Side by side with the economy

For Dr. Sascha Meßmer and his team, the focus is always on service. Regardless of whether companies are looking for new locations, need advice on topics such as marketing or recruiting skilled workers or want to acquire funding for new projects, the Economic Development Agency is the number one point of contact. It therefore comes as no surprise that the Böblingen district regularly ranks among the top business locations in studies. And we want to keep it that way in the future. This is why the business development agency has been working to promote the interests of companies in the district since 1994, optimizing location conditions, acting as a competent point of contact for local authorities, companies and investors and initiating projects to promote innovation. Through this commitment, Meßmer and his team create new jobs in the region.

The areas of responsibility have also expanded, for example to include European affairs, funding and digitalization, all of which were added between 2016 and 2021. In 2022, the office of the special-purpose association for broadband expansion was also relocated to the business development department. It is also responsible for the areas of art, culture and tourism.

To ensure the high quality of advice and support, the employees of the district administration office are guided by 14 service promises. One of these is speed. If companies receive an answer to their inquiries within 38 hours or an appointment with the business development department within just five days, this is due to these service promises. To ensure that the promises are followed up with action, the district office has itself independently certified. The TÜV monitors compliance with the defined service promises and has awarded the district the seal of approval. Here you can indicate how satisfied you are with the service provided by the district as an SME-friendly local authority. It is therefore not surprising that companies in the district give the economic development agency good marks. In a survey in which 304 companies took part, almost 80 percent stated that they were very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the business location.

The activities of the economic development agency are visible in many places in the district - such as the Center for Digitalization (ZD.BB), which supports companies in their digital transformation. Start-ups can find a single point of contact in the start-up guides, with whom appointments can be easily arranged via startup-bb.de can be arranged. The business development agency has created the AI xpress contact point for start-ups in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Digital business models require high-performance broadband connections, for which the Zweckverband Breitbandausbau is responsible. It coordinates fiber optic expansion in the district and advises on funding available for the expansion of telecommunications networks. By 2025, all businesses and half of private households in the region should have a fiber optic connection. Five years later, such a broadband connection should be available to 90 percent of households.

The economic development team also includes a European and funding officer, who promotes European issues and is also responsible for providing initial advice on funding at EU, federal and state level. For his work, he can draw on the excellent networking of the business development department at EU, regional and municipal level.

Tourism is also part of the economic development department. The tourism initiative develops a wide range of leisure and cultural activities that are used not only by visitors, but also by professionals and conference guests. This high recreational value characterizes the quality of life in the Böblingen district. The tourism initiative also acts as a central point of contact for local authorities and service providers in the region. In addition to marketing activities, the initiative is also responsible for maintaining the SCULPTOURA, the Land.tours and the Schönbuchturm.

The success of the business promotion is reflected not least in the awards: Dr. Sascha Meßmer and his team twice secured third place from the leading municipal associations and the Harz University of Applied Sciences, in 2019 for ZD.BB and in 2022 for AI xpress. In the state competition "Start-up-friendly municipalities", the start-up offer of the business development department won third place in 2020/2021 and first place in 2022/2023 - a great recognition for the effective and diverse support of the economy in the Böblingen district.

Wirtschaftsförderung Landkreis Böblingen is operated with the kind support of Kreissparkasse Böblingen and in cooperation with Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS).