Learn more about Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania zovia Region at a glance

  • Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is located in north-eastern Germany and is home to 1.6 million people. Its capital is Schwerin, and its largest city is Rostock.
  • It borders the Baltic Sea to the north, Poland to the east, Brandenburg to the south, and Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony to the west.

Economy and industries

The state’s economy is primarily driven by:

  • Tourism: Benefiting from its extensive coastline, lakes, and natural parks.
  • Agriculture and Food Industries: These traditional sectors remain important contributors to the regional economy.
  • Maritime Industries: Shipbuilding and port activities are concentrated in cities like Rostock, Stralsund, and Wismar.
  • Service Sector: A growing sector that supports various industries across the state.

 

The region also focuses on future-oriented industries, including health care, life sciences, energy, and information technology.

Innovation interests

1. Core Smart Specialization Areas:

  • Renewable Energies – Hydrogen Technologies
  • Medical Technology and Biotechnology
  • Mechanical and Plant Engineering

2. Cross-Cutting Technologies (Enabling Technologies):

  • Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
  • Bioeconomy

3. Broader Innovation Enablers and Principles:

  • Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation
  • Technology Transfer from Science to Business
  • Support for Startups and Innovative Business Models
  • International Cooperation and Baltic Sea Region Focus
  • Digitalization of Public Administration and Society

Main RTOs / R&D Centres in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Universities

  • University of Rostock
  • University of Greifswald
  • Wismar University of Applied Sciences
  • Stralsund University of Applied Sciences

Leibniz Institutes

  • Plasma Science & Technology (INP)
  • Catalysis (LIKAT)
  • Baltic Sea Research (IOW)
  • Farm Animal Biology (FBN)

Fraunhofer Institutes

  • IGP (Large Structures in Production Technology)
  • IGD (Computer Graphics Research)

Innovation Networks

  • BioCon Valley, BalticNet-PlasmaTec, EEN, and regional Technology Centres

S3 Priorities

  1. Mechanical engineering and construction
  2. Health care and life science
  3. Energy and climate
  4. Nutrition
  5. IT
  6. Mobility

GreenStep contributions

  • Cooperation across European innovation ecosystems
  • Transformation of Energy-Intensive Industries via green & digital solutions
  • Skills and alliances among regional clusters and SMEs
  • Visibility and investment opportunities at the EU level

Strengths:

  • Huge renewable energy resources (wind/solar) enabling abundant green power and hydrogen supply for industry
  • Strategic port infrastructure and energy terminals
  • Strong public and institutional support for transition
  • Ongoing flagship projects demonstrating innovation.
  • High-tech expertise in region (e.g., catalysis, offshore engineering) and committed stakeholders (universities, companies) driving R&D in decarbonization solutions.

Weaknesses:

  • Small industrial base with few large companies
  • Many EII firms are SMEs with constrained capital for modernizing equipment and implementing costly new technologies
  • Peripheral location and talent retention issues
  • Gaps in infrastructure for new energy carriers
  • High energy and logistics costs for industry

Opportunities:

  • Energy transition funding & policy support
  • Hydrogen economy growth
  • Industrial diversification
  • Cross-sector synergies
  • Interregional collaboration

Threats:

  • Competitive pressure
  • Uncertain project economics
  • Workforce constraints
  • Public acceptance and environmental risks
  • Dependency on key players

Track record

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a leader in green innovation:

  • Green Hydrogen Projects: HyTech Hafen Rostock (100 MW), H2Apex, and Campfire.
  • Plasma Medicine: Pioneering wound care and cold plasma therapies (INP, neoplas med).
  • Biotech & Implants: Advanced biomaterials and telemedicine (Cortronik, IIB).
  • Circular Bioeconomy: Sustainable startups like Build Blue and INOVA Protein.

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Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania