Two person talking about science in Munich.

Knowledge clusters Munich

IT and communication

Of the European locations for information and communication technology, Munich is number one, ahead of metropolises like Paris and London.

Info at a glance

  • many major international companies have chosen Munich as a location (for example Microsoft Germany, Google Germany, IBM, Apple GmbH)
  • Munich is number one of the European locations for information and communication technology

 

Isar Valley over Silicon Valley - IT Knowledge Cluster in Munich

Information and communication technology is one of the main pillars of the Munich economy. In 2017, over 77,000 employees liable to social security contributions were working in this sector in Munich, and the trend is growing. Of the European locations for information and communication technology, Munich is number one, ahead of metropolises like Paris and London.

This enviable position is due to various factors, primarily the extraordinary concentration of excellent universities and research institutes. Major international companies have chosen Munich including Microsoft Deutschland GmbH, Google Germany, IBM, the Chinese Alibaba Group, Apple GmbH, Capgemini Technology Services, Cisco Systems, NTT DoCoMo, Telefónica Germany and Huawei Technologies.

Alongside the market leaders many start-ups, innovative small and medium-sized businesses and a creative digital scene have made the Isar metropolis their home. Public and private initiatives drive the digitisation and networking of the players. These include the Zentrum Digitalisierung.Bayern initiated by the Free State of Bavaria, as well as associations like Isarnetz e.V., Digitale Stadt München e.V. and Münchner UnternehmerKreis IT.

Top-level conferences, e-commerce trade fairs and start-up events also demonstrate just how much know-how and expertise Munich has to offer. Every year in January the DLD (Digital Life Design) Conference draws representatives from business and science, founders, investors as well as politicians and artists to discuss the digital future. The Munich Web Week from 16th-25th May 2019 was also dedicated to the digital future at various locations throughout the city. Lectures, workshops and a BarCamp bring career starters, founders, bloggers and politicians together.

48forward has grown from a one-day conference in 2015 into a festival with platforms for international guests and public to discuss technological, cultural and social developments.

Messe München, with its top locations like the exhibition grounds, ICM, MOC and the new Conference Center Nord, provides optimum settings for major events of the IT and communication sector and has made a prominent name for itself with outstanding organisation and facilities.

Internet World EXPO, the largest e-commerce event in Europe, celebrated its 20th anniversary in march 2018 by setting new records in exhibitor and visitor numbers. Since 1997, the leading trade fair for online business has been exhibiting the constantly changing e-commerce sector.

The ICM (Munich's international congress centre) hosts the All Facebook Marketing Conference and the All Influencer Marketing Conference every year. Also at the ICM entrepreneurs, founders and investors meet yearly at the ICM for Bits & Pretzels, the world's biggest "founders breakfast". The MOC Veranstaltungscenter is staging the AWE EU (Augmented World Expo) since 2016, the world's largest event on the topic of Augmented and Virtual Reality.

Other interesting dates in the Munich event calendar include the Online B2B, the Data Driven Marketing Conference and the Mobile Tech Conference, the leading conference for mobile technology in the German-speaking region.

 

Past Congresses:

OOP | Internet World | IM. TOP | TDWI München | Command Control | DLD Conference | Big Data Marketing Day | MobileTech Conference | All Facebook Marketing Conference | All Influencer Marketing Conference | Bits & Pretzels | Web Developer Conference | Data Driven Marketing Conference | AWE Europe AR+VR Conference & Expo | ISPO Digitize Summit

 

 

Photo: Christian Kasper
Clusters Munich
A physician at a screen

Clusters Munich

Medicine

In all modesty, when it comes down to medicine, Munich is simply great.

In all modesty, when it comes down to medicine, Munich is simply great. In no other city in Germany are there so many scientists working on the development of new therapies and drugs and doing basic medical research.

A close-up of a pipette in Munich.

Clusters Munich

Life Science

The Munich Metropolitan Region performs quite well in an intensified global competition.

The Munich Metropolitan Region performs quite well in an intensified global competition: In 2016, approximately 190 biotechnology companies with 12,000 employees and approximately 35 pharmaceutical companies with 8,000 employees had their registered seat in the Munich region, indirectly securing jobs of approximately 4,000 employees working with 80 subcontractors and service providers.

Young woman is standing in a laboratory in Munich.

Clusters Munich

Science and research

Alone the presence of so many young people in the city is a clear indication that there are myriad university and non-university institutions for education and science in and around Munich.

Munich is a hive of research and teaching. Alone the presence of so many young people in the city is a clear indication that there are myriad university and non-university institutions for education and science in and around Munich. Add to this the numerous science-based companies who have their headquarters in the Isar metropolis.

Car at a charging station in Munich.

Clusters Munich

Automotive

Two global players, the BMW Group and commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN, call Munich and the Munich Metropolitan Region home.

Two global players, the BMW Group and commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN, call Munich and the Munich Metropolitan Region home. They are joined by a network of countless suppliers, specialists, developers and service providers.

Two men are looking at a screen.

Clusters Munich

Aerospace technology

The Munich region is one of the major locations for aerospace technology in Germany.

The Munich region is one of the major locations for aerospace technology in Germany and stands out through its extensive scope and depth of sectors. Companies and research institutions are active in aeronautics, space technology, and satellite navigation.

Two person talking about science in Munich.

Clusters Munich

IT and communication

Of the European locations for information and communication technology, Munich is number one.

Of the European locations for information and communication technology, Munich is number one, ahead of metropolises like Paris and London.

Person signs.

Clusters Munich

Insurance and banking

Munich is Germany's number one location for insurance and is only second to Frankfurt for banking. Munich is even the global leader in reinsurance.

Munich is Germany's number one location for insurance and is only second to Frankfurt for banking. Munich is even the global leader in reinsurance.

Paintbrushes and paintings in a studio located in the Kreativquartier in Munich.

Clusters Munich

Culture and creativity

Munich is the headquarters of leading German literary publishers.

Munich is the headquarters of leading German literary publishers; this is where the Süddeutsche Zeitung is printed, the daily newspaper with the highest circulation and probably the most renowned quality newspaper in Germany; the Munich film industry generates 18% of the German turnover; Munich is also a world-class musical and cultural city with award-winning orchestras, stages and museums.