Germany - Innovation Strategy for the Berlin-Brandenburg Capital Region 2035

The Innovation Strategy 2035 for the Berlin-Brandenburg Capital Region (InnoBB 2035) was developed jointly by the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg and adopted in July 2026. The objective is to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of the Capital Region, accelerate the practical application of innovations, and align regional economic and innovation policies more efficiently to support ongoing transformation processes.

From innoBB to InnoBB 2035

Cross-Land innovation policy dates back to 2011, when Berlin and Brandenburg adopted the first innoBB as a joint innovation strategy. This was followed by innoBB 2025, adopted in 2019, which identified areas including digitalisation, regulatory sandboxes and testbeds, Work 4.0 and skilled labour, and start-ups and entrepreneurship as cross-cluster priorities.

InnoBB 2035 builds on this development and on the innovation networks established over the past 15 years. Businesses, research institutions, start-ups and other stakeholders are to continue working together across the two federal states.

Vision and strategic objectives

The Strategy’s vision is: “We are the Capital Region – the place where innovation shapes the future and drives transformation.” Berlin-Brandenburg aims to develop as a dynamic, future-ready innovation region in Europe and to bring innovation into both the economy and society.

To this end, the Strategy defines two overarching economic and innovation policy objectives: strengthening economic competitiveness and resilience through innovation, and strengthening the innovation capacity and innovation activity of innovation ecosystems. It also defines four transformation objectives. Innovation is intended to support: digital transformation; reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and greater resource efficiency; responses to demographic change and the promotion of social participation; and security and defence capability.

Digital skills objectives

• Promoting Lifelong Learning: Expanding flexible training programs to continuously update digital and future-oriented skills in response to ongoing technological transformation.

• Closing Skill Gaps: Enhancing competencies in key areas such as digital tools, automation, and modern technologies across the regional workforce.

• Supporting Modern Work Environments: Helping companies implement innovative working models and continuous professional development to strengthen the region's competitiveness.

Five areas of the future

The Strategy focuses the joint innovation policy of the two Länder on five cross-industry and cross-sectoral future fields:

• Digital Technologies & Creative Tech
• Smart Energy Systems
• Innovative Mobility
• Health & Participation
• Innovative Sustainable Production & Materials

Within Digital Technologies and Creative Tech, digital and creative technologies are understood both as fields of innovation in their own right and as cross-cutting technologies. These include, among others, artificial intelligence, data management, machine learning, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, cloud and edge computing, and 5G/6G.

Four success factors

The future fields are complemented by four success factors that are intended to guide action: knowledge and technology transfer, corporate innovation culture and entrepreneurship,lifelong learning and new forms of work, and innovation-friendly framework conditions. They are intended to reduce barriers to innovation and improve the conditions for converting knowledge and technologies into marketable solutions.

With regard to lifelong learning, the focus includes skills development, continuing education and training related to innovation and technology, as well as new forms of work such as remote working and agile teams.

Implementation, governance and funding

For implementation, Berlin and Brandenburg are establishing a joint cross-Land steering body at State Secretary level, led by the departments responsible for economic affairs. Working-level bodies support substantive implementation and networking. Regular monitoring is intended to capture activities, results and longer-term impacts and to enable adjustments where necessary.

The Wirtschaftsförderung Land Brandenburg (WFBB) and Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH support the implementation and support networking as well as knowledge and technology transfer. A specific overall budget for InnoBB 2035 is not included in the strategy.