www.erfurt.de

Erfurt "… lies at the best location. A city must stand here!"

That was once the opinion of the great reformer Martin Luther in the 16th century. Erfurt was first mentioned in a letter of Pope Zachary in 742. The Archbishop of the mission, Boniface, recognised the pre-destined position of the location "Erphesfurt" within the fertile Gera meadows and gave his recommendations to the Roman Church for it to be a base for a bishopric. Erfurt became the spiritual heart of Thuringia. The favourable traffic access at the crossing point of old German and European trade routes, a former and far-reaching flow of market and trade and the presence of a Crown palatinate promoted the early growth of the City of Erfurt.

Nowadays Erfurt proudly looks back at 1265 years of turbulent history. Many an incomparable sight hallmarks the state capital of the Free State of Thuringia with its landmarks Mariendom and Severikirche and a nearly fully intact medieval city centre. Additionally Erfurt has many infrastructural advantages; airport, ICE-connection, motorway junction - many roads lead to a "rendezvous in the heart of Germany". Erfurt, one of the oldest and at the same time, most promising cities of Germany.

Today Erfurt is the political, economic and cultural heart of Thuringia. Even now, at the beginning of the 3rd millennium, Erfurt is still profiting form this favourable location. Citizens, visitors and, last but not least, entrepreneurs appreciate the central position in Europe and the crossing points of major traffic routes - motorways A4, A71 and A9, ICE-route and international airport.

Solar Industry and Photovoltaics

The economic location of Erfurt is distinguished by a balanced mix. It is mainly approximately 13,000 small and medium sized enterprises with key competences in the areas of engineering, plant manufacturing, traditional agriculture, media and communication and international logistics, that maintain the production business. Furthermore the production location is nowadays characterised by micro system-technology and solar industry/photovoltaics. A special highlight in the development for Erfurt in recent years was the build-up and extension as a high-tech and logistic location. Powerful medium-sized enterprises have settled here. In the south-east, the city is setting on innovation with the Technology and Operator Centre for Micro System Technology. In this way, Erfurt is turning out to be one of the most important production locations for photovoltaics in Germany and Europe.

Enterprises in this and all other sectors will find excellent locations in the urban area in the 17 developed industrial estates. The purchase of individual industrial plots or renting of production, storage, office or retail areas can be made according to individual business requirements.

On the media sector, a strong momentum is especially enhanced by the children's channel, founded by ARD und ZDF. Here, Erfurt has established itself as the standalone for childrens' media.

The university in Erfurt, the polytechnic Erfurt and other universities and industry-close scientific and research institutes in the technology triangle Erfurt - Jena - Ilmenau co-operate closely with companies in this sector to secure long-term innovation and growth. The tight interweaving and co-operation between science and economy is ensured in Erfurt. This promotes the profitability of Erfurt for enterprises world-wide as an investment location, as well the access to well educated and highly motivated specialists through the local universities and polytechnics.

Erfurt offers the best pre-conditions for the development of future-oriented enterprises.

 To quote Martin Luther we can say today Erfurt "… lies at the best location. A company must be here!"

Contact:

Landeshauptstadt Erfurt
Monika Ludwig, M.A.
Head of Economic Development Department
Fischmarkt 11
D-99084 Erfurt

Phone: +49 361 655 44 33
Fax: +49 361 655 19 19
E-Mail: wirtschaftsfoerderung@erfurt.de
www.erfurt.de

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