Partner region Saxony-Czech Republic-Polan
Saxony is located in the middle of Europe and borders as a dynamic location directly on the Czech Republic as well as on the Republic of Poland. Both neighbouring countries are important partners for the Free State of Saxony in business and science.
Size:18.449km²
Population: 4.08 million (2017)
Gross domestic product: 121.7 billion euros (2017)
Most important economic sectors: Automotive industry, Mechanical and plant engineering, Microelectronics / ICT, Environmental / energy technology, Life sciences, Railway and aerospace technology, Logistics, Software
Science: Research and development are a central topic for Saxony. The Free State of Saxony is one of the innovation leader regions in Europe. The area around the state capital Dresden is one of the top regions in Europe in terms of research and development intensity. Seen nationwide, Saxony also has an above-average density of universities and can boast an University of Excellence in the form of the Technische Universität Dresden, DRESDEN-Concept, an association of the TU Dresden with partners from science and culture, is intended to make the excellence of Dresden's research visible.
Size: 78.866 km²
Population: 10,57 Mio. (2016)
Gross domestic product: 213.19 billion euros (2017)
Most important economic sectors: Industry (especially mechanical engineering, motor vehicles), trade, repairs, transport, storage, hotels and restaurants, real estate
Science: Similar to Germany, science has a long tradition in the Czech Republic. Prague's Charles University is one of the oldest universities north of the Alps. Between 2007 and 2014, the Czech research structure was also expanded, with eight centres of excellence (laser physics, mainframe computers, information technology, health, biotechnology, biomedicine, mechanics and environment) and 40 regional research centres being established or expanded. Furthermore, the National Policy for Research, Development and Innovation (NP VaVaI) was adopted in February 2016 for the years up to 2020. The largest non-university research institution in the Czech Republic is the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Academy věd České republiky).
Size: 312,679 km² Population: 38.427 million (2016)
Gross domestic product: 524.9 billion euros (2017)
Most important economic sectors: Trade, construction industry, transport, logistics, food industry, energy sector, mining and metallurgy, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering/electronics, vehicle construction, textile and clothing industry
Science: Poland is also an important science location. In a national action programme running until 2015, special research priorities were identified. These included the fields of health & environment, agriculture, state & society, new materials & technologies, information technology, energy and energy sources as well as transport infrastructure. In addition to state and private universities, non-university institutions such as the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), the National Centre for Science (NCN), the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) and the 157 Centres of Excellence and Centres of Competence are of great importance.