EU innovation award for the Saarland

With innovative funding programs and a growing start-up scene, Saarland is becoming a new magnet for founders. Now it has received the EU's "Regional Innovation Valley" award.

Kirkel-Limbach, 2024 - Saarland has developed from a "hidden champion" to a recognized innovation location. The EU Commission awarded Saarland the "Regional Innovation Valley" label in June 2024. This award highlights the potential of Germany's smallest federal state and promotes its visibility. A prominent example of this development is the service provider anyhelpnow, founded by Sascha Schick.

Research landscapes and modern industry

Saarland has renowned research institutes and modern industry. This development has made the federal state an important player in the German economy. The proximity to France has a positive influence on both the culture and the economy of the Saarland. French language skills and cross-border commuting characterize everyday life and promote a cosmopolitan mentality.

Promotion of start-ups

David Lindemann, State Secretary of the Saarland State Chancellery, emphasizes the importance of the proximity to the border for the openness and innovative capacity of the federal state. Saarland's Minister of Economic Affairs, Jürgen Barke, sees the exchange of ideas as the basis for economic success. He emphasizes that local start-ups make a decisive contribution to economic growth.

Small ecosystems with big advantages

The smaller size of Saarland offers advantages for start-ups. Short distances facilitate exchange and contact with politicians. State funding programs actively support start-ups. Despite the pandemic, Saarland recorded a 7.4% increase in start-ups. This success is also reflected in the 458 start-ups in the first quarter of 2024.

Networking and support

Bernd Pohl, state spokesperson for the Startup Association, founded the Halle 4 co-working space in Saarbrücken. It promotes the exchange and networking of founders. Pohl emphasizes the need to increase the visibility of Saarland and criticizes the bureaucracy in Germany. Nevertheless, he sees the smaller size of the federal state as an advantage in overcoming bureaucracy more quickly.

Expansion into the D-A-CH region

Sascha Schick, founder of anyhelpnow, emphasizes the advantages of Saarland for start-ups. The familiar atmosphere and the strong network convinced him to found his online platform for service referrals in Saarland. With funding programs identical to those in Berlin, a growing number of founders and a strong startup infrastructure, Saarland is an attractive location for entrepreneurs