Ideopolis: knowledge city-regions - Munich case study outlines the position of Munich in the knowledge economy. It looks at the economic structure and labour market of the city, and engages with issues around innovation, public policy, social capital, links with the wider city region and inequality, before concluding that Munich is a knowledge city.
Key findings include:
-
Building on what’s there: Munich has built on its historical position as the capital of Bavaria , and attracted some functions from Berlin after the partition of Germany .
-
Diverse specialisation: Munich has a highly export-oriented manufacturing sector, and is strong in a range of sectors. As the centre for research for firms such as Siemens and BMW the city is highly innovative.
-
Leadership around a knowledge city vision: The State of Bavaria has taken some responsibility for innovation policy and there is also leadership from the private sector and the city government. However, the city lacks an institution covering its economic area, leading to problems of coordination.