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Saale-Elster Talbrücke | Saale-Elster Viaduct in Germany Saale-Elster Talbrücke | Saale-Elster Viaduct in Germany | © Luca Abbiento

Structural Change in Germany

Since the start of 2020, Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), the economic development agency of the Federal Republic of Germany, has expanded its range of economic development activities.

German Regions undergoing Structural Change

As well as export promotion, investor consulting and location marketing, a major focal point of GTAI activity has been the promotion of the new federal states including Berlin. This has now been extended to include those regions undergoing structural change as well as those areas affected by the coal phase-out planned across Germany.

GTAI-Germany-Green-Powerbank-Taskforce-Transformation-Header Germany’s Green Power Bank | © GTAI

Taskforce Transformation

The Transformation Taskforce works on behalf of the German government to attract investors to and internationalize the eastern German refinery sites and port regions as well as securing the future of the PCK Schwedt refinery.

Garzweiler surface mine with wind turbines in background, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Garzweiler surface mine with wind turbines in background, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | © GettyImages/Westend61/Frank Röder

Energy-Producing Regions of the Future

Germany intends to phase out coal by 2038 in order to achieve its goal of carbon-neutral energy production. This is providing a historical opportunity to transform traditional coal-producing regions into the energy-producing regions of the future.

News from Eastern Germany and Regions of Structural Change

  1. Jan 24, 2025 Structural Change
    News from the Regions in Structural Change | January 2025
  2. Oct 02, 2024 Structural Change
    News from the Regions in Structural Change
More

Events & Event-Reviews

  1. Feb 07, 2025 Event United States of America Structural Change
    Boston-German Additive Manufacturing Networking
  2. Sep 23, 2024 - Dec 16, 2024 Event Structural Change
    Investor Events
More

Structural Change in Germany

Support is provided in the form of activities including investor events, delegation trips abroad and marketing measures for selected clusters and networks.

Structural change has many faces. In Germany, the causes lie in particular in the upheavals caused by German reunification 30 years ago, the disappearance of “old” industries such as coal and steel, digitalization, the energy transition, and climate change.  All of these developments represent significant challenges for the affected regions, but simultaneously represent real opportunities for companies – from Germany and abroad – to help shape the transformation through the delivery of innovative solutions to exploit the local potential. What these regions have is a comparatively good availability of large industrial sites and workforce, opportunities for cooperation with research institutions and universities, and attractive incentives programs.

GRW Incentive Map Germany

Those regions that receive particular support from GTAI in their internationalization activities correspond with the GRW (“Joint Task for Improving Regional Economic Structures”) incentives map, and are highlighted blue in the map below. Germany Trade & Invest will pleased to advise you on the business opportunities and incentives funding available in those regions most affected by structural change.

 

GRW Förderkarte GRW Förderkarte | © Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie

 

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© 2025 Germany Trade & Invest

Promoted by Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in accordance with a German Parliament resolution.

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