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.

This year's trainee photo competition organised by the Brandenburg Chambers of Industry and Commerce under the motto "Training. Passion. Me.", 81 photos were submitted from all over Brandenburg. The entries impressively show how diverse, practical and personal training is today. An online vote was held to select the best photos. The topic struck a chord: 8,000 votes were cast.

A total of 185 teams submitted business concepts for the second phase of the Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition (BPW) 2026. Ten teams were nominated for the second award. They presented their concepts on 29 April 2026 at the Siemens Center in Berlin.

The state of Brandenburg has published a new guide that shows how culture and the creative industries can help to keep city centres vibrant and turn vacancies into opportunities.

The aim of the regional history laboratory Terra Transoderana is to bring regional history to life and make it tangible across the German-Polish border. The project of the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) and the University of Zielona Góra is being funded over three years with around 920,000 euros as part of the European Union's Interreg VI A Brandenburg – Poland programme.

On 24 April, the anniversary year for the 100th birthday of the writer Günter de Bruyn officially began with the opening of the office of the foundation of the same name in Beeskow/Bezkow (Oder-Spree/Odra-Sprjewja) and the Günter de Bruyn House in Beeskow, which will revitalise an important place in Brandenburg's literary and cultural history and make it accessible to the public.

The district of Märkisch-Oderland has successfully completed the "Altlandsberg residential home" realisation competition. On 14 April 2026, the jury selected the winning design for the new residential home for children, adolescents and young adults with disabilities.

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.

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