In the 20 years that have passed since German reunification, Brandenburg developed different instruments and incentive programs to support innovation, technology transfer and business formation. Based on the high density of universities, colleges and R&D organisations in combination with succesful economic programs, a large potential of innovative enterprises, start-ups and spin-offs has been developed.
In 2005 the government of the State of Brandenburg declared economic growth for the creation of more jobs its top priority. Therefore, the Ministry of Economics of the State of Brandenburg has steadily realigned its business support programme – in line with the new economic principle of “strengthening strengths”. In order to strenghten and ensure the competitive position of enterprises in Brandenburg, a revised innovation policy was introduced in 2005/06.
The underlying Innovation Strategy Brandenburg 2006 (Landesinnovationskonzept 2006) demonstrated a new approach of economic development promotion. The launch of the revised strategy provided an extra boost to the systematic support to innovative processes and developments in the State of Brandenburg.
It comprised special efforts to promote 16 fields of branch competence with specific industrial expertise and with above-average growth potential. Within branch competence fields, professional network management, technology transfer offices as well as support of start-ups and entrepreneural activities got implemented. Furthermore, a spatial concentration of business activity in 15 regional growth poles and special programmes supporting growth and innovation activity in Brandenburg’s small and medium sized enterprises have been designated.
In addition, a main strategic focus was put on the development of a joint innovation policy for the metropolitan area Berlin-Brandenburg, in order to create the common Innovative Capital Region Berlin-Brandenburg. This process led to a close and ongoing cooperation between different stakeholders forming the innovation policy of the region.
It is expected that Berlin and Brandenburg will pass a joint innovation strategy at the end of 2010, providing the strategic framework for a common and inter-co-ordinated innovation policy in the German Capital Region.