Economic Strategy Chemnitz 2030

Impressionen Chemnitz
Picture: Dirk Hanus, Ernesto Uhlmann, Jacob Müller

The Chemnitz 2030 economic strategy positions the city as a modern, internationally competitive and sustainable business location. Chemnitz is to become even more visible as a dynamic and innovative location for industry and research, SMEs and skilled trades and as a springboard for future technologies.

The strategy focusses on the expansion of industrial value creation and identifies important fields of action in which the city will bundle its strengths in the future. It creates interfaces to trade, services and the healthcare industry in order to provide impetus to these sectors as well.

 

VISION

The participation and networking of all stakeholders is a top priority in order to jointly tackle the economic challenges of the coming decades, such as climate-neutral energy production, sustainable industrial production, green mobility and digital transformation. Chemnitz's economic strategy sees this scenario, which is characterised by change, as an opportunity for new growth. It relies on its potential as a regional economic powerhouse to develop technological leadership and products for the global markets by focusing on the three strategic fields of action (mobility, digitalisation, energy) and to generate new growth from this.

As a service provider, the administration plays a mediating role and supports the strategy's mission. The cooperation of all stakeholders will further increase the attractiveness of Chemnitz and make it more attractive for new companies, start-ups, investors and employees.
and employees.

MISSION

With its economic power, Chemnitz is regarded as the locomotive of the West Saxon region and, together with the companies and research centres located there, forms the Chemnitz economic region.

Due to its industrial history and current structure, the Chemnitz economic region is a driver of the technological transformation in mobility and energy in international competition. The transformation process is also reflected in the topics of securing skilled labour and education. The upcoming challenges are being tackled through the targeted networking of education providers, business and the skilled trades as well as proactive communication with the target groups.

Change in the economy and society has become enormously more complex and dynamic. As a framework for its actions, the City of Chemnitz focuses on simplifying complexity, decisiveness, speed of implementation and permanent optimisation of solutions.

Together with all stakeholders, the business division develops concrete measures to accompany the economic strategy and invites stakeholders in the economic region to actively contribute to the future industrial story. The measures are communicated transparently and coordinated with the stakeholders.

 

FIELDS OF ACTION

The three strategic fields of action - mobility, digitalisation and energy - are intended to bundle the resources of the Chemnitz economic region in future and open up new paths and opportunities for its stakeholders through stronger networking and concentrated support.

The fields of action are based on the described foundation of industry and trade. They involve the local companies and attract them to participate in the Chemnitz ecosystem with their own goals and projects.

The three strategic fields of action of mobility, digitalisation and energy are intended to bundle the resources of the Chemnitz economic region in future and open up new paths and opportunities for its players through stronger networking and concentrated promotion.

Measures of the economic strategy

The economic strategy is accompanied by the development of specific measures in the individual subject areas.

Current measures

  • Education round table:
    The event is a format organised by the Lord Mayor to define goals and measures and to interlink educational institutions with the business community in order to develop joint activities.
  • Establishment of a Welcome Centre:
    A Welcome Centre in digital and physical form is being created in Chemnitz. It brings together all stakeholders and measures to offer new skilled workers the best possible support in finding accommodation and employers or providing daycare places and to be the first point of contact for carrying out important formalities. The centre is scheduled to open by the end of the second quarter of 2024.
  • Expansion of teacher training in Chemnitz and promotion of measures to combat teacher shortages:
    The city of Chemnitz is supporting Chemnitz University of Technology in the introduction of the "Primary Plus" degree programme. Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow and Minister of Education Christian Piwarz of the Free State of Saxony and Prof. Dr Maximilian Eibl, Vice-Rector for Teaching and International Affairs at Chemnitz University of Technology, signed a key issues paper on 11 September 2023 to strengthen teacher training at Chemnitz University of Technology.
  • Interlinking school and business:
    The "Business meets school" project was successfully launched at the start of the 2023/2024 school year. In the interests of securing skilled labour at an early stage, reductions in the timetables at secondary schools and grammar schools are to be offset by offers from business and science. Companies and universities compensate for the loss of lessons and inform pupils about various topics from the world of work and technology development by providing practical content. The project is to be further expanded through the extension of schools and companies as well as the development of a digital portal.
  • Strengthen cooperation between all city stakeholders to promote targeted immigration:
    Joint initiatives to promote the influx of international skilled labour are being developed by the City of Chemnitz, Industrieverein Sachsen 1828 e.V., educational institutions and chambers.
  • Chemnitz Skilled Labour Alliance:
    The management of the skilled labour alliance has been restructured and further developed. The City of Chemnitz now acts as the managing member of the Chemnitz Regional Skilled Labour Alliance. Innovative projects to improve the skilled labour potential in Chemnitz are promoted here. The business division is available for questions relating to the initiation of new project ideas, the preparation of project applications and advice on key topics.
  • "Long Night of Training":
    Together with the Industrieverein Sachsen 1828 e.V., the "Long Night of Apprenticeships" will take the form of guided tours through all participating companies and introduce young people to potential training companies. The city of Chemnitz supports the project.
  • Skilled labour exchanges:
    The "ChemnitzCity" initiative and the business division are continuing the successful "Chemnitz Christmas Market Extension - Coming Home Skilled Labour Exchange" project from 2023 and expanding it to include a skilled labour exchange at the Chemnitz Wine Festival. In 2024, companies will be able to present themselves as attractive employers with their job offers at both the wine festival and the extended Christmas market and engage in dialogue with interested parties in a relaxed atmosphere.
  • Establishment of the hands-on exhibition "Alles Holz":
    The City of Chemnitz is actively supporting the establishment of the hands-on exhibition "Alles Holz" in a former Chemnitz industrial quarter with the involvement of other Chemnitz institutions and companies. The aim is to raise awareness among children in grades 1 to 6 for the sustainable use of wood as a resource, as well as to revitalise an industrial district and create an additional leisure offer for simultaneous career guidance.
  • Hydrogen Campus:
    The creation of an innovative campus is being planned which, in addition to the Hydrogen Innovation Centre (HIC), will offer plenty of space for technology companies related to hydrogen to settle. Together with the Altchemnitz area, the campus will form the new Techno-City in the centre of the city.
  • Connection to the central hydrogen network:
    The Business division pools the interests of the Chemnitz economic region when it comes to hydrogen. To this end, the Chemnitz Region Hydrogen Alliance was established on 22 January 2024. This represents the common interest of the member companies in connecting the region to the hydrogen core network. The aim is to make the region's needs clear at a national level and to achieve improvements to the currently known plans for the hydrogen core network.
  • Hydrogen campus energy concept:
    A holistic energy concept for the sustainable use of forward-looking forms of energy and shared facilities is being drawn up for the hydrogen campus. The City of Chemnitz is coordinating this together with HZwo e.V., eins energie in Sachsen and the Kraftverkehr congress centre.
  • Support and active management of the Just Transition Fund (JTF):
    The JTF is a funding programme to support regions in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The Business division is actively involved in the JTF subcommittee, supports funding applications and acts as an interface to the JTF specialist unit. The process is monitored with the aim of monitoring the use of all possible funding for the city of Chemnitz and supporting communication with the companies and institutions eligible to apply. To this end, regular coordination takes place with all city agencies such as eins energie, Chemnitz University of Technology, the City Planning and Environment Office and the Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
  • Development of a funding network:
    The City of Chemnitz actively participates in events and co-operates with funding bodies, chambers and institutions. It accompanies and supports local companies with funding issues.
  • GRW RIGA funding:
    The aim of this funding is to compensate for locational disadvantages, increase growth and prosperity and accelerate transformation processes towards a climate-neutral and sustainable economy. The Business division advises on the funding content.
  • Promotion of small companies (KU promotion):
    Funding content includes measures to improve incentives for starting up, maintaining and continuing small and micro-enterprises in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Investment measures such as planning and construction costs as well as remuneration for agents or material costs (equipment) are eligible for funding. The business division advises on the funding content.
  • Active marketing of private and commercial sites and properties:
    Existing sites and brownfield sites are activated through close contact with owners and investors. All potential sites are continuously digitised in a database. All private and municipal commercial sites are continuously digitised in a database. This ensures that companies and property owners willing to relocate can be found quickly.
  • Development of the Altchemnitz neighbourhood:
    There is continuous cooperation between the city, area management and owners to reorganise the Altchemnitz area and to acquire companies willing to settle there. A pedestrian and cycle bridge to Altchemnitz is to be built to bridge the gap to the hydrogen campus and Chemnitz University of Technology.
  • Zwickauer Straße redevelopment area:
    An active exchange has begun with the owners to support the necessary redevelopment measures as well as development of vacant areas in close cooperation with the city planning office. Development of focus areas such as the Wanderer Werke.
  • Revitalisation of the Wanderer Werke site:
    Through a targeted location policy, the area is to become a centre of attraction in Chemnitz West with a mix of industry, technology companies, agencies and gastronomy and contribute to bringing the historic Zwickauer Strasse area into the modern age. By actively approaching the various owners, the Business division is examining and developing scenarios as to how and under what circumstances the site can be revitalised.
  • Creative axis:
    The active involvement of local stakeholders in the development of the "Creative Axis Chemnitz" and the financial support of their own initiative as well as vacant commercial units to interested parties for new ideas, exciting concepts and revitalising initiatives is promoted.
  • Regional co-operation:
    The economic region of Chemnitz is further strengthened through networking with the regional economic development organisations in Central Saxony, the Erzgebirge, Zwickauer Land and Vogtland. Joint projects are being worked on (e.g. Capital of Culture, hydrogen region, mobility). The regional convention will also be organised in 2024 under the patronage of Chemnitz City Council.
  • Improving the quality of life in Chemnitz city centre:
    Greenery, furniture, additional lighting and the installation of play equipment will further increase the attractiveness of the city centre.
  • Networking:
    The city centre experts are supported, e.g. through regular gastronomy and retailer get-togethers to decide on the next measures to be implemented to strengthen the city centre or on administrative issues such as outdoor seating or market permits.
  • Chemnitz City:
    The "ChemnitzCity" initiative also recruits new members from industrial and craft businesses outside the city centre; it networks with industry and craft businesses through joint event formats, collaborations and sponsorship offers for regional companies.
  • Cleanliness and safety in Chemnitz city centre:
    As an interface to companies, the business division takes part in the regular safety conferences. One result of the consultations is the implementation of a new unit of the Chemnitz police, the so-called operational task force (OEG). Since November 2023, an additional 14 police officers have been patrolling the city centre.
  • Participation in the "Ab in die Mitte" competition:
    The Business division takes part in the annual city centre competition "Ab in die Mitte - Die City-Offensive Sachsen". In 2023, the project entry "Chemnitz Festival of Lights 'Light our Vision' - Chemnitz shows itself in a new light" won over the jury. The project received prize money of 20,000 euros for coming 3rd in the competition.
  • Framework plan for the city centre:
    Based on the objectives of the INSEK, the framework plan develops a guideline for the development of Chemnitz city centre. By spring 2024, future scenarios will have been developed which, following discussion and evaluation, will result in a guiding vision for the city centre. Based on this, specific projects and urban development measures will be derived by the end of 2024. The creation of the framework plan will be coordinated by the urban planning office together with the business division and will be developed in a dialogue-oriented process with the specialist departments of the administration, the urban community and key players such as owners, cultural workers, tradespeople and stakeholders.
  • Establishing economic contacts with partner cities:
    International business contacts with the partner cities enable cooperative relationships between companies there and the Chemnitz economy. In 2024, a business trip to Manchester is planned to establish contacts between Chemnitz companies and institutions from Manchester. There are also other formats such as America Day, a business breakfast with French stakeholders and other joint formats with the Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
  • Business communication:
    Target group-orientated communication via the monthly business newsletter,LinkedIN and topic-related publications on Chemnitz as a business location has been established and will be continued. In 2023, a new edition of the neighbourhood brochure, a new image brochure and an economic strategy map were produced. Publications were also made in the magazine "Chemnitz Inside", in the business magazine "Wirtschaftsmagazin Sachsen" and in the decision-maker magazine of the Sächsische Zeitung "Wirtschaft in Sachsen". The first business-related image film will be released in spring 2024
  • Participation in important business and investor trade fairs:
    Chemnitz presents itself at trade fairs such as EXPO REAL, INTEC, Real Estate Mitteldeutschland, skilled labour fairs, etc. in order to establish contact with important investors and decision-makers and to sharpen Chemnitz's image as a sustainable, growing industrial and technology city.
  • Business service:
    Companies are actively supported on site with the aim of providing local companies with quick and unbureaucratic support for important administrative enquiries, expansion and relocation projects, the search for space or the search for suitable funding programmes. Frequently asked questions from companies should lead to process adjustments within the city administration, with the aim of being perceived as a business-friendly administration.
  • Chemnitz Public Procurement Conference:
    The Chemnitz Public Procurement Conference serves to present municipal construction projects to regional companies. It creates transparency in tendering procedures. Companies have the opportunity to get in touch with the awarding office and important departments and ask questions about upcoming construction projects or the general conditions of the tenders.
  • Business round tables:
    The business division organises various topic-related business round tables to discuss existing problems and for mutual networking, such as start-up and specialist topics.
  • Interlinking business and Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 GmbH:
    The business division promotes the active involvement of companies and associations in the preparations for the European Capital of Culture 2025, including the joint initiation of projects and the integration of regional products and services. To this end, a business jour fixe was initiated with associations and chambers.
  • Cooperation with Chemnitz University of Technology:
    The city administration of Chemnitz, in particular the business division, actively cooperates with Chemnitz University of Technology on issues of location marketing and joint projects such as increasing the attractiveness of the city of Chemnitz for new students.
  • Increasing the attractiveness of Chemnitz as a congress location:
    Close cooperation between CWE, C3 and the business division to re-set up a congress office in the city and define the necessary processes.
  • Introduction of a reusable cup system:
    Support and mediation in the implementation of a standardised reusable cup system for the city centre (ChemnitzCity) and for the entire city area.
  • Tech Festival 2025 concept:
    A "Tech Festival" is being conceptualised together with stakeholders from the business community. The European "TECH FESTIVAL 2025" in Chemnitz is a unique showcase for regional industry and innovative services, presenting the latest technologies, innovations and future trends. The festival aims to establish itself as a regular, pioneering event in the region. Chemnitz and the region should become fans and find perspectives for their own future.
    The festival aims to present Chemnitz as a liveable, high-tech region with a long tradition of innovation, to draw international attention to the Chemnitz economic region and to attract skilled workers to the region.
  • Networking and strengthening the Chemnitz start-up universe:
    The presence in the Chemnitz start-up cosmos brings direct proximity to founders. The close cooperation and active exchange with the network partners TCC, SAXEED and futureSAX ensure information on current spin-off activities and the needs of start-ups in the city.
  • Development of a hydrogen accelerator programme:
    Building a strong network of institutions and companies around the topic of hydrogen is essential for the Chemnitz hydrogen region as a unique selling point. The cooperation with TCC, blackpoint GmbH, HZwo e. V. and TU Chemnitz ensures direct support for start-ups in the field of hydrogen and a connection to the city of Chemnitz.
  • Autonomous driving project group:
    A project group consisting of the administration, CVAG, TU Chemnitz and the private sector has been initiated to establish an additional public transport service in the area of autonomous vehicles in the future.
  • Digital mobility services (public transport, taxi, DL):
    Digital and supra-regional mobility offers in commercially available apps for business travellers and tourists are being pushed.

Completed measures

  • Diversity of the educational landscape:
    The IU International University was successfully established in the Wirkbau building in May 2023. From October 2023, it will offer a dual study programme in Chemnitz for an initial five degree courses.
  • Reorganisation of the school-business working group:
    A decision-making body has been created that constantly and regularly decides on and implements specific measures or supports their implementation.
  • Extension of the 2023 Christmas market:
    In conjunction with a skilled labour exchange, the opportunity was created for Chemnitz residents and visitors to experience a Christmas market stroll between the holidays. The Christmas market was continued in the Erzgebirgsdorf and at the same time a targeted offer for returnees was created with a skilled labour exchange. Companies were able to position themselves as attractive employers and recruit skilled workers and labour.
  • Development of the Chemnitz 2030 economic strategy:
    Since December 2022, the strategy has provided guidelines and fields of action for work as well as a vision for the year 2030. The aim is to develop the city of Chemnitz into a sustainably growing industrial and technology city with an influx of national and international skilled workers.
  • Establishing economic contacts with partner cities:
    International business contacts with the partner cities enable cooperative relationships between companies there and the Chemnitz economy. Two German-Israeli SME Days were held in 2022/23. Further business contacts were also established during a business trip to Kiryat Bialyk in Israel.