Berlin Partner for Business and Technology

Berlin Partner for Business and Technology
Native name
Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH
Company typePublic–private partnership (GmbH)
IndustryEconomic development, investment promotion, city marketing
Founded1994 (as Partner für Berlin GmbH)
HeadquartersFasanenstraße 85, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Key people
Stefan Franzke (Managing Director)
Number of employees
~200
Websitewww.berlin-partner.de

Berlin Partner for Business and Technology (German: Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH) is the state-mandated economic development and innovation promotion agency for the city and state of Berlin, Germany. It markets Berlin internationally, assists companies and investors in relocating or expanding, fosters networks among business, research and government, and spearheads cluster initiatives, including in the healthcare/life sciences sector under the HealthCapital Berlin-Brandenburg program.

History

The organization's origins dates to 1994, when Partner für Berlin GmbH was established to promote Berlin as a business location. In 2013, Berlin's economic development and technology-promotion functions were consolidated into the current Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH.[1] In June 2024, Berlin Partner marked its 30 year anniversary with a celebration at Holzmarkt in Friedrichshain attended by city leaders and industry figures.[2]

Organization and mandate

Berlin Partner is the state's dedicated economic development agency, operating as a public–private partnership mandated and funded by the State of Berlin.[3] It collaborates with Berlin's chambers, associations and private partners to promote investment, innovation and growth in the capital region.[3]

The Berlin Partner network comprises more than 250 corporate, academic and institutional partners.[4][5] Around 200 employees work at the agency’s offices in the Ludwig-Erhard-Haus (Charlottenburg), which also houses the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Berlin).[6][7]

Activities

Berlin Partner's portfolio spans:

  • Investor and company services (site selection, real estate, funding, permitting, talent & relocation support).[3][8][9]
  • Cluster and innovation programs in sectors such as mobility, digital economy, industrial production, and healthcare & life sciences.[3][10]
  • Marketing and branding of Berlin as a business location, including via the Business Location Center (BLC).[1][11]
  • Health and life sciences cluster activities under the HealthCapital Berlin-Brandenburg umbrella, connecting hospitals, research institutes and companies, and coordinating joint stands at major events (e.g. DMEA).[12][13]
  • Cross-agency and European cooperation initiatives, including participation in the multi-city investment-promotion campaign "Choose Europe".[14]

Healthcare / Life Sciences (HealthCapital)

The HealthCapital Berlin-Brandenburg initiative is a regional brand for the healthcare and life-sciences sector. Berlin Partner coordinates cluster activities, joint exhibitor stands at digital health events (e.g. DMEA), and networking between hospitals, biotech and medtech firms, and researchers.[12][13][15] In March 2025, press reports highlighted that health and medical technologies were among the sectors receiving increased promotion and investment support in Berlin.[10] Since 2022, Prof. Dr. Heyo Kroemer, Chief Executive Officer of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, has served as spokesperson of the HealthCapital Berlin-Brandenburg cluster.[16][17]

BarCamp Health-IT / Barcamp Health Innovation. Berlin Partner's cluster management launched the BarCamp Health-IT format in 2012 to connect the healthcare and IT sectors; by 2017 the event was held for the sixth time, themed "IoT in der Medizin", at medical-technology firm Karl Storz.[18][19] The series broadened in 2024 under the name "Barcamp Health Innovation", with a focus on the patient journey and participation from industry and insurers; subsequent edition continued in 2025 at the IBM iX Experience Agency of IBM Consulting in Berlin.[20][21]

  • Ludwig-Erhard-Haus (exterior), where Berlin Partner is located
  • Interior view of the Ludwig-Erhard-Haus

References

  1. ^ a b Tanja Buntrock (26 February 2024). "Von Jenoptik bis China Energy: Berlin Partner begleitete 75 Ansiedelungen im vergangenen Jahr" [From Jenoptik to China Energy: Berlin Partner accompanied 75 business establishments last year]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  2. ^ Tanja Buntrock; Kevin P. Hoffmann (26 June 2024). "Ein Mann verkauft Berlin in die ganze Welt: Man sieht heute an der Warschauer Straße, was morgen erst in Paris gezeigt wird [A man sells Berlin to the whole world: You see today on Warschauer Straße what won't be shown in Paris until tomorrow]". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 5 October 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d Thomas Loy (3 March 2025). "Rüstungsfirmen nehmen Kurs auf Berlin – Wirtschaftsförderer rechnen mit Investitionen aus den USA" [Defence firms set course for Berlin — economic development officials expect investments from the United States]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Berlin Partner for Business and Technology – Exhibitor profile". MWC Barcelona. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Berlin Partner – 30 Jahre Wirtschaftsförderung at it's best! [Berlin Partner — 30 years of business promotion at its best!]". BERLINboxx (in German). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  6. ^ Alfons Frese (5 September 2019). "25 Jahre Berlin Partner: Es begann mit der gescheiterten Bewerbung um Olympia 2000" [25 Years of Berlin Partner: It began with the failed bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Ludwig-Erhard-Haus ("Gürteltier")". Berlin.de – Bezirksamt Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf (in German). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Weniger Neuansiedlungen in Berlin gefördert [Fewer new company relocations supported in Berlin]". Der Tagesspiegel (dpa) (in German). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  9. ^ Klaus Boldt (30 April 2021). "Wirtschaftsförderer Stefan Franzke: Der Mann, der Tesla nach Berlin lotste [Economic development chief Stefan Franzke: The man who brought Tesla to Berlin]". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  10. ^ a b Johannes Vetter (3 March 2025). "Wirtschaftsförderung meldet Rekord: In diese Branchen wird investiert". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Business Location Center – information about the business location Berlin". Berlin.de (Senatsverwaltung). Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  12. ^ a b "DMEA 2025 – joint stand organised by Berlin Partner". BIH at Charité. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  13. ^ a b "DMEA Business Meetings 2025". Enterprise Europe Network / b2match. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  14. ^ "The New World of investment and talents – press release". Choose Europe (consortium site). Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Auf dem Weg zur "Health Capital" steht Berlin vor einigen Herausforderungen [On the road to becoming the "Health Capital", Berlin faces a number of challenges]". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 18 May 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Fachforum Gesundheitswirtschaft 2023 – Speaker overview". Tagesspiegel Veranstaltungen (in German). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Cluster Advisory Board". HealthCapital Berlin-Brandenburg. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Clusterübergreifende Aktivitäten – Barcamp Health-IT (Ausschussunterlage)" (PDF). Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  19. ^ "BarCamp Health-IT 2017". Projekt Zukunft (Berlin.de) (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Patient Journey stand im Mittelpunkt des Barcamp Health Innovation 2024 [The patient journey was at the center of the Barcamp Health Innovation 2024]". Techniker Krankenkasse (in German). 16 July 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Barcamp Health Innovation 2025". HealthCapital (in German). 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
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