Germany’s most innovative state in facts and figures

Baden-Württemberg is the third largest state in Germany. It is known for the creativity of its people, for the groundbreaking innovations that have originated here, for the beautiful landscape and its great academic institutions. Baden-Württemberg is home to global players like Bosch, Daimler, Porsche and SAP. It is also known for start-ups and small and medium businesses that are working on technologies of the future.

The state in Germany’s southwest is one of the world’s most innovative and successful regions. In the 2020 European Innovation Index, Baden-Württemberg again ranked number one as the most innovative region in the EU.
It is the ideal place for students and researchers starting or continuing their academic career. But don’t just take our word for it. Here are some numbers and facts that will impress you.

  • 9 research universities
  • 23 universities of applied sciences
  • 11 universities of music and arts
  • 6 universities of education
  • 1 cooperative state university with 9 locations and three campuses
  • 11 million inhabitants

“How international are the universities?”, you might ask. Very!

And that was just a start. There’s more.

  • More than 100 non-university research institutions in Baden-Württemberg
  • Among them 13 Max-Planck and more than 17 Fraunhofer Institutes
  • Most patents in Germany originate in Baden-Württemberg
  • 5.8 percent of the gross domestic product went into research and development in 2019

High quality universities and research institutes:

  • 4 of the top 10 universities in Germany are based in Baden-Württemberg
  • 12 Clusters of Excellence
  • 4 universities have been awarded the title “excellence universities” and receive special funding for world-class research: Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Konstanz und Tübingen

Excellent employment opportunities:

  • low unemployment rate
  • highest salaries in Germany
  • high density of global players: SAP, Porsche, Daimler, Bosch
  • strong networks connecting universities and businesses
  • applied research projects and internship opportunities
  • innovative small and mid-sized companies and “hidden champions”
  • opportunities for post-docs and researchers
  • opportunities and well-defined paths to professorships

Engineering is valued highly:

  • Baden-Württemberg is the birthplace of the automobile
  • one quarter of industrial revenue is generated by the automotive industry and its suppliers
  • mechanical and plant engineering also plays a big role
  • other important engineering branches in Baden-Württemberg: metal, chemical, electrical, pharmaceutical, and optical industries

 

Commitment to future technologies:

  • the future of mobility
  • digital future
  • the future of environment
  • the future of health
  • the future of industry
  • the future of society and economy

High quality of living

  • Black Forest, Lake Constance, Swabian Alps
  • shared borders with Switzerland, Austria and France
  • charming towns and bustling cities
  • the highest mountain, the Feldberg, is 1493 meters above sea level
  • 450 km of mountain bike trails
  • forests cover 40% of Baden-Württemberg
  • hiking trails and routes
  • music, museums, theater, and festivals
  • restaurants and vibrant night life