Baden – Württemberg

Presentation of the Region

In Baden-Württemberg, industry, and innovation are two sides of the same coin. Over 30 percent of the state’s value creation is generated by industry. And Baden-Württemberg is one of the most innovative regions in Europe with an R&D intensity of 5.8 percent. The private sector is responsible for 80 percent of R&D expenditure. Our industrial structure is a mixture of global players and a solid middle class, which are well-connected. Many SMEs are Hidden Champions in their international markets. A core element of our policy for industrial renewal is a further fortification of our excellent R&D infrastructure. In order to prepare the industrial location Baden-Württemberg for future challenges, an industry dialogue has developed a visionary concept for the industry in the year 2025. Ensuring Baden-Württemberg’s international industrial competitiveness is at the forefront of this concept. Our industry will continue to contribute by developing innovative products and services to overcome social challenges, e.g. energy supply, health, and mobility in future years. Digitising the industry (Industry 4.0) and the economy as a whole (Economy 4.0) will have a key role in this. Another priority for Baden-Württemberg is the transfer of technology from science to business.

RIS3 Priorities

The RIS-Group Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Human Machine Interface (HMI), which was set up by the regions of Lombardy, Baden-Württemberg, Navarre, North Brabant, and Örebro in Autumn 2018, has set itself the goal to promote the implementation of AI-based technologies for the improvement of mechatronics, robotics, and human-machine interaction and to accelerate the innovation processes of companies, including SMEs.

Innovation strength is a critical factor for the competitiveness of the state. Our innovative strength helps us make an important contribution to tackling the challenges our society faces. Therefore, further strengthening Baden-Württemberg’s innovative capacity lies at the core of the intelligent specialisation of the state. Baden-Württemberg has established an Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) competition that has rewarded the best proposals for a smart specialisation strategy. This competition has encouraged and benefited from stimulating the integrated thinking of all the stakeholders involved in the competition.

For over 30 years, The Four Motors for Europe have shaped its interregional strategy with a view to consolidating the economic, scientific, and technological competitiveness of the four regions involved. Baden-Württemberg is also an essential player in the macroregional EU Strategies for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and the Alpine Space (EUSALP).