute Settlement The ECR European Consumer Rights With the establishment of a Forsa Institute GmbH, based in Gräfelfing near Munich, branch in 2020, the opinions of people opened a branch office in Cottbus in 2018 across Germany are now being researched after Steffen Matz, company founder also from out of Cottbus. The market and of VerbraucherRitter, learned about the research institute opened a telephone closure of a large local call centre. He studio for challenging surveys at the decided to employ the over one hundred beginning of the year, creating about 40 well-trained professionals in his fast- new jobs. The decision in favour of Cottbus growing company. Following contact as a location was preceded by intensive with the Mayor of Cottbus, Holger Kelch, personal consultations with Mayor Holger EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus Kelch and the Chamber of Industry and provided intensive investor support. Commerce. EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Since its establishment, the team of Cottbus took on the search for premises; VerbraucherRitter has been enriching the the Job Centre helped in the recruitment of city’s modern service sector. personnel.

At our joint economic forum ‘Smart City’, organised by EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus and Siemens AG, regional attendants from communal politics, communal managers as well as top-class Siemens customers from all over Lusatia got to talk to each other. I was delighted that partners, who had previously not yet met, engaged in animated discussions, exchanged ideas, and saw these as a good basis for further talks.

The Economic Forum 2018, organised by EGC and Siemens AG Torsten Arnold, Torsten Arnold, Branch Manager at Siemens AG

Thanks to EGC and their excellent support we were able to quickly find suitable rented premises. Everything went well, despite the tight deadline. After only a short time we already felt properly established in Cottbus.

Berthold Jansen, Managing Director at Heusch/Boesefeld GmbH Control Centre Heusch/Boesefeld GmbH 2018 www.egc-cottbus.de/en

FOR THE DECISIVE Successful in Cottbus

FOR WHOM

As the municipal economic promotion agency of the City of Cottbus, EGC supports established businesses and future investors of any size and in any sector. It moreover actively supports entrepreneurs and start-ups on their path to success. EGC is the contact partner for: • Visionaries who wish to invest in Cottbus and launch project ideas. • Initiators who wish to modernise, expand, or change their business within the city. • Newcomers who venture to realise their business idea in Cottbus and seek interdisciplinary cooperation with partners. • All who decide to arrive in Cottbus with an enterprising spirit, to grow and to stay.

4 | 5 FOR THE MOTIVATED Successful in Cottbus

We were warmly welcomed by EGC and well advised, built trust. The hard site factors are equally a match. We were able to rent good premises in a central location and with the fibre optic cable we have overall a better infrastructure than in Munich.

Steffen Matz Company Founder at VerbraucherRitter www.egc-cottbus.de/en

EGC SUPPORTS

The implementation of a project idea takes time, effort, and energy. The EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus’s Company Service provides support in the search for a suitable plot or industrial property for lease or purchase from the start. Depending on the requirements regarding the space or property as well as the price, EGC compiles the key data for the business site, prepares specific proposals and liaises with contact partners for financing and funding options.

Businesses and fresh entrepreneurs starting from scratch are supported by EGC throughout on their way to independence and successful development. EGC points out the relevant authorities, chambers, associations, and finance providers and supports those interested in its sites from the first inquiry to conclusion of the authorisation processes.

In the implementation phase, too, EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus supports investors, businesses, and entrepreneurs, including ensuring the skilled labour supply and recruitment. EGC moreover promotes exchange and technology transfer between the involved parties, enables access to research and development results and their transfer into the economy.

Cottbus is pushed forward by energetic businesses, sustainable ideas, and the courage to break the mould.

6 | 7 FOR NEWCOMERS Successful in Cottbus

We are the modern ‘capital’ of Lusatia. We live, shape and explore structural change, especially in the energy industry. We want to be pioneers of digitalisation, want to become a hydrogen and health region. As a university and traditional park city, we offer pulsating life for wellness.

Holger Kelch Mayor of Cottbus www.egc-cottbus.de/en

THIS IS COTTBUS 2 165 km total area (64 sq mi) population 100,148 (Last updated: January 2019) With a population of 100,000, Cottbus is by now the largest regional growth centre 7,280 students (2019) south of the Berlin-Brandenburg capital city region. Its central location in the heart of Europe, the efficient infrastructure, Employees subject to social insurance contributions in Cottbus the attractive industrial sites as well as

the surrounding nature and the people 10 % themselves form a unique combination of service industry locational advantages. They make Cottbus manufacturing industry agriculture and forestry, fisheries an interesting address for numerous 8 9 % sectors.

In addition to the traditional sectors of Sector shares in the service industry metal industry, mining, conventional energy industry and technology, a host of innovative 25 % commerce, transport, hospitality industry 14 % public administration, businesses and future-oriented sectors defence, social insurance have discovered Cottbus. The sectors of 12 % healthcare sector biotechnology, care, health, information real estate, freelance scientific / 7 % technology and renewable energy in technical services particular benefit from ideal conditions 6 % education / teaching regarding education, science and research in the city. 2 space/area potential Cottbus and its environs are home to over 2.28 km (0.9 sq mi) 6,700 businesses. In addition to innovative SMEs, the pillars of economy include also multicorporate enterprises such as LEAG, Unemployment rate Deutsche Bahn, Carl-Thiem-Klinikum, ABB 9.7 % 7.4 % Automation GmbH and Siemens AG.

N POZNAŃ 220 km 2015 2019 BERLIN (PL) 110 km Net number of commuters (2017) COTTBUS A13 21,931 inbound commuters A15 13,001 outbound commuters

A13 1,943 WROCŁAW hours of sunshine 2019 220 km 74 (PL) nurseries and after school care centres DRESDEN 100 km 36 schools PRAGUE 250 km 96.1 % (CZE) care rate for ages 3 to 6 (2019)

8 | 9 FOR THE AMBITIOUS Successful in Cottbus

Cottbus centre

COTTBUS TODAY

Cottbus is the economic, service, and administrative centre of Lusatia, with special framework conditions. The city is:

• strong with regards to infrastructure • a location for education and science With its advantageous location between Cottbus is home to the only technical Berlin and Dresden, Cottbus offers an university in the Federal State of ideal intersection of important transport Brandenburg: BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. routes, providing direct access to Eastern and Southern Europe. • a location for research The scientific community is varied, • a location for health including research institutes focusing Cottbus boasts Brandenburg’s largest on specific topics such as, in the field hospital with 1,200 beds and 2,500 of energy technology, the Centrum für employees. Moreover, it is an academic Energietechnologie Brandenburg and the teaching hospital governed by Charité Fraunhofer Institut, as well as the Panta Berlin and actively supports the practical Rhei research centre that primarily focuses training of medical students. on lightweight construction materials. www.egc-cottbus.de/en

COTTBUS TOMORROW Cottbus has big plans The flooding of the former lignite opencast mine started in 2019. It will transform over the next few Cottbus is a dynamic city that in the next few years into the Cottbuser Ostsee lake with a water years faces wide-ranging structural change area of about 7.7 km2 (3 sq mi). This includes the from a lignite mining region to an innovation creation of a CO2 neutral harbour district, among region and which is ready for success. other things. Germany’s largest artificial water body promises urban life, work and research by • Smart City Cottbus the lake side including sport and leisure activities. Cottbus backs digitalisation in all fields of life – apps and municipal online services make processes increasingly easier, faster and sustainable. Digitalisation projects are being systematically pursued in the seven fields of action Health, Economy, Energy, Education, Administration, Urban Development and Mobility.

• Academic Business Incubation Centre The Business Incubation Centre on the BTU campus with over 5,000 m² (53,893 sq ft) will open in 2021. It will provide entrepreneurial opportunities for business Post mining landscape / future Cottbuser Ostsee lake founders and start-ups and offers the incentive to develop ideas to market maturity on site and to successfully manage businesses on a permanent basis.

• Hydrogen Model City In future, Cottbus intends to use A HIGHLY hydrogen as an energy source. The LIVABLE PLACE conversion of the energy system and the establishment of emission-free local transport are the stakeholders’ declared goals. Cottbus has lots to offer not only from an economic point of view – the ‘Lusatian • Model Region Health Lusatia capital’ is also a great place to live in. Cottbus aims at establishing state-run Private individuals benefit from attractive university medicine. The Carl-Thiem- conditions for building as well as modern, Klinikum is to become a teaching hospital affordable housing in a family-friendly and a digital central hospital. environment. They can choose from a wide range of nurseries and schools and • Model Region Care the childcare provision is so good that In line with the forecasts regarding Cottbus was ranked among the five best skilled labour development in the cities in Germany according to a survey by care sector, the city government, EGC www.betreut.de. The Spreewald and the Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus and the Lusatian Lake District offer a host of leisure Carl-Thiem-Klinikum have developed activities and nature in the immediate their own concept ‘Model Region Care vicinity. Those with an interest in culture Cottbus and Lower Lusatia’. It explores and sports are equally well catered for: ideas for the innovative safeguarding with the Olympiastützpunkt, the city of the skilled labour supply in the region boasts one of the largest and most modern across sectors and disciplines. sports facilities in the country, in addition to theatres and museums.

10 | 11 FOR VISIONARIES Successful in Cottbus

ROOM FOR IDEAS

Ideas fall on fertile ground in Cottbus due to the considerable science, education and research potential. Here, a host of establishments engage in research, development, trade and production, from basic research to final economic Technology and Industry Park Cottbus application. The BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is usually the first port of call for scientists and researchers. Cooperations between the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, research institutions, the city and businesses, initiated by EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus, promote the development.

The Regional and Cottbus Business Incubation Centre, to open in 2021 www.egc-cottbus.de/en

ROOM IN COTTBUS

Industrial or commercial premises – west of the city centre. The Technologie- und EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus is Forschungszentrum Cottbus (TFZ – the most important port of call when it Technology and Research Centre), established comes to industrial property marketing in 2011 on the TIP premises, serves as an and development. Its range of spaces and ‘incubator’ for the implementation of new properties on offer is hugely varied, ensuring ideas and the development of new products. the satisfactory fulfilment of the needs of From 2021, start-ups and entrepreneurs businesses deciding to settle here. With with (high-)tech competences will moreover the Technology and Industrial Park Cottbus be able to access 5,500 m² (59,200 sq ft) (TIP), among others, the business location of offices and workshops at the Business is growing to become Brandenburg’s Incubation Centre on the nearby BTU Cottbus- largest contiguous industrial site in the best Senftenberg campus. location: over 11,000 m2 (118,403 sq ft) are earmarked for investors, entrepreneurs Businesses from the fields of energy and start-ups. The TIP Cottbus is in technology, metal construction, logistics and the direct vicinity of the BTU Cottbus- craft-based food production have already Senftenberg and only 3 km (1.9 mi) north- settled in the area.

Site plan Technology and Industry Park Cottbus

Available Sold Under negotiation

Technology and Research Centre By car only 1 min to the Technology and Research Centre 3 min to the BTU Campus 3 min to the Business Incubation Centre (opening in 2021) 5 min to the city centre 5 min to the main train station 14 min to the motorway junction

Last updated: January 2020 BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and the future Business Incubation Centre

To be aquired at the TIP:

The importance of Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus 2 approx. is huge as it’s not only responsible for the development 1,100,000 m and marketing of the numerous industrial estates, but also for (11,840,301 sq°ft) empty industrial premises, stock development, acquisition of supra regional investments, the 800,000 m2 (8,611,128 sq°ft) of which contiguous future management of the Business Incubation Centre and the implementation of the now approved projects in the action field 2 Economy of the ‘Digital City Cottbus’. approx. 250,000 m (2,690,978 sq°ft) free industrial properties incl. Holger Kelch buildings (hangars, accommodation, technical and Mayor of Cottbus administrative buildings)

12 | 13 FOR TEAM BUILDERS Successful in Cottbus

Our company has since its establishment been closely cooperating with the Brandenburg University of Technology. Our core competence is the development and marketing of innovative, decentralised energy conversion systems based on micro gas turbines. Since our establishment, we have been on site at the Technology and Industrial Park Cottbus (TIP) and will in future expand with the hands-on support of EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus.

Sebastian Kießling, Managing Director at Euro-K GmbH Cottbus www.egc-cottbus.de/en

EGC SERVICES

EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus creates International Partnerships the necessary framework conditions and and ‘Looking Eastward’ supports investors, local businesses and entrepreneurs fast and solution-oriented EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus in a range of fields. is a reliable partner for international cooperations and partnerships. The EGC team includes staff from the Russian- Settlement Management speaking region and other European countries who facilitate the development EGC supports investors in the new of international business contacts. establishment or relocation of businesses, develops specific site proposals and individual offers. EGC is a reliable partner Integrated Support in solving challenges during authorisation Each business’s journey passes through processes and other issues that need many stages. Where desired, EGC acts as an resolving with the city administration and advisor, facilitator and partner from the start other authorities. and provides active and personal support: • in modernisation, expansion, or relocation Funding within the city area • in organising the business succession A host of funding programmes and with individual solutions as needed financing options are available for • in the representation of interests in political supporting businesses and entrepreneurs. committees and towards institutions EGC provides advice and contacts, appropriate funding options and supports you in making applications.

Skilled Personnel Consultancy Committed, qualified employees are the backbone of every business. Therefore EGC’s services also includes help in the search for suitable personnel – in close cooperation with the Job Centre and Sehnsucht Cottbus other service institutions and recruitment All begins with longing. The longing for home, family, agencies. friends or the one true love.

Sehnsucht Cottbus is the returnee initiative organised by the City of Cottbus, EGC Wirtschaftsförderung Cottbus and other partners from the fields of industry and administration that aims at supporting the (re-)settlement of new and native citizens. Intensive marketing is already having an effect and attracts more and more newcomers and returnees to Cottbus. The close networking collaboration between the partners ensures a warm welcome and support – free of charge and personal. [email protected]

14 | 15 Brandenburg

Cottbus

Please note regarding quotations: Am Turm 14 | 03046 Cottbus Images and quotations do not belong together. Please note regarding gender neutrality: As a rule, we do not gender our texts to keep these as short and concise as possible. We therefore indicate here that we mean all Phone: 0355 729913-0 genders when using terms that refer to no specific gender group. We expressly sup- www.egc-cottbus.de/en port gender equality. Picture credits: S. 1; S. 5: Jacob Lund; S. 6: harbucks; S. 8 opolja; S. 12: bernardbodo, H&C; S. 14: Funded by the Federal Government and the Federal State of Bran- gstockstudio (alle stock.adobe.com); S.2: MMZ BTU; S. 3: EGC Wirtschaftsförde- denburg in the context of the joint task: “Verbesserung der regiona- rung Cottbus; S.4: ©Siemens AG/Martin Roehr, Heusch/Boesefeldt; S.10: Torsten Arnold/©Siemens AG; S.11 und 12: Rainer Weisflog, weisflog.net; S.12: © GWC len Wirtschaftsstruktur” – GRW Infrastruktur for the improvement of the regional economic structure Last revised: 09-2020