Saxony - Alberta Relations This map is a generalized illustration only and is not intended to be used for reference purposes. The representation of political boundaries does not necessarily reflect the position of the Government of Alberta on international issues of recognition, sovereignty or jurisdiction. PROFILE Economic growth in Dresden is driven by The Peaceful Revolution of 1989, Capital: Dresden three key sectors, namely which contributed to the fall of the Major Centres: Dresden, Leipzig, nanotechnology/new materials, Berlin Wall, started in Leipzig. microelectronics/ information and Chemnitz The filing clip, thermos flask and communication technology (ICT), as well laundry detergent were invented in Population: 4.2 million (2010) as life sciences/biotechnology. the innovative city of Chemnitz. Language: German Leipzig Saxony has the second highest Government: Landtag (legislative The trade city of Leipzig (pop. 522,883) concentration of research institutes in assembly of a German state) has established itself as the centre for Germany, after Berlin. The Max media and financial services in Saxony. Head of Government: Minister- Planck Society, the Leibnitz President Stanislaw Tillich (since 2008) The Leipzig Fair, dating back 800 years, Association and the Fraunhofer Currency: Euro, CAD$1.00 = €0.78, is considered to be the world’s oldest Society are notably active in Dresden. €1.00 = CAD$1.29 (June 2012) commercial fair. Almost 1.3 million RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW GDP: €95.0 billion (2010) people visited this trade fair in 2010. Chemnitz Alberta signed a twinning agreement GDP per Capita: €22,870 (2010) Chemnitz (pop. 243,266) is a competitive with Saxony in 2002. This MOU was GDP Growth Rate: 3.6% (2011 est.) centre for technological innovation, due renewed in February 2010 for five Unemployment: 10.6% (2011) to its wealth of entrepreneurs and years, with an emphasis on trade and investment, science and Inflation: 2.3% (2011) proximity to 50 research and development institutes. technology, and education and Key Industry Sectors: metal culture. production, machinery, electro- The machine and automobile industries technology, fine mechanics, optics and have traditionally concentrated in ECONOMY high technology Chemnitz. The microelectronics industry has Twinning Relationships: Saxony has DID YOU KNOW? become a very important pillar of the strong partnerships with the regions of Saxon economy, employing about Lubuskie and Lower Silesia in Poland. Saxony is the most densely populated of 43,000 people in 1,500 companies. The Saxon Direktionsbezirke or districts the new federal states (excluding Berlin), Microelectronics companies such as of Dresden and Chemnitz regularly and with a population density of 233 AMD, Infineon, Siltronic and Atmel actively cooperate with the regions of inhabitants per square kilometer. have settled in the area between Karlovy Vary, Liberec, and Ústi in the Saxony has high standard of living and Dresden and Freiberg, which has Czech Republic. benefits from its central location within hence been dubbed “Silicon Saxony”. Europe, stable economy and excellent MAJOR CENTRES The area is now Europe’s largest education system. Dresden microelectronics cluster. Johann Sebastian Bach, Carl Maria von Saxony is the German federal state Dresden (pop. 530,729) is situated Weber and Felix Mendelssohn are among with the second most dynamic trend in a valley on the river Elbe, near the famous German composers who in innovation, the second highest the Czech border. worked in Leipzig. increase in expenditures for research Dresden is a hub for arts and and development, and even the leader Established in 1409, the University of culture in Saxony, with more than in growth regarding the number of Leipzig is the second oldest university in 40 museums, 50 galleries and 30 employees active in research. the world. Distinguished alumni include theatres and stages. Goethe, Wagner and Nietzsche. August 2012 | Input provided by Alberta Ministries of: Agriculture and Rural Development, Education, Energy, Enterprise and Advanced Education, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development teacher exchanges, school Since the Saxon government launched Saxony’s renewable electricity industry partnerships, and language assistant a biotechnology initiative in 2000, the has contracted since April 2010, when programs. biotechnology industry has become the German government cut solar inter-regionally significant and panel subsidies on new roof-mounted In 2004, the University of Calgary and experienced sustainable growth. The solar power by 15%. the Technical Universities in Dresden, industry has primarily developed in Chemnitz, and Freiberg, signed Dresden and Leipzig. EDUCATION AND CULTURE cooperation agreements in the field of engineering. Saxony’s economy has increased by German is an important language in Alberta schools, with classes taught 13.9 percent since 2000; thus, IMMIGRATION exhibiting the highest economic growth from the kindergarten to university of all federal states in Germany. levels. The Government of Alberta recently completed a labour supply study and In October 2011, 20 English teachers About one fifth or 320,000 Saxons are credential comparisons for engineering from Saxony visited Alberta on a study employed in the trade sector. occupations in Germany in order to tour. Areas in the service sector such as provide tangible labour market banking, insurance and hotel/catering In 2010/2011, 70 schools reported intelligence and credential information have developed successfully in the past 4,300 enrollments in German language to employers recruiting international few years. The total service sector in programming. Eight of these schools workers. Saxony employs over 70% of the offer bilingual programs. RECENT VISITS labour force. The U of A has signed agreements with the top two universities in Saxony, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY September 2012: The Minister of including the Technical University of International and Intergovernmental Saxony and the National Institute of Dresden (field of dentistry) and the Relations led a mission to Alberta’s Nanotechnology (NINT), based at the University of Leipzig to increase sister-province of Saxony. University of Alberta (U of A), are research collaboration and student June 2012: His Excellency Dr. Georg exploring ways the two regions could exchange opportunities. Witschel, Ambassador of Germany, collaborate in research areas such as The U of C has a student exchange nanolayers, nanomaterials and visited Edmonton to meet with the agreement with Technical University nanobiotechnology. Deputy Premier and the Speaker and Bergakademie Freiberg. to highlight some current initiatives Research institutes in Dresden and The U of C is one of the seven Albertan underway between Germany and NINT seek to facilitate an exchange of institutions which offer students the Alberta. researchers and students. Alberta-Saxony Internship Program May 2012: German Consul General, Cooperation is being explored between since 2010. Mr. Hermann Sitz visited Edmonton BioSaxony and the Visual Genomic and meet with the Deputy Premier to In October 2010, the U of A and the Centre at the University of Calgary. highlight some of the current University of Leipzig signed an Saxony and Alberta are working agreement to collaborate on research research initiatives underway together in areas such as sharing in obesity and metabolic disorders between German institutions and the expertise in animal testing, including (termed the Alberta-Saxony Obesity University of Alberta and to discuss BSE. Research Training Alliance or opportunities for improving research, ASORTA). One of the first initiatives technical collaboration and ENERGY undertaken by ASORTA in cooperation commercialization activities between Saxony is increasingly focused on with the Canadian Obesity Network Alberta and Germany. renewable energies, which have tripled was the International School for September 2010: Nanotechnology production in the past four years Obesity Research and Management, delegation from Alberta visited through approximately 4,800 held in Lake Louise in March 2011. Saxony to explore opportunities for collaboration. companies employing 6,000 In February 2010, Saxony and the U of employees. A signed an agreement on the Alberta- February 2010: A delegation led by the Two-thirds of Saxony’s electricity Saxony Internship Program. It is an Minister-President of Saxony visited comes from renewable sources. opportunity for Albertan students to Alberta to sign Memoranda of Saxony contributes to 70% of work in Saxony and for Saxon Understanding (MOUs) with the Germany’s bioethanol production and students to work in Alberta. It is a paid Government of Alberta and the U of A. 44% of its total wind generation. internship where students are able to September 2008: A delegation from gain practical work experience while Saxony has a large number of firms in Leduc visited Saxony to help celebrate living in each other’s regions. the solar and photovoltaic industry. Saxony Days. Out of all German states, Saxony has Alberta teachers have the opportunity April 2007: Alberta Minister of the highest number of employees to participate in a summer professional Employment, Immigration and Industry working in the production of solar development course offered by the met with Saxony officials while in components. Saxon Ministry of Education. Since Germany. 2008, 8 Albertans have joined German In 2009, 14.1% of electricity language educators from across FOREIGN REPRESENTATION consumption in Saxony came from Europe and Asia in this 2 week wind and solar power, biomass, intensive summer program. The German Ambassador to Canada is hydroelectricity and landfill gas. In February 2004, Alberta Education His Excellency Mr. Werner Wnendt. Up to 25% of renewable electricity and the Saxon Ministry of Education Canada’s Ambassador to Germany is generation in Saxony comes from signed an agreement to facilitate Mr. Peter Boehm. biomass. For more information, contact: Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations Phone: 780-427-6543 Fax: 780-427-0699 albertacanada.com international.alberta.ca .