‭Regional Industrial Policy – The Saarland‬ ‭ Transformation Project in Comparative Context‬

In this workshop we derive practical and theoretical insights from ongoing and historical regional industrial policy projects. Young scholars, researchers, interested policy-makers and stakeholders will find a conducive environment to learn from ongoing policy experience and recent advances in academic research.

We would like to use the experience in the Saarland as a catalyst for a broader conversation about regional industrial policy experiences and new economic thinking on industrial policy theory and practice in the European context.

The Saarland Tranformationsfonds

The German Bundesland Saarland in 2022 has introduced a transformation project (‘Transformationsfonds’) that aims to overhaul the economic makeup of the declining automotive and steel sectors.

This transformation project aims at retaining and creating new industrial jobs in the region, and to contribute to the green transition. As Finance Minister Jakob von Weizsäcker expressed in his speech to State Parliament, he hopes that it may serve as a pilot and possible template for other regional industrial policy initiatives in Germany and Europe. The project is already well underway and we may learn from this and other initiatives how policy is designed and implemented, which challenges it faces, how it is sequenced, and how stake-holders are involved and motivated.

As part of the program, we will visit the steelworks in Dillingen which is undertaking a multibillion Euro investment effort to produce green steel by 2028. These efforts are supported by the Transformationsfonds and the federal government.

View full program here.