Schleswig-Holstein

Located at the crossroads between Scandinavia, Northern Europe, and the North and Baltic seas, Schleswig-Holstein (SH) cannot help but be closely tied – culturally and economically – to the sea.

The traditional fishing industry is joined by those of shipbuilding and maritime commerce whose 1,500 companies handle over 50 million tons of goods every year. With over 41,000 ships passing through it annually, the Kiel Canal is the world’s most-used man-made waterway. The city of Lübeck is famous for its Niederegger Marzipan, but it is also Germany’s largest Baltic Sea port and most important trade connection to Scandinavian and Baltic countries.

Growing industries include nutrition science, nanotechnology, IT, and machine building, as well as chemicals, aeronautics, and traffic engineering. The renewable energies sector – with its 2,700 wind-energy facilities – is undergoing rapid growth. Moreover, SH is particularly strong when it comes to the health care and medical technology industries, which boast such names as Dräger and Johnson & Johnson MEDICAL. Companies such as these join numerous universities and research centers in forming the backbone of a world-renowned R&D network. Particularly worthy of mention are the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISIT) and the IZET Innovation Center.

SH’s romantic coastal towns, natural beauty, and Kieler Woche – Europe’s largest summer festival – draw millions of tourist every year, too.