It's a summer morning, the air is somehow fresher than anywhere else. The sun rises behind a rapeseed field, the first cows come out of the barn to graze. It's quiet, it seems quieter than the rest of the world. The slight smell of the cowshed is less disturbing than it should be, it's just fresh country air. Everything is peaceful, idyllic.
This is not the beginning of a cheesy country doctor novel, but the description of an innovation location. Because innovation does not only exist in the midst of high-rise buildings and concrete jungles in the big city. The Bavarian "province" is home to many innovators. From hidden world market leaders, the hidden champions, to small sustainable pilot projects, the hinterland offers fertile ground for ideas.
What does the country offer for innovation?
When you think of an innovation location, you probably don't see a small village with 500 inhabitants on the edge of a forest. However, such locations offer companies more advantages than you might see at first glance.
One advantage of rural areas is the available space, which is a decisive factor for many companies. In contrast to the often densely built-up and expensive city, there is significantly more free space in the countryside, which is ideal for building new infrastructure or laying cables. In addition, land prices are much cheaper and less competitive, which makes it much easier to plan and implement new projects. But it is not just the economic advantages that speak in favor of the countryside.
In rural regions, there is often a strong sense of cohesion within the community. Local people work more closely with local businesses, which not only benefits companies, but also creates new opportunities for citizens. Due to the manageable size of the communities, decision-making processes are often shorter and planning processes are less complicated, which also promotes innovation. An important factor that may not be considered when first thinking about locations for innovation is the local quality of life. According to surveys, the quality of life of residents in the countryside is higher than in the city. This may be due to various factors, such as proximity to nature or fresh air, but it also has something to do with the safety and family-friendliness of a location.
Bad Kissingen: Innovation location in the midst of thermal water
With a population of around 23,000, the district town of Bad Kissingen and its district of the same name are more of a Bavarian province. Surrounded by small villages and a historic town center, it offers its residents a classic small-town idyll. Of course, a lot here revolves around health - Bad Kissingen is one of the best-known health resorts in Germany. But the town and its surrounding area have much more to offer!
Hidden between villages and thermal springs are world market leaders, such as the company perma tec, and major innovations, such as the Rhön-Saale Start-up and Innovation Center (RSG), the Center for Telemedicine (ZTM) and the Technology Transfer Center (TTZ-KG). The district of Bad Kissingen was even named "Municipality of the Year 2023", a special prize of the "Grand Prix of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises". But what makes the region so special? In addition to the high quality of life, Bad Kissingen impresses with its strategically favorable location. With direct access to the A7 and A71 highways, the region is centrally located in Germany and is easily accessible for both commuters and companies.
In addition, the district has been focusing on targeted economic development for years. Politicians, companies and the local population all pull together to drive projects forward. This close cooperation ensures that planning is often quicker and less complicated than elsewhere. So it's no wonder that numerous companies have settled here. Of course, a rural location does not only have advantages. The companies there have to network and cooperate all the more if they are not to be left behind. One way in which the Bad Kissingen district economic development agency supports its companies is by working with the Bayern Innovativ GmbH Expert Network Bavaria. Here, the business development experts can find answers to the questions of local companies and thus provide them with good advice in any situation. A close exchange with each other is essential, especially in rural areas where partners are not located in the immediate vicinity.
How does innovation enrich the country?
The country is good for innovation, but is innovation also good for the country? The answer: yes! Innovative companies that set up in rural areas bring a breath of fresh air to the village. It is obvious that more companies bring more jobs to the countryside. This not only creates new prospects for the villagers, but also strengthens the local economy and ensures greater prosperity in the region.
Companies need infrastructure - whether for logistics or for their employees. Whether fast road connections, well-developed public transport or a high-performance internet connection: companies require their locations to be well connected. This need provides a decisive incentive for modernization. Better internet, more efficient transport connections and perhaps even a sustainable heat supply not only benefit companies, but also directly improve the lives of local people. However, innovations not only lead to technical improvements, but also to new ways of thinking. Companies often bring employees from outside the village who bring different perspectives and ideas with them. This can broaden the mindset of the village community and strengthen openness to new topics. This is particularly important when it comes to future issues such as sustainability. When companies develop or use technologies that rely on renewable energy or reduce CO₂ emissions, for example, this can also bring about a change in thinking among the local population - and provide an impetus for greater commitment to the environment.
Markt Erlbach: a municipality in search of innovation
Markt Erlbach is a municipality where the citizens have taken innovation into their own hands. The residents wanted to drive forward the energy transition and become a role model for other municipalities in a sustainable way. The energy transition officer and the sustainability round table, together with the local council, approached various companies with the request: "We want sustainable electricity and heat directly from our community. The people of Markt Erlbach were able to fulfill this wish by working with Naturstrom AG. After intensive planning and unforeseen complications, such as supply bottlenecks caused by the coronavirus pandemic or price fluctuations due to the war in Ukraine, the heating plant and solar thermal systems in Markt Erlbach were realized and more than 140 buildings, both public and private, were connected.
Small rural communities such as Markt Erlbach are very suitable for such future-oriented projects for various reasons. There is much more space than in large cities, and it is often not yet built on, which makes it easier to lay pipes or build a large plant. What is particularly important, however, is the mindset of local citizens. The cliché of the traditional and innovation-critical rural population has long been outdated. Markt Erlbach is the best example of this. The local people desperately wanted more sustainable alternatives for their existing energy and heat supply and therefore pulled together out of conviction to bring innovation to their village. Such a project could not be realized without direct cooperation with the local people.
Innovation away from the big cities: How ideas and places enrich each other
Innovation and the provinces - for many, that sounds like a contradiction in terms. But it is precisely here, far away from the big cities, that exciting projects are being created that not only produce new technologies, but also strengthen the community and sustainably improve local life.
Whether Bad Kissingen with its strategic location and targeted economic development or Markt Erlbach with its successful energy transition - these examples show how fruitful the interplay of innovation and rural community can be. In the countryside, space and favorable conditions meet the motivation of people who are willing to break new ground together.
Companies benefit from strong local connections, short decision-making processes and a high quality of life. At the same time, the establishment of innovative companies brings modernization and fresh impetus to the region. Openness to change and future issues such as sustainability is growing - often triggered by projects that have an impact far beyond the village community.
In the Bavarian countryside, not only do the fields blossom, it also offers fertile ground for innovation!