On January 30, STIC Wirtschaftsfördergesellschaft Märkisch-Oderland welcomed around 50 invited guests to the STIC conference room in Strausberg for the traditional New Year's reception. Among those present were District Administrator Gernot Schmidt, representatives of the district council, mayors, representatives of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts, the savings bank, the employment agency, the job center and tenants from the STIC.
Andreas Jonas, Managing Director of STIC, took stock of the work of the district's own business development company and gave an outlook for the current year: "I am pleased that we as STIC have continued to grow in 2023 and now employ 23 people." This is the result of the successful work in the project-based core business areas of STIC Wirtschaftsfördergesellschaft: business start-ups, company succession, skilled workers, business support, commercial space, climate protection, energy and innovation. The 1A Start-up Center, as the successor to the young companies and pilot service projects that ended in 2022, has established itself well in supporting start-up projects, particularly in the areas of innovation, environmental sustainability and the social sector.
"However, it's not just about supporting start-ups, but also enabling generational change in companies. In the last four years, we have been able to support 57 company successors and thus make a contribution to maintaining the economic basis in the region," says Jonas. In addition to the classic topics of business development, Jonas also summarized the "myLOG - MOL" project. The first test drive of the autonomous delivery robot "Whizzy" was successfully carried out on the STIC site in October last year. In this innovative project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, a consortium of eight members is working alongside STIC on new ways of using the 5G network to strengthen the competitiveness of the retail sector compared to online-based retail through the use of autonomous transport rovers.
There is also currently a large open space on the STIC site. Following the demolition of the former canteen and the old warehouse, the district of Märkisch-Oderland will begin building TP5 from March 2024. 11.25 million has been earmarked for this new building.
Afterwards, Rainer Schinkel, Alderman and Head of the Economic Office, gave an overview of the district's population and economic development as well as further investments. Both positive developments and challenges were highlighted.
Schinkel pointed out that the population of the district has risen steadily in recent years to 200,920 inhabitants.
However, demographics remain the biggest challenge in the district. Despite the rising population, the number of people in employment is set to fall in the future.
Thus, the already noticeable effects of demographic change, in particular the shortage of workers and skilled workers in all sectors, will intensify. Immigration of skilled workers, digitalization and qualification are therefore topics that both politicians and each individual company must continue to address. In addition to existing networks between the Märkisch-Oderland job center, the Federal Employment Agency and the district of Märkisch-Oderland, the district's economic development agency will continue to support this through initiatives such as the "INQA Coaching" funded by the BMAS, the "career compass" training fair on 24 and 25 May 2024 in the Giebelseehalle Petershagen/Eggersdorf and the new edition of "BOCK", a brochure on career guidance for school pupils.
Schinkel is proud of the great and successful companies in the district. Last year, for example, the company Tinglev Elementfabrik GmbH won the Brandenburg 2023 Future Prize and the company Oderbruchdach - Dachdeckermeister Christian Kalies won the 2023 Business Start-up Prize from the Oderland-Spree Business Start-up Partners. In the Skilled Workers of Tomorrow category, seven companies from the district demonstrated that they offer excellent career guidance for school pupils. Companies from the entire district were honored, such as Wasser- und Abwasserzweckverband Seelow, Agrar- und Milchproduktion GbR Platkow, ots Schadock GmbH, Kristallkinder Intensivpflege GmbH, FRUVEG GmbH, KATHARINENHOF am Dorfanger and CEMEX Zement GmbH in Rüdersdorf. Schinkel affirms: "The large number of award-winning companies from our district and the sustainability efforts of companies such as CEMEX Zement GmbH are encouraging for the future".
Another priority project is to successfully continue the broadband expansion funded by the federal and state governments until 2025. Schinkel is delighted: "It fills me with confidence that the broadband expansion is progressing so smoothly thanks to the infrastructure companies involved, the municipalities concerned and the responsible investment authorities. So far, 1,908 kilometers of underground construction have been completed. With the current development, the planned expansion target of approx. 2,589 km is expected to be achieved by 2025. The broadband expansion funded by the federal and state governments is thus making a significant contribution to improving the living and economic conditions of people and companies throughout the district."
The district of Märkisch-Oderland and STIC Wirtschaftsfördergesellschaft Märkisch-Oderland are optimistic about the future with all projects and plans and are committed to the further development of the district in the future.