(January 5, 2007) Bavaria has done it again. As of December 15, 2006, the number of foreign high-techs in Bavaria came to 1267. Up 61 companies from the December 15, 2005 mark, the total represented a new record for Bavaria and for any other state in Germany.
The rise is attributable to several factors. After buying up many of the country's niche manufacturers and much of its commercial real estate, foreign investors are now snapping up Germany's providers of technical services – or extending their networks of affiliates. Thanks to the strengths of its Europe-best IT, aerospace, automotive and life sciences sectors, Bavaria is a center of such services. As such, it is a main recipient of this inflow of investment.
The number of foreign-owned providers of high-tech services in Bavaria rose 26%, from 62 to 85, making it the fastest growing sector of investment. The other fastest growers among the top ten were the life sciences (7.3%, 124 to 133), automotive (7.1%, 98 to 105) and industrial technology (5%, 100 to 105) sectors. The largest sector remained ICT, which registered a 3.8% rise, going from 395 to 410, followed by the life sciences and electronics (up 3.7%, 108 to 112). Fastest-growing major country of investment was Sweden. The number of Swedish-owned high-techs in Bavaria went from 33 to 43, a rise of 30%. Other fast-growers were Switzerland (up 18%, 61 to 70), Finland (up 18%, 24 to 28) and France (16%, 82 to 95). Largest country of investment remained the USA.
As of December 15, 2006, there were 580 American-owned high-techs in Bavaria, up 2% from the previous year's figure. Numbers two through four were Japan (99, unchanged), France and Austria (73, down 1%). Munich and Nuremberg account for the lion's share of investment in Bavaria. Munich is home to 396 foreign high-techs, up 21 or 6% from 2005; Nuremberg to 64, up 6 or 10%. Factor in their metropolitan areas, and the two cities' dominance is even more pronounced. Greater Munich has 856 foreign high-techs – or two thirds of the statewide total. The corresponding figure for Greater Nuremberg: 100.

Foreign high-techs in Bavaria
as of December 15th
2006: 1267
2005: 1206
2004: 1162