"As traditional manufacturing sectors and regions fell into crisis"2, "new firms and entrepreneurialism have become the focus of business interest."3 Entrepreneurship is the "... pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled ..."4 or "... the process of creating something new with value ..."5. Entrepreneurs create jobs, facilitate productive change and vitalize competition6 and hence most cities support them ("Industry" analysis · Appendix 1).
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Figure 1 - Baden-Württemberg
The city Heidelberg of the German state Baden-Württemberg is located in the Rhein-Neckar Triangle (· Figure 17) and said to be attractive for entrepreneurs in biotech, life-sciences and telecommunications.8 Highlights of the city′s achievements are:
The German magazine "Focus" chose Heidelberg as the Best City for Start-Ups and as "Germany′s Number 2 in Future Potential and Economic Power".
The RNT won the national BioRegio competition.
Heidelberg is the "[m]ost Important Research Place in Germany".
No. 4 in Germany in Future Economic Growth said the magazine "Capital".
Challenges for biotech companies "are the creation and protection of intellectual property, the effective use of enterprise technology to capture and share knowledge, and the increasing pressures of globalization, convergence and the regulatory environment." And "the experience of Route 128 and Silicon Valley ... suggests that there are important regional sources of competitive advantage." What are these sources for Heidelberg?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Motivation "We are living the age of the entrepreneur"
- Summary
- Structure and Key to Symbols
- Quality of Life
- Costs of Doing Business and Regulations
- Infrastructure
- Sources of Innovation - a Cluster
- Business and Technology Park
- Financial Support
- Soft Support
- Enterprise Culture and Creative Climate
- Conclusion and Future
- Appendices
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This assignment analyzes the factors influencing entrepreneurship in Heidelberg, Germany, within the Rhein-Neckar region. It explores the strengths and weaknesses of Heidelberg as a location for entrepreneurial activity, focusing on key factors like quality of life, costs of doing business, infrastructure, innovation, and support systems.
- Attracting and retaining a qualified workforce
- Quality of life factors influencing location choice
- Impact of business costs and regulations on entrepreneurship
- Role of infrastructure in supporting entrepreneurial activity
- Exploring the presence and influence of innovation clusters
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Motivation: Introduces the concept of entrepreneurship as a vital force in modern economies, highlighting its importance in creating jobs and driving innovation.
- Quality of Life: Examines the positive and negative aspects of Heidelberg's quality of life, including its beauty, history, attractions, and challenges related to housing, costs, and childcare.
- Costs of Doing Business and Regulations: Explores the economic climate, labor costs, and regulatory environment that impact entrepreneurship in Heidelberg and Germany.
- Infrastructure: Analyzes the infrastructure available in Heidelberg, including transportation, research facilities, and technology support, to assess its suitability for entrepreneurial activity.
- Sources of Innovation - a Cluster: Discusses Heidelberg's position as a cluster for biotech and life sciences, evaluating the potential for innovation and collaboration within the region.
- Business and Technology Park: Examines the role of dedicated business and technology parks in supporting entrepreneurship and providing access to resources.
- Financial Support: Explores the availability and effectiveness of financial support mechanisms for entrepreneurs in Heidelberg.
- Soft Support: Analyzes the role of soft support systems, such as mentorship, networking, and community engagement, in fostering entrepreneurial activity.
- Enterprise Culture and Creative Climate: Discusses the overall entrepreneurial culture and climate within Heidelberg, examining factors that promote or hinder entrepreneurial growth.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Entrepreneurship, innovation, Heidelberg, Rhein-Neckar region, quality of life, costs of doing business, infrastructure, innovation clusters, biotech, life sciences, financial support, soft support, enterprise culture, creative climate.
- Quote paper
- Jochen Gary (Author), 2003, Influencing Entrepreneurship - Heidelberg, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/16788
