Brandenburg (Germany)

Brandenburg

The Berlin-Brandenburg region lies strategically at the heart of Europe, allowing accessibility into the western European market as well as the emergent markets of central and Eastern Europe. Each of Europe’s major markets can be reached by car or truck in less than one day. The political transformation of Europe since 1989 has re-established the strategic importance of Berlin and Brandenburg on the Continent. At 22^nd July 1990 the freely voted Volkskammer (parliament of the GDR) decided to reintroduce the federal states. At 3^rd October the federal state of Brandenburg was founded. Potsdam became the capital of the federal state. The new constitution of the federal state was confirmed at 14^th June 1992.
People from 182 different nations call Berlin-Brandenburg their home and enrich the region’s cultural and creative landscape.

Facts about Brandenburg

Population in millions:
Berlin: 3,4
Brandenburg: 2,6

Area (in km²):

Berlin: 889
Brandenburg: 29476

Education & Research:
7 universities
21 colleges of higher education
176,000 students
>250 research institutes
23 technology centers

Government

Since the district reform in 1993 the federal state Brandenburg has been subdivided into 14 administrative districts and 4 district free towns.

Head of the Federal State of Brandenburg is Minister-President Matthias Platzeck (since 27th June 2002)

Governing parties: coalition of SPD and CDU

Seating in the Landtag (parliament of Brandenburg): SPD - 33, PDS - 29, CDU - 20, DVU - 6

Economy

Once a symbol of Cold War division, Berlin now stands at the very meeting-point of East and West. The capital region lies on its east-west axis between Paris and Moscow and on its north-south axis between Stockholm and Rome. Approximately one-third of the 50 largest companies in the world operate in Berlin-Brandenburg, including Sony, Siemens, IBM, eBay, Universal, Vodafone and MTV. These major firms take advantage of the expertise, experience and language skills available in the region. They also profit from the over 200 institutions active in the promotion of East-West cooperation.

Main Industries:
Main sectors in the land of Brandenburg are Media, Communication and Information Technologies, Life Sciences, Aerospace, Microtechnologies and Enabling Technologies, Energy and Environment, Logistics and Services, Automotive and Chemical industries.

Health System

Physicians and Hospitals

	Physicians ¹	Dentists¹	Hospitals	Set-up beds
Brandenburg	7.571	1.834	49	15.664
Berlin	17.936	3.771	69	20.991
Deutschland	304.117	64.609	2.197	541.901

¹ Federal Statistical Office and the statistical Offices of the Länder (31 December 2003)

For further information about the German Health System download Brandenburg migrants health guide at the bottom of the page.

Brandenburg Economic Development Board ZAB

The Brandenburg Economic Development Board ZAB is the State of Brandenburg’s central coordinating body for economic and foreign trade promotion as well as for technology and innovation consulting. The board enjoys productive partnerships with the State Investment Bank of Brandenburg (ILB) and BC Brandenburg Capital GmbH. As a convenient one-stop agency, ZAB offers companies, investors and start-ups a series of comprehensive services:

- Consultation and advice on all questions concerning locating in Brandenburg
- Promotion of innovation and technology
- Advice on subsidies and the processing of funding applications
- Start-up consulting
- Participation in regional, national and international trade fairs
- Participation in international innovation projects
- Technology transfer between science and business

Useful Contacts

Stephan Worch
Director Media/ICT
ZAB- Brandenburg Economic Development Board
stephan.worch@zab-brandenburg.de
Steinstraße 104- 106
Potsdam
Germany
14480
Tel: +49 (0)331 660 3109
Fax: +49 (0)331 660 3144

Supporting Documents and Downloads

Brandenburg migrants health guide [pdf] (468 KB)

Life Sciences Industry in Germany's capital area [pdf] (1.05 MB)