This year, Baden-Württemberg International will be presenting Baden-Württemberg as a location for industry and science on two large shared stands at the Hanover trade fair. Forty-one companies, five industry promotion agencies and fourteen research institutes will be demonstrating the state's economic strength and research potential in the Subcontracting hall (Hall 4, Stand E24) and the Research & Technology hall (Hall 2, Stand C21).

Baden-Württemberg – A leading location for automotive-component suppliers right in the heart of Europe

Baden-Württemberg is the centre of the German automotive industry and is therefore a leading location for automotive-component suppliers as well as for vehicle, machine and plant construction. Last year in Baden-Württemberg, it was one of the most successful branches of industry and, in Germany as a whole, is right at the top of the rankings. More than 1000 parts suppliers are located in the state and enjoy an excellent reputation in the industry alongside such well-known companies as Bosch, ZF Friedrichshafen and Behr.

Both manufacturers and suppliers benefit from one of the highest industrial densities in the world: more than 3300 factories from all segments of industry show that the close collaboration with the manufacturers as suppliers, customers, cooperation partners and development partners is a characteristic and important success factor of the automotive-component suppliers in Baden-Württemberg.

At Subcontracting 2008, the leading international trade fair for suppliers of materials, components and systems for vehicle, machine and plant construction, Baden-Württemberg International will be presenting 45 innovative companies and organisations in Hall 4, Stand E24. The companies will represent Baden-Württemberg as a location for automotive-component suppliers and will be showing their products and services to a specialist international public. The experts from Baden-Württemberg International will be providing advice on promotion programs, financing and investor services and will describe what development potential Baden-Württemberg has to offer.

A highlight on the stand will be the state reception given by Minister President Günther H. Oettinger for all Baden-Württemberg companies at 1.30 p.m. on Monday on the 21st of April, 2008. Another highlight will be the presentation of Baden-Württemberg as a location for industry by Richard Drautz, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics. This will take place at 12.15 p.m. on Tuesday, 22.04.2008.

Close interaction of science and industry is the special strength of the location

The intensive collaboration between industry and science in Baden-Württemberg is an important success factor for the outstanding reputation of Baden-Württemberg as an excellent location for industry and research. A high industrial density as well as a strong science network consisting of institutes of higher education and research institutes that operate independently of universities – four of the nine top-level universities are in Baden-Württemberg – make the south-west an attractive location where innovation is a central strength.

In the Research & Technology section in Hall 2, bw-i will be presenting highlights from research and development. One example is the Learning Factory for Advanced Industrial Engineering of the Institute of Industrial Manufacturing and Management (IFF) at the Universität Stuttgart. It can re-organise the entire production process within a matter of minutes and thus sets the standard for the ability to change in the industrial area. Another example is a submarine created by the Universität Ulm, which can be used to explore underwater caves, inspect marine pipelines or monitor and inspect rivers and harbours. The Institut für Angewandte Forschung (= institute for applied research) of the University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten will be demonstrating its mobile intelligent robots and while the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg will be presenting its "Schluckspecht". The name refers to a low-energy vehicle which was built by students and won several prizes in the Shell Eco Competition. The built-in fuel cell enables the vehicle to travel more than 2600 kilometres on just one litre of petrol.

Comprehensive service from Baden-Württemberg International

Baden-Württemberg International offers a wide range of expertise under one roof. As one of the most successful agencies for the promotion of industry in Germany, bw-i ensures that Baden-Württemberg is optimally profiled and marketed as a location for industry and science. In addition, the agency for the promotion of industry is the central point of contact for domestic and foreign companies, research institutes and universities as well as for regions and communities. A comprehensive service in the area of know-how transfer, the mediation of potential business partners as well as numerous innovation networks provides wide-ranging support to investors, companies and research institutes in Germany and abroad.

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