Vergangene News und Termine

Despite economic challenges: Brandenburg’s businesses continue to invest in the next generation of skilled workers – chambers of commerce report positive results at the start of the training year. Furthermore, there are still very good prospects for a successful start to a career. 

Over the next few years, Telekom is to build a fibre-optic network in Frankfurt (Oder) to serve 26,800 households and businesses. To this end, the city and Telekom have today signed a joint memorandum of understanding. 

Good healthcare is a key factor in a town’s appeal – both for the people of Eisenhüttenstadt and for the town’s attractiveness as a place to live and do business. That is why the town is now providing its own financial boost.

To promote innovative product development and marketing concepts, pro agro is organising the 28th edition of the “pro agro Marketing Award – naturally Brandenburg!”. The award is intended to recognise innovative products, creative marketing ideas and successful concepts from rural areas of Brandenburg. 

Lower rainfall, increasingly frequent dry spells and the effects of the phase-out of coal are posing major challenges for water management in eastern Germany. At the same time, water demand is rising due to economic development, new industrial settlements and the transformation of the economy and energy supply. 

Under the theme ‘Oderland-Spree 2030+’, key stakeholders from the region gathered at Neuzelle Abbey in spring 2026 for the second meeting of the Oderland-Spree Steering Group. Discussions on future issues relating to the development of commercial land, mobility and regional cooperation centred on the shared goal of developing viable strategies for strong and sustainable regional development.

On 2 July 2026 in Bernau, the East Brandenburg Chambers of Commerce and the ‘Netzwerk Zukunft’ network honoured 19 businesses, companies and organisations that are actively involved in careers guidance and had been nominated by schools. These entrepreneurs are particularly committed to providing career and higher education guidance in their home regions; they offer school pupils work experience placements or company tours and present their apprenticeship programmes at secondary schools and grammar schools.

On 10 July, the city of Frankfurt (Oder) received a planning application for a new project by Alcaro. According to the application, the logistics and property company will continue to invest in the expansion of its Frankfurt (Oder) site and plans to build a new warehouse. This Hall C is to cover an area of 20,000 square metres and be built on a 40,000-square-metre plot. 

With the Infrastructure for the Future Act, which has now been passed by the Bundestag, eight key projects for East Brandenburg – for which the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce has long been campaigning – have also been set in motion.

The RE 1 regional express line is one of the busiest regional express lines in Germany. The signatories of this appeal therefore welcome Deutsche Bahn’s announcement that it will invest in the modernisation of this line. Nevertheless, the construction work must not cut off the capital region, Eastern Brandenburg and the neighbouring Polish region from one another for months on end, as this would have drastic consequences for a large number of businesses, workers and institutions in Eastern Brandenburg and Poland.

The East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Frankfurt (Oder) – East Brandenburg Region have published their first joint brochure, entitled “Facts and Figures – Key Statistics for East Brandenburg”, containing comprehensive regional indicators – focusing on East Brandenburg as a business location.

The Oderland-Spree Start-up Partners Working Group is once again looking for committed entrepreneurs this year who have successfully brought their business ideas to fruition. The Start-up Award comes with prize money of up to 2,500 EUR, which can be divided between two winners. The closing date for applications is 31 August 2026. 

In June, a total of 14,831 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the Märkisch-Oderland district and the Oder-Spree district. That is 190 fewer than in May and 103 fewer than in June 2025. The unemployment rate stands at 6.5 per cent, exactly the same as in June last year.

The Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) are calling on member companies that provide apprenticeships to ‘throw in the towel’. This is purely symbolic, as part of a major social media photo and video campaign to mark the start of the summer holidays. Many companies are still looking for interested young people to start apprenticeships, even at the last minute before the training begins. The “Towel Challenge” is designed to provide wide-reaching support to the local economy in its search for new recruits.

Twelve companies are in the running to win the most prestigious business award in the state of Brandenburg. The final of the 2026 ‘Brandenburg Future Prize’ will take place on 20 November at the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport Conference Centre in Schönefeld. The six winners will be announced there.

The Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce are calling for a new leap in quality in the cooperation between Berlin and Brandenburg. At the 2026 Metropolitan Area Conference held today, key priorities for action were defined with a view to securing competitiveness, growth and quality of life in the long term.

On 17 June, as part of the German-Polish Forum in Berlin, Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski presented the prestigious German-Polish Prize to 700 invited guests. The prize is awarded by the governments of both countries on the basis of the Neighbourhood Treaty of 17 June 1991 for outstanding contributions to the development of German-Polish relations.

According to an IHK survey, practical relevance and the prospect of a permanent role are the most important factors contributing to trainee satisfaction in the eastern German states – a total of 85 per cent of trainees in IHK-accredited professions would recommend the training programme at their company to others. A direct link to practical work remains particularly important for young people: around 94 per cent of those surveyed stated that practical tasks and immediate immersion in everyday working life are key reasons for choosing an apprenticeship.

The International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) opened its doors today at BER Airport. Over the coming days, the focus will be on the latest developments in the security and defence sectors, space technologies and the full spectrum of aviation. The ILA will also be open to the general public at the weekend. 

The East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Ostbrandenburg) has presented the results of its early summer 2026 business survey: the Business Climate Index (BCI) in East Brandenburg has fallen to 76 points. Similar figures have previously only been recorded during very severe economic crises, such as during the coronavirus pandemic. By way of comparison: the growth threshold is 100 points. The bottom line is that, rather than growing, the regional economy has lost a further 18 ECI points since the start of 2026.

The East Brandenburg "Bündnis pro Wirtschaft" welcomes the European Commission's latest statement on internal border controls in the Schengen area. The Commission recommends working towards a gradual reduction and lifting of controls.

Guide for local authorities on data centre relocations published: Brandenburg has a good chance of becoming a new digital centre in Germany thanks to billions in investment in new data centres. With Schwarz Digits, Amazon Web Services and other major data centre projects, Brandenburg has attracted well-known companies to settle in the state. To support local authorities in attracting new data centres, the Brandenburg Economic Development Corporation (WFBB) has produced a guide for local authorities on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Climate Protection and Europe.

The reports provide a comprehensive overview of developments on the regional property and land market and include analyses of purchase prices, sales trends and other value-relevant market data. They are based on the property purchase contracts registered with the expert committee.

Spring upturn very subdued – unemployment rate in East Brandenburg remains at 6.7 per cent: In April, a total of 15,215 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. That is 129 fewer than in March and 7 more than in April 2025.

The presence centre Fürstenwalde  is reorganising: With immediate effect, the university presence centre is now based in Beeskow and will operate under the name "Präsenzstelle Oderland-Spree | Beeskow". With the new location and an expanded regional focus, it is strengthening its role as a central interface between science and society in the region.

How companies can practically implement the requirements of the European Green Deal was the focus of the Business Congress of the German-Polish Border Regions: Sustainability and the Future on 28 April 2026 at Trebnitz Castle. Around 120 companies, institutions and experts from Germany and Poland exchanged views on topics such as energy efficiency, sustainability management and funding opportunities.

Final spurt for Brandenburg's top companies: Half-time in the race for the most important business award in the state of Brandenburg: companies from all sectors can submit their applications for the "Brandenburg Future Prize" until 31 May 2026 – conveniently online at www.zukunftspreis-brandenburg.de

The East Brandenburg and Cottbus Chambers of Industry and Commerce want to support their member companies even more effectively in opening up markets in Poland and join forces to do so. Monique Zweig, Managing Director of IHK Ostbrandenburg, and André Fritsche, Managing Director of IHK Cottbus, signed an agreement to this effect on 15 April 2026 in Gubin as part of a joint meeting of the foreign trade committees of both chambers.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is having a noticeable impact on Brandenburg's already weakened economy. This is shown by a recent flash survey conducted by the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) among companies from industry, construction, trade, hospitality and transport in the IHK's honorary office. Three quarters of the companies surveyed stated that they were negatively affected. Companies are struggling with rising costs, unstable supply chains and growing uncertainties. This is clearly slowing down economic development.

IHK Ostbrandenburg criticises relief bonus as anti-business: In the view of the IHK Ostbrandenburg, the federal government's decision that employees can also receive a bonus of up to 1000 euros as part of the relief package is detrimental to companies in the proposed form.

IHK Ostbrandenburg publishes new commercial rent index for the region: With the 2026 commercial rent index, the IHK Ostbrandenburg has now published an up-to-date overview of commercial rents in the districts of Uckermark, Barnim, Märkisch-Oderland, Oder-Spree and the city of Frankfurt (Oder). It contains an overview of current existing rents for shops, offices, surgeries, law firms, restaurants as well as production and storage space at 16 locations in East Brandenburg.

The pro agro association is calling for expressions of interest in organising the 22nd edition of the Brandenburg Village and Harvest Festival. Possible dates are 11 or 18 September 2027. The informal and non-binding expression of interest can be sent to pro agro by 8 May 2026. The deadline for a binding application is 26 June 2026.

It's that time again! We are looking for the best innovations made in Brandenburg! Companies, start-ups and craft businesses, also in cooperation with scientific institutions, can apply for the renowned Brandenburg Innovation Award until 20 May 2026. Whether it's an innovative, sustainable product, process, service or concept – the anticipation for Brandenburg's most creative minds and their ideas is high.

The chambers of industry and commerce in the state of Brandenburg have taken note of the state government's new coalition agreement. The swift agreement between the coalition partners initially creates political clarity. Practical implementation will show whether the formulated plans will have the necessary effect. The factual nature of the coalition negotiations is viewed positively.

The IHK Ostbrandenburg, the Western IHK Gorzów and the Kostrzyn-Słubice AG special economic zone in Kostrzyn (Küstrin) are jointly calling for the construction of new border bridges and the modernisation of existing ones between Germany and Poland to be expedited. To emphasise this demand, the three partners signed a joint statement on 3 March 2026 in Kostrzyn (Küstrin).

The project kick-off on 18/19 February 2026 focused on technology transfer – at GEMIC in Karlsruhe (9–11 March 2026), the IHP will be presenting a real-time demonstration of stable millimetre-wave connections.

Apply now and make entrepreneurial successes visible! The competition for the "Zukunftspreis Brandenburg" 2026 is now open: Companies from all over the state can now apply for the prestigious award. This is the 22nd time that the Future Prize has honoured outstanding entrepreneurial achievements. Registration is open online at www.zukunftspreis-brandenburg.de until 31 May 2026.

It is a pressing issue in almost every company: The introduction and use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is increasingly becoming part of everyday working life in companies and organisations. For employees, this development is often associated with a sense of threat.

The Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region is not getting off the ground economically at the start of 2026. The latest figures from the economic report of the Berlin and Brandenburg chambers of industry and commerce reveal the structural crisis. At 102 points, the economic climate index is now only slightly above the standstill mark (100 points). Two thirds of companies cite the economic policy framework conditions as the greatest risk to business development.

The establishment of the Border Information Point of the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion in Frankfurt (Oder) with the catchment area in the Märkisch-Oderland district, the Oder-Spree district and also in the city of Frankfurt (Oder) is continuously gaining in intensity, content and contour thanks to the support and involvement of numerous regional players. The East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce is one of the competent supporters of this project.

Once again this year, pro agro is expecting at least 80,000 visitors to the country's major event, which will take place on the weekend of June 13 and 14, 2026. Farms can use the opportunity to give a wide audience an insight into modern farming processes and present their products and services. Potential hosts can register until February 22nd.

The district council adopted the budget for 2026 at its meeting on February 11, 2026. The operating budget includes expenditure of 546.5 million euros. Despite the strained municipal financial situation, the district is sending a clear signal for stability and investment in the future. However, it combines the resolution with specific blocking notices for selected construction projects.

The 15 East German chambers of industry and commerce that make up the Heringsdorf Circle are calling on the German government to submit a bid for Expo 2035 in the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region to the International Expo Bureau (Bureau International des Expositions) in Paris. Expo 2035 can actively support structural change in Berlin and the eastern German federal states and provide sustainable support through innovation, investment and training.

Unemployment rate rises to 6.8 percent due to seasonal factors - manufacturing industry still without strength: In January, a total of 15,596 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. That is 814 more than in December and 27 fewer than in January 2025.

In order to promote innovative product developments and marketing concepts in rural areas, the association awarded the "pro agro Marketing Prize – naturally Brandenburg!" for the 27th time this year. The Gläserne Molkerei was awarded first place in the pro agro marketing prize in the "Food Industry" category for its new caffeine drink from the milk shelf – a great recognition for organic farming from Brandenburg.

Actors from regional development and economic development from Oderland-Spree exchanged views on strategies, cooperation and prospects for a strong region with the aim of jointly shaping the future of the region.

Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Berlin and Brandenburg call for action on the i2030 rail infrastructure program - The chambers of industry and commerce in Berlin and Brandenburg have reacted with disillusionment to the federal government's response to a minor question from the Green parliamentary group in the Bundestag on the i2030 infrastructure program. The answer makes it clear that the further financing of central rail projects, including the reconstruction of the Potsdam main line and the extension of several S-Bahn lines, is not secured.

IHK Ostbrandenburg, owner of the collective brand "Eberswalder Würstchen", insists on Brandenburg regionality. The Eberswalde sausage factories at the traditional Britz site are to be closed. Against this backdrop, the IHK Ostbrandenburg supports all efforts by the Brandenburg state government to preserve the site.

Jens Warnken, President of the Cottbus Chamber of Industry and Commerce, comments on the Brandenburg government crisis on behalf of the State Working Group of Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Brandenburg: "From the point of view of the business community, talks with the CDU on the formation of a new state government must now start immediately so that the government crisis in Brandenburg can be overcome quickly ... "

Unemployment figures rise slightly due to seasonal factors – mixed picture looking back on the year: In December, a total of 14,782 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. That is 149 more than in November and 70 more than in December 2024.

The members of Mittlere Oder e.V., the German supporting association of the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion, met on 11.12.2025 in Frankfurt City Hall for the ordinary general meeting. In addition to the 2024 annual financial statements, the working plan and budget for 2026 were also discussed and approved. The most important item on the agenda was the regular two-yearly election of the new Executive Board.

Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce: Declining demand for personnel masks ongoing shortage of skilled workers / Targeted strategies to secure skilled workers in Brandenburg form the basis for economic growth – The shortage of skilled workers is currently only in third place among the economic risks for the Brandenburg economy, according to the special evaluation of the autumn economic survey by the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce.

Following the conclusion of negotiations and the EU Parliament's decision on the Supply Chain Directive (CSDDD), Brandenburg's chambers of industry and commerce are warning of unclear implementation at national level and potential burdens for companies.

On December 3, 2025, the agreement was signed between Mittlere Oder e.V., the German supporting association of the Euroregion PRO EUROPA VIADRINA, and the district of Märkisch-Oderland, on cooperation in setting up an information and advisory network to implement the Border Information Point of the Euroregion PRO EUROPA VIADRINA in Frankfurt (Oder).

On November 5, 2025, the Märkisch-Oderland district council made important personnel policy decisions for the future management of the administrative departments. Two experienced and highly qualified managers, Danny Jenssen and Bianka Boss, were elected as new deputies.

IHK economic survey: Uncertainties about the future overshadow the entire tourism industry in the state of Brandenburg, which cannot draw a positive conclusion for the summer season this year. "Compared to last year, the assessment of the current business situation has deteriorated significantly," explains Ina Hänsel, President of the Potsdam Chamber of Industry and Commerce, on behalf of the Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

IHK Ostbrandenburg, Viadrina and Western IHK Gorzów warn of long-term damage caused by ongoing border controls and call for rapid relief measures: Representatives from business and science report that the controls at the German-Polish border inhibit the mobility of workers and researchers, disrupt supply chains and make cross-border cooperation and education massively more difficult.

Labor market without momentum – unemployment rate remains at 6.4 percent: In November, a total of 14,633 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. That is 26 fewer than in October and 373 more than in November 2024.

The German Rural Women's Association (dlv) is calling on women from rural regions to apply for the "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition in 2026. We are looking for female entrepreneurs who are successful with innovative ideas – whether in services, crafts, agriculture or other sectors. Applications are open until January 23, 2026.

IHK Ostbrandenburg honors 30 top young professionals as the best: 30 graduates were honored for their outstanding achievements as the best in dual training at a ceremony in Neuhardenberg Castle on November 13.

imakomm study shows importance of location communities for the business location: Current figures from the imakomm study "Location Communities of the Future", which were presented by location makers at the nationwide exchange of experiences on November 20, 2025, impressively show how much is being achieved locally.

Three outstanding business models receive the Oderland-Spree 2025 Business Founder Award from the "ExistenzgründerPartner ODERLAND" working group – A total of 23 business founders applied for the award.

Consumer demand for regional products from the food industry is unbroken in this country - despite global crises and the tense economic situation here in Germany.

The economic climate index in East Brandenburg has risen by two points to 90 compared to early summer, but remains below the growth threshold of 100 points. The development varies greatly depending on the sector and company size. The situation is particularly critical in industry, where weak demand due to geopolitical uncertainties coincides with rising costs.

Autumn revival on the labor market after a rise in unemployment: In September, a total of 14,825 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. This is 515 fewer than in August and 542 more than in September 2024. The unemployment rate is 6.5 percent. In August, it stood at 6.7 percent and in September last year at 6.3 percent.

While several hundred thousand young people have started their training in Germany, the application phase for the next generation has already begun. The Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) and the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) are once again supporting them with a strong nationwide campaign that whets the appetite for training – fresh, bold and right on the pulse of the target group.

On 23.9.2025 from 4 p.m. there will be a celebration in the old hangar at Strausberg airfield. The "Startup Hangar Strausberg", one of the six startup centers funded by the state, will begin operations. Startups based in Brandenburg will be supported here to the east of Berlin over the next few years.

Businesses in direct marketing, the food industry and rural nature and equestrian tourism in the state of Brandenburg have until October 15, 2025 to enter the "pro agro Marketing Award 2026 – Naturally Brandenburg!" competition. The prize is awarded in three categories.

The IHK Ostbrandenburg presents the German-Polish study on the acceptance and implementation of the climate transition in the regional economy.

A meeting between Mayor Claus Junghanns and his Słubice counterpart Marzena Słodownik and the German government's coordinator for German-Polish inter-societal and cross-border cooperation, Knut Abraham MP, focused on the border controls on both sides and their negative impact on the twin city.

German-Polish partnerships at municipal level an anchor in cross-border cooperation in the heart of Europe: Knut Abraham, Member of the German Bundestag and Coordinator for German-Polish inter-societal and cross-border cooperation of the Federal Government, also used his visit to Frankfurt (Oder) on September 3, 2025 to meet with representatives of the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion and the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

As of August 31, 1,295 new training contracts had been registered with the IHK Ostbrandenburg for the starting training year. This is 56 fewer contracts than at the same time last year. One of the reasons for this is that the start of training this year falls during the summer vacations; many school leavers have not yet made their decision or the contracts have not yet been submitted to the IHK.

IHK Ostbrandenburg presents TESLA with EMAS certificate as proof of highest ecological exemplarity: Tesla Manufacturing Brandenburg SE received its EMAS certification certificate on September 1. EMAS is a voluntary environmental management system of the European Union with the highest standards.

After the first 100 days of the new federal government, Brandenburg's chambers of industry and commerce (IHKs) have drawn a mixed conclusion. Although initial measures have been initiated, key expectations of the regional economy remain unfulfilled.

With the signing by Kamila Szwajkowska, Managing Director of the Western Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZIPH) in Gorzów Wielkopolski, the "Cross-border Appeal of the Economy" is now officially supported by a total of four partners. In addition to the Polish Chamber of Commerce, the IHK Ostbrandenburg, the IHK Cottbus and the Lubuskie Employers' Association (Organizacja Pracodawców Ziemi Lubuskiej – OPZL) are also participating in the appeal.

IHK Ostbrandenburg is collecting data for the new rent index until the end of August – craft businesses are also invited to take part: The East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is currently updating the rent index for commercial properties and is asking companies to take part in the data collection by means of an anonymous survey. In addition to IHK companies, the call is also aimed specifically at craft businesses that use production, storage or office space.

A framework agreement between the European Union (EU) and the USA was formally concluded on the night of July 28, 2025: US tariffs on EU imports now amount to 15 percent. This is significantly lower than the 30 percent originally announced, but much higher than in the past. For this reason, the chambers of industry and commerce in Brandenburg continue to warn of the economic consequences of the settled customs dispute for export-oriented industries if there are no long-term agreements on relief for all industries in the near future.

The Hirschaue estate was one of the winners of this year's Brandenburg Innovation Award as part of a joint project. The "reffiSchaf" project aims to establish a value chain for lamb and sheep meat and supports the preservation of Brandenburg's sheep farms and their cultural landscape.

In an open letter, the Pro Wirtschaft alliance addresses an appeal against the excessive regulation of housing construction, which is massively hindering urgently needed investment and the creation of affordable housing. The alliance members are in favor of practical reforms in housing construction and are calling for rapid relief for investors, municipalities and the economy in the region.

The Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) are calling on the federal government to keep its promise from the coalition agreement and reduce the electricity tax for all companies to the European minimum level.

Minister Keller accepted an invitation from the Oderland-Spree Municipal Working Group (KAG) on June 27 to find out about current projects in the area of economic development and business park development. The work of the KAG was presented by the chairman of the working committee, Mr. Rainer Schinkel.

In the 50th volume of the Viadrina publication series "Mediation and Conflict Management", Claudia Schymik analyzes the challenges a works council faces when internal conflicts threaten to block the committee.

Under the motto "Strategically aligning foreign trade - strengthening Brandenburg's positioning on the world markets", the state of Brandenburg, together with the state working group of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs), today launched a comprehensive dialog process to revise the 2018 foreign trade concept.

East Brandenburg companies were recognized for their commitment to practical career and study orientation on site and schools were certified with the "School with outstanding career orientation" seal.

A total of 91 companies applied for the Brandenburg Future Prize this year. Six of them were nominated by the main jury for the final on November 21 at the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport Conference Center in Schönefeld. From our region, this is Metall- und Balkonbau Hansmann GmbH from Jacobsdorf.

Together with Frankfurt (Oder) and the districts of Märkisch-Oderland and Oder-Spree, the IHK Ostbrandenburg is calling for considerable investment in the region's transport routes.

This year, the state's Ministry of Economic Affairs is once again awarding prizes for outstanding and forward-looking innovations in the industry. Companies can apply for the award from now until March 28, 2025. The criteria are level of innovation, market maturity, added value and sustainability for the state of Brandenburg. Further information can be found at Start for Brandenburg Innovation Award 2025 - Brandenburger Innovationspreis

The relaxation of the debt brake passed today in the Bundesrat paves the way for urgently needed investments. The IHK Ostbrandenburg has compiled a list of 25 infrastructure projects that have the highest priority from the perspective of the regional economy.

The Berlin-Brandenburg Aviation Initiative is calling on the next federal government to take concrete measures to improve the competitiveness of the location in national and international comparison.

The exciting topics ranged from the importance of the twin city of Frankfurt (Oder) - Słubice to the impact of reducing bureaucracy and the challenges of cross-border financing. Finally, Arite Stemmermann took first place with her look at the generation mix in start-ups.

The SME sector in the state of Brandenburg welcomes the plans of the upcoming federal government for a 500 billion euro investment package to modernize infrastructure, which is to be voted on in the German Bundestag next Tuesday. At the same time, Brandenburg's chambers of industry and commerce are warning against the misuse of the funds and are calling for a consistent focus on investment projects.

The CCIs are calling on companies to implement all measures to promote women. These include flexible working models, family-friendly structures and mentoring programs. At the same time, the IHK believes that politicians have a responsibility to remove structural obstacles and further strengthen the framework conditions for equal rights.

In the Stifterverband's start-up radar, which was published on March 3, 2025, Viadrina was ranked 6th among 63 participating smaller universities. The importance attached to start-ups at Viadrina, the sensitization of members of the university to the topic of founding and the start-up activity are rated particularly positively.

In the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree, a total of 15,753 people were registered as unemployed in February. The unemployment rate thus remained unchanged compared to January 2025.

"No more business as usual! After the Bundestag elections, we now need a decisive change of course to stop the free fall in German competitiveness." This is what Potsdam's IHK President Ina Hänsel, Chairwoman of the State Working Group of the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce, says.

As of now, the chambers of commerce are once again launching the prestigious competition. Companies can now apply for the most important business prize in the country, which is being awarded for the 21st time this year and recognizes outstanding entrepreneurial achievements.

The results of the representative survey of almost 3,000 member companies conducted by the Berlin and Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce in January give little cause for optimism about a rapid economic recovery.

With the inauguration of the new US President Donald Trump, Brandenburg's CCIs see the need to see challenging times as an opportunity.

At the International Green Week, the Oder-Spree Lakeland Tourism Association was awarded first prize in the "Rural and Nature Tourism" category of the pro agro Marketing Prize for the second time in a row for its "Birdwatching" offer.

The latest measures to contain and monitor FMD pose considerable challenges for the authorities and businesses in the Märkisch-Oderland district.

Due to the digitization of administrative activities, increasingly only digital documents are available, from which digital archive material is formed. In order to take these over, preserve them and make them usable, the city archive needs a solution for digital long-term archiving, a so-called digital repository.

At the start of the new year, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Ostbrandenburg is setting a new course in knowledge transfer for companies: From January 13 to 17, 2025, it is offering a compact webinar week for the first time. Under the motto "MORE KNOWLEDGE. With the IHK", entrepreneurs and their employees from industry, trade and services can expand their know-how. From a total of 20 one-hour webinars, they can choose exactly those that are useful to them in their day-to-day business.

The Oder-Spree municipal job center is starting the new year with an anniversary: 20 years since it was founded in 2005. It was a time in which the Oder-Spree district faced an enormous challenge, as the unemployment rate was almost 20 percent. Since the job center was founded, the labour market situation has developed positively. Today, the unemployment rate is around 6.4 percent - a significant decrease that reflects a stable and sustainable development of the labor market.

Since Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 12:00 noon, Polnische Straße has been completely reopened to traffic after a full closure of around seven months. The road connection built in 2021 from Polnische Straße in the Frankfurt (Oder) South freight village (GVZ) to the B 112 was extended by an additional lane over a length of 700 m in order to increase the efficiency of public transport access to GVZ-Süd.

Intact ecosystems are important habitats. These include forests, soils or near-natural green spaces in the city and in the countryside. They store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, serve as protection in the event of flooding or provide cooling in hot weather.

On December 13, 2024, the first small projects were approved in the Gorzów office of the Euroregion at the first meeting of the Euroregional Steering Committee (ELA) for the small project funds in the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion.

The "Our village has a future" competition, which is held throughout Germany in successive rounds, offers participating villages the opportunity to show how they actively and proactively shape the structural, economic and cultural development of their living environment. The award ceremony took place on 23.11.2024 in the Kreiskulturhaus in Seelow. Many stakeholders from the participating villages came together for the ceremony.

The Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce welcome the conclusion of the coalition agreement and the rapid formation of a new state government in Brandenburg as a positive sign on the way to a stable and capable state government.

The Brandenburg Association of German Architects has now hosted the 2024 awards ceremony in Potsdam. One of these awards went to ff-Architekten Feldhusen Fleckenstein together with Andreas Schwarz Architekten, HDH Ingenieure Berlin and 2B Planungsgesellschaft for the conversion and refurbishment of Frankfurt (Oder) town hall.

After a successful first project period (2021–2023), the Oderland-Spree Regional Management will continue to support the municipalities and economic players in the Oderland-Spree region with issues relating to commercial and industrial development in support of Tesla's environmental development.

The members of Mittlere Oder e.V., the German supporting association of the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion, met on 22.11.2024 at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) for the ordinary general meeting. In addition to the annual financial statements for the previous years, the work and budget plan for 2025 was also discussed and approved.

The Office for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Inspection can announce further progress in the fight against African swine fever (ASF) in our region: Restricted zone II in the districts of Spree-Neiße and Oberspreewald-Lausitz is being reduced in size, while restricted zone I in the districts of Märkisch-Oderland, Oder-Spree, Dahme-Spreewald and in the independent city of Frankfurt (Oder) is largely being lifted and transferred to free territory.

"Regional art & culture" – that is the concept behind KUKURYKU! On Thursday, November 21, the spin-off from the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) was awarded the 2024 Courage Award by the Oderland-Spree Start-up Partners working group.

40 graduates were honored on 21.11.2024 for their outstanding achievements as the best in dual training in the concert hall in Frankfurt (Oder). All of them completed their exams with at least 92 points and thus achieved the grade "very good".

On November 21, 2024, the Spreepark event hall in Beeskow provided a large stage for start-ups in the Oderland-Spree region. The event was hosted by the Oderland-Spree start-up partners' working group, which presented the 2024 Founder Award and the 2024 Encouragement Award on this evening. The "Succession Award for the Oderland-Spree Region", sponsored by the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Frankfurt (Oder) Chamber of Skilled Crafts, was also presented for the first time in the region.

The "Chefinsache/Chefsache" campaign for skilled workers and locations was launched in Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Märkisch-Oderland (MOL) with an impressive poster campaign. The aim of the campaign is to highlight the Metropolitan Region East as an attractive place to live and work and to support regional companies in recruiting skilled workers.

The economic region of Frankfurt (Oder) and Eisenhüttenstadt continues to grow. In addition to the expansion of the "Log Plaza" logistics center in Frankfurt (Oder), Eisenhüttenstadt is also setting new accents: A 160-hectare industrial area is being developed here for logistics and industrial companies.

The number of apprenticeships registered with the employment agency in East Brandenburg is almost exactly the same as last year. In Frankfurt (Oder) and the districts of Märkisch-Oderland and Oder-Spree, employers from the regional economy and administration registered a total of 2,339 company-based apprenticeships, which is 2 fewer than in the previous year.

On October 11, 2024, representatives of the European twin cities of Tornio-Haparanda (FI-SE), Valga-Valka (EE-LV) and Gorizia-Nova Gorica (IT-SI) met with the city leaders of Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice at Frankfurt City Hall. The exchange focused on joint, cross-border urban development projects.

Once again this year, numerous representatives from business, politics and transport are expected at the world's largest trade fair for transport technology at Messe Berlin. Innovative solutions for sustainable #mobility will be discussed together. You are welcome to visit us at the stand of our service provider IPG Infrastruktur- und Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH in the CityCube, Hall B | 210.

The "Our village has a future" competition has been held at federal and state level for decades and makes the commitment of the village population to the future of the villages visible. It is designed to support a long-term development process. Last week, the district evaluation committee visited the participating villages. A total of five villages successfully applied: Werbig, Dolgelin, Zechin, Ortwig and Reichenberg.

On August 5, 2024, the Voivode of Lubuskie Marek Cebula received the representatives of the Euroregion PRO EUROPA VIADRINA, Mr. Jacek Wójcicki, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Polish Municipalities of the Euroregion "Pro Europa Viadrina", and Mr. Rainer Schinkel, Chairman of the association "Mittlere Oder" e.V., for a working meeting.

By October 15, 2024, companies can apply for the marketing award in the categories of direct marketing, food industry and rural and nature tourism. Applications in the first two categories can take part in the competition for the EDEKA Regional Award at the same time.

Mr. Rainer Schinkel, Alderman and Head of Department I of the district of Märkisch-Oderland, met with Mr. Krzysztof Karwatowicz, the new District Administrator of the district of Gorzowski, to discuss past and future cooperation in Gorzow.

WirtschaftsWoche, together with main sponsor Generali, premium partner Lavazza, partner BVMW and scientific partner Handelsblatt Research Institute, is looking for Germany's most sustainable companies in 2024 with the aim of recognizing medium-sized pioneers in the field of corporate sustainability.

The AGRARGENOSSENSCHAFT NEUZELLE, an agricultural enterprise equipped with state-of-the-art technology and "scattered" across 18 municipalities and 13 locations in south-east Brandenburg, was awarded the pro agro Marketing Prize 2024 in the direct marketing category. As active cooperative members, the more than 60 families rely on closed cycles as a quality feature.

With the onset of the Ukraine crisis and the inflation-related price trends for food across the board, the reluctance to buy is also affecting small and medium-sized companies in the food industry in Brandenburg. The opportunity to influence consumer attitudes and, not least, purchasing behaviour in the medium term in these times had already been recognized by the Brandenburg Food Industry Entrepreneurs' Initiative and flanked by campaigns in 2022 and 2023.

In perfect weather, around 75,000 visitors made their way to rural Brandenburg on the second weekend in June to find out about agriculture, regional products and economic cycles, discover the region's farmers and get to know the faces behind the products better at the largest state-wide event. The organizers, pro agro e.V., the Brandenburg State Farmers' Association and the Brandenburg Rural Women's Association, and the almost 150 hosts were very satisfied.

This year, the Oderland-Spree start-up partners working group is once again looking for committed entrepreneurs who have successfully implemented their business idea. To this end, the initiative presented the Founder Award 2024 at the East Brandenburg Founder & Entrepreneur Day in Strausberg on June 6.

Cycling is an important economic factor in tourism. Just how important was examined as part of the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route 2023 cycle traffic analysis, which was commissioned by the district of Spree-Neisse/Wokrejs Sprjewja-Nysa on behalf of several project partners, including Märkisch-Oderland.

Over the next two years, the city of Frankfurt (Oder) will develop the "Industriegebiet an der A12" (IG A12), which was secured under planning law with the B-Plan Statutes (BP-18-002) from 2013, in terms of media technology and traffic. The industrial area on the A12 is located south of the A12 freeway in the Frankfurt (Oder) district, directly next to the Frankfurt (Oder)-West freeway exit and south of the Frankfurt (Oder)-Süd freight village.

Slight spring recovery on the labor market / Under 14 thousand unemployed again in East Brandenburg: In the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree, a total of 13,976 people were registered as unemployed in April. This is 267 fewer than in March and 334 more than in April a year ago. The unemployment rate fell slightly to 6.2 percent, compared to 6.3 percent in March.

At the invitation of Michael Kellner (Member of Parliament and PStS in the BMWK) and Erdmute Scheufele (Member of the Oder-Spree District Council), a press event was held on March 7, 2024 at the Fürstenwalde lock with an alliance of local shippers, shipping companies and port operators as well as the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce to usher in a new era of inland shipping on the Oder-Spree Canal.

Mayor Claus Junghanns and Jochem Freyer, Chairman of the Management Board of the Frankfurt (Oder) Employment Agency, recently visited the educational institution Quirito Academy Frankfurt (Oder) to find out about the integration offers for refugees and migrants in the labor market.

There is an urgent need for action in planning the transport infrastructure around the airport and Tesla region. This is shown by the joint "Traffic and bottleneck analysis of the airport surroundings and Tesla region" by the municipal working group Dialogforum Airport Berlin Brandenburg and the Berlin-Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce.

ALCARO Invest, an owner-managed and nationwide specialist for the development, operation and letting of logistics and commercial real estate, has received planning permission for the second logistics property in Log Plaza Frankfurt (Oder). René Wilke, Mayor of the City of Frankfurt (Oder), personally handed over the building permit yesterday to Peter Bergmann and Arne Haeger, the responsible project managers at ALCARO Invest.

With the district reform in 1993, implemented under the then Prime Minister Manfred Stolpe, the independent city of Frankfurt (Oder) and the newly founded district of Oder-Spree officially became neighbors. After more than 30 years of good cooperation and neighbourly relations, there was a premiere on Tuesday, 20 February 2024: the administrative heads met together for the first time.

The STIC Märkisch-Oderland Economic Development Corporation welcomed around 50 invited guests to the STIC's conference room in Strausberg on January 30 as part of its traditional New Year's reception.

Axel Vogel, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg, visited Frankfurt (Oder) as part of his tour of districts and independent cities.

Unemployment rises by 969 people as usual for the season – unemployment rate at 6.5 percent: In January, a total of 14,558 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree.

On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 start-ups from the Oderland-Spree region met in the Senate Hall of the European University Viadrina for a festive event.

Land Brandenburg promotes development after successful application - The city of Frankfurt (Oder) has received a funding decision from the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg (ILB) for the expansion of the transport infrastructure and for the construction of media technology infrastructure in the industrial area on the A12.

The "Sustainable business parks" round table is entering the next round. Issues relating to compensation and replacement measures were discussed in depth and case studies were discussed together.

A total of 17 projects were submitted this year, twelve of which were successfully realized or in some cases are still being realized. It was painted, sprayed, dug, concreted and screwed. More than 20 regional companies helped in the process.

To promote innovative product developments and marketing concepts in rural areas, pro agro - Association for the Promotion of Rural Areas in the Brandenburg-Berlin Region e. V. is offering the "pro agro Marketing Award 2024 - natürlich Brandenburg!"

In August, a total of 14,039 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder) and in the Märkisch-Oderland and Oder-Spree districts. That is 477 more than in July and 516 more than in August 2022. The unemployment rate rose to 6.3 percent. In July, it had been at 6.0 and in August last year at 6.1 percent.

Applications and nominations up to 31 August possible | As one of the ExistenzGründerPartner ODERLAND-SPREE invites the city of Frankfurt (Oder) all young enterprises to apply now for the Existenzgründerpreis ODERLAND-SPREE.

As reported by the office of the expert committee for land values in the Oder-Spree district and in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the eponymous expert committee decided on May 17, 2023, the current property market report.

With effect from June 1, 2023, the position of Head of Economic Development in the Municipality of Frankfurt (Oder) has been reoccupied with Sebastian Jungnickel. Claus Junghanns, Mayor and Councillor for Order and Safety, Economy and Central Services: "I am very pleased that the city of Frankfurt (Oder) could win a competent and strong leadership head of economic development with Sebastian Jungnickel. ..."

The city of Frankfurt (Oder) would like to present its budget more transparently and make it accessible at a lower threshold in order to make municipal activities and their financing even more comprehensible. This is to succeed from now on with the "interactive budget", a tool of the company Axians IKVS GmbH, which can now be viewed on the city website.

The annual statistical report 2022 of the district Märkisch-Oderland has been published.
In this is for the already 30th time a collection of data and facts from the most diverse subject areas of the district.

The small grants programs continue! There are still funds in the pots and the Aktion-Brandenburg team of agrathaer is looking forward again to exciting applications to your project ideas.

Further development of the Ziltendorf marshalling yard in cooperation with the port of Eisenhüttenstadt to ensure a sustainable freight transport infrastructure, also taking into account the existing and planned commercial and industrial areas in the Oderland-Spree region.

Associate and head of department Rainer Schinkel accepted the invitation of the Brandenburg State Chancellery and the Senate Department for Urban Development, Construction and Housing of the State of Berlin to participate in the workshop on the development of axes in the capital region on April 17 in Berlin.

The Planning Funding Grant (PFR) will be extended through 2024.

Unemployment rate falls to 6.2 percent - Moderate increase on previous year

In this week the care and geriatrics network Frankfurt (Oder) together with the promotion of economy country Brandenburg GmbH (WFBB) invited to the 1st specialized day for the recruitment of coworkers in the health service.

President of the East Brandenburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the future of the Oder: "Our state has many rivers and canals that are very well suited for shipping. They offer connections to Poland and the Czech Republic as well as to the Western European waterway network. As a transport route, the Oder can make a valuable contribution to climate protection. It is an option to shift more traffic off the road."

The European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) is participating in the European research network project "Care4Care", which has set itself the goal of improving the working situation of nursing staff. Researchers in six European countries will develop proposed solutions for the care situation at national and EU level over the next three years as part of the project, which has a budget of 2.7 million euros.

A few days ago, around 40 representatives of the city administrations and city councils from Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice, as well as the Brandenburg Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Planning, the Joint Berlin-Brandenburg Planning Office and the Marshal's Office of the Lubuskie Voivodeship, met in the Collegium Polonicum in Słubice for a workshop on cross-border urban development in the twin city.

February 9 marks the launch of the Regional Development Fund of the Municipal Working Group Dialogue Forum Airport Berlin Brandenburg. Five Brandenburg municipalities and one Berlin district are paying over 100,000 euros into the fund. This entitles them to apply for funding for projects in the airport region that are of cross-regional and intermunicipal significance and cross administrative boundaries.

Use strengths and continue to shape the future - On the evening of February 1, the STIC Economic Development Corporation Märkisch-Oderland welcomed to its traditional New Year's reception in the conference room of the STIC in Strausberg.

Since January 20, the Green Week, the world's largest trade fair for food, agriculture and horticulture, has been in full swing. Thousands of people are still drawn to the Berlin exhibition grounds until January 29. Like also the alderman Rainer Schinkel. The tourism association Seenland Oder-Spree (TSOS) represents the entire travel region and thus also the district Märkisch-Oderland.

The federal cabinet has approved the extension of access relief for the receipt of short-time allowance. Until June 30, 2023, it will continue to be sufficient if at least 10 percent of employees in companies have a work loss of more than 10 percent. In addition, there will be no build-up of negative working time balances. Temporary workers can also be supported.

Action period in Strausberg and local parts until 31 January 2023 extended - in Strausberg surf many consumers so far slowed down by the Internet. Thanks to the federal funding program "Broadband Expansion", which is financed by the federal government, the state and the district, slow Internet speeds could soon be a thing of the past. How is that possible? Quite simply, the federal funding program provides that underserved addresses located in the so-called white spot can receive a fiber-optic home connection 100% free of charge.

The district budget Märkisch-Oderland 2023 has been prepared. According to the current status, the planned expenses of 429 million euros are only matched by income of 419.8 million euros. The shortfall of almost 9.2 million euros will be offset by a withdrawal from the reserve. The rate of assessment of the district levy remains as already in the year 2022 with 39.3 per cent.

Members of the Euroregion deal with future funding priorities. On Friday, 02 December 2022, the members of the Euroregion PRO EUROPA VIADRINA, Middle Oder e.V., met in the Uckermark room of the East Brandenburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry for their regular general meeting.

With the purchase of the area of Reuther STC by Daiwa House one of the further industrial settlement in the district Oder-Spree prepares itself.

On the part of the Technology and Trade Center Frankfurt (Oder) GmbH (TeGeCe) is currently the market sounding for a commercial space of about 14,500 square meters, which offers a variety of uses.

Unemployment rate in East Brandenburg unchanged at 5.8 percent - In October, a total of 12,932 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. That is one person less than in October and 462 more than in November 2021. The unemployment rate remained at 5.8 percent. In November 2021, it had been at 5.5 percent.

Much progress reported at the 3rd Municipal Policy Forum - The working group leaders of the Municipal Working Group Dialogue Forum Airport Berlin Brandenburg were able to report above all many positive things about important projects that are of significance for the region as a whole. Topics included the Joint Cycle Route Concept for the airport region, the Regional Development Fund, and the Climate Protection Network.

Alcaro Invest GmbH has completed and fully leased the first of several planned logistics properties at the Log Plaza Frankfurt (Oder) site. Namely, to the EV Cargo group of companies, which will use the logistics property with more than 47,500 square meters of leasable space for the distribution and storage of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Company visit to Apus - Zero Emission GmbH in Strausberg: The Strausberg-based company won the Brandenburg Future Prize in 2021. As early as next year, its zero-emission Apus i-2 aircraft is scheduled to take off powered by hydrogen. The construction of a new production hall at the Strausberg airfield is nearing completion.

The city of Frankfurt (Oder) has once again successfully participated in the city competition Papieratlas. The previous calendar year was considered for this.

Brandenburg presented itself as a strong innovative location for rail transport technology. Oderland-Spree was part of the stand of the capital region Berlin Brandenburg with a total of 80 companies and institutions.

For the fourth time, the economic development stakeholders exchanged views on the joint focal points of their work, such as the "Sustainable Business Park Development" round table or the new settlements and current planning processes in the region.

The regional management to support the "Tesla environment development" together with the regional planning office today presented the new regional brochure for the Oderland-Spree economic region at this year's InnoTrans 2022.

The first "Sustainable Industrial Estates" round table was held successfully with more than 25 participants. A survey among the participants revealed a need for further events on topics such as "Making existing areas sustainable", energy supply and management of commercial areas.

On 17 March 2022 as part of the regional management to support the TESLA environment development in the Oderland-Spree region
The stakeholders of the economic development have exchanged views on the joint work priorities for the third time. As an introduction to the focus topic of this meeting, the Regional Management Oderland-Spree presented the regional commercial and industrial site monitoring, the technical implementation of which was subsequently presented in more detail by the Brandenburg Economic Development Corporation (WFBB).

Since January 1, 2021, the Oderland-Spree Regional Management has been supporting municipalities and economic actors in issues related to commercial and industrial development. We look back on a successful first year.

The kick-off event for the establishment of strategic planning bases for the municipalities on 18.11.2021 was a complete success with over 40 participants from the municipalities.

Under the PFR 2020 planning funding guideline, the state of Brandenburg supports municipalities from the Oderland-Spree region in planning for new housing, economic settlements, transportation and climate protection projects.

Economic development stakeholders met for the second time in 2021 to reflect on current projects and commercial developments.

On October 9, 2021, Tesla held its County Fair, a kind of "open house". Thousands of people accepted the invitation and visited the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. Among them was the Regional Management Oderland-Spree.

Once the municipal discussions have been completed in July 2021 and all the information received from the municipalities has been processed, the site exposés on vacant commercial and industrial sites will be online.

On October 7, 2021, the Berlin-Brandenburg Electric e. V. invited to its club lounge evening at the Esplanade Resort Bad Saarow to exchange information about developments in e-mobility. This time also with it was the regional management Oderland-Spree, which reported on the economic impact of Tesla settlement.

At the invitation of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts, about 10 stakeholders from the skilled crafts, accommodation and hospitality, construction and housing industries, as well as regional management and economic development agencies have exchanged views on the tangible effects of the TESLA settlement.

The stakeholders in economic development - from the local to the state level - exchanged views for the first time on the future joint focal points of their work. In addition to the presentation of the working methods of the regional management and the results of the commercial space survey, the focus was on future topics and the involvement of further target groups.

The construction of the new Tesla Gigafactory is progressing rapidly for all to see. An investment project of this magnitude requires coordinated environmental development that aligns economic, environmental and social requirements.