Data collection template and questionnaire

Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony)

NUTS 1: DE9 Niedersachsen

NUTS 2 DE91 BRAUNSCHWEIG DE92 HANNOVER DE93 LÜNEBURG DE94 WESER-EMS

GDP per head (2000)

DE9 Niedersachsen²⁹²: 22.320 € (average of old Länder incl. Berlin: 26.426 € and excl. Berlin: 26.637 €)²⁹³

Germany²⁹⁴: 24.700 €

EU-15 = 100; DE9 = 96,0; DE91 = 106,1; DE92 = 108,2; DE93 = 78,5; DE94 = 90,1²⁹⁵

GDP at current prices/in Million € (2000)

DE9 Niedersachsen²⁹⁶: 176.579

Germany²⁹⁷: 2.030.000

EU-15²⁹⁸: 8 524 371

Employment rate (2000)

DE9 Niedersachsen 3.479.900 persons²⁹⁹ (65,6%)³⁰⁰ (German average = 68,8%)

DE91 BRAUNSCHWEIG: 752.000³⁰¹

DE92 HANNOVER: 1.023.100³⁰²

DE93 LÜNEBURG: 629.300³⁰³

DE94 WESER-EMS: 1.081.400³⁰⁴

Unemployment rate (2002)

DE9 Niedersachsen: 355.334 persons = 9,2%³⁰⁵ (German average: 9,8%; West 7,9%, East: 18,0%)

DE91 BRAUNSCHWEIG: 86.073 persons

DE92 HANNOVER: 101.983 persons

DE93 LÜNEBURG: 67.353 persons

DE94 WESER-EMS: 99.925 persons

Technological standing (5 point scale): 3,7
Strengths [short description] ³⁰⁶

With a surface area of 47.616 km², Niedersachsen is the second-largest of the German states. In 2002, the region was inhabited by 7.926.000 people (4. most densely populated region). The state has many natural resources (Oil, natural gas (one fifth of German consumption), potash and salt, plaster, gravel and sand, peat and brown coal) and offers also good conditions for logistics companies as it hosts the international airport of Hanover, 9 seaports, and extensive road, rail and waterway networks, many freight centres. Furthermore, Niedersachsen already possesses seven locations for intermodal transshipment between rail, road and water. The international airport in Hanover Airport has developed into a leading air freight transshipment point and a major logistical competence center for northern Germany. Besides, Niedersachsen has a number of seaports and shipyards on the German North Sea coast, adding to the dense infrastructure network covering motorways, aviation, water- and railways. Real estate prices are about 20% below the average of the states of former West Germany (less than €5 to €150 per square meter for sites). In some regions of the state wage levels are below the national average. Moreover, generally wages and salaries in Niedersachsen are about 5% lower than the average for the former West Germany.

The telecommunications infrastructure is well developed. Hannover benefits from high-speed networks, based on ISDN, ATM and in 1999 A-DSL, of Deutsche Telekom. Furthermore, Hannover is the focus of companies such as Mannesmann Arcor, o.tel.o, Viag Interkom and Worldcom. Vebacom, o.tel.o’s network provider, which hold headquarters here. Recently, the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany opened up a Hannover/Lower Saxony Chapter in Hannover.

From food industry to computer production the state offers broad variety of economic sectors, even if it is very concentrated on the automotive industry. In recent years, branches like the automotive industry, telecommunications, medial technology and biotechnology (Bio-RegioN) have gained in importance. The largest car manufacturer in Europe (VW), significant computer and industrial trade fairs in the world, and a shipyard where luxury cruise liners are constructed have set companies in Niedersachsen. The trade-fair site Hanover is the location for many important international fairs such as the EXPO 2000 exhibition, CeBIT (world’s largest fair for information and communications technology) Hannover Fair (world’s biggest exhibition of industrial innovation), EMO (metal processing industry), Euro-Blech, DOMOTEX and IAA Commercial Vehicles.

The automotive and automotive supplies industry is the sector, which employs most people in Niedersachsen (twice as many as the German average) and which is the most important sector of the economy. Production sites are located in Emden, Hannover, Osnabrück and Wolfsburg. Additionally, many domestic and foreign component suppliers have production facilities in Niedersachsen. Agriculture and food industry is the second largest and important economic sector in Niedersachsen (fruit production; cow-, pig- and chicken-breeding) followed by electrical engineering (3.rank with a large consumer electronics sector and Europe’s largest factory for CD production); mechanical engineering (4. rank with the Transrapid tested in the Emsland); rubber and plastics industry (5. rank); chemical (including biotechnology) industry (6. rank); medical technology, measurement technology, control engineering and optical industry (7.rank). Also the service sector is strongly developed with more than 66% of all persons in gainful employment working here. 80% of all business start up is in this sector. Furthermore the tourism industry employs 8% of all gainfully employed persons. Niedersachsen ranks fourth of the holiday regions for Germans.

A broad research base (foci: environmental research, energy research) is supported by 80 non-university research institutions. Niedersachsen has 11 universities and 13 public institutes of higher education, 6 Max-Planck institutes and 3 Fraunhofer installations as well as 120 non-university research institutions. Many are located in the Hannover-Braunschweig-Göttingen research triangle. Cooperation between industry and research is very close in the state (e.g. at the research airport Braunschweig). The newspaper sector is characterized by a broad variety of ca. 130 different papers (esp. at the local level) - with a circulation of about 2 mio. - like in nearly no other German state. 56 publishing house operate in the state.
Companies: Alcatel Kabel AG & Co., AMAZONENWERKE, H. Dreyer GmbH &Co KG, BABCOCK Materials Handling Divisions GmbH, Bahlsen KG, Berentzen-Gruppe AG, Blaupunkt Werke GmbH, Robert Bosch Elektronik GmbH, Conti Tech Holding GmbH, Continental AG, Deta-Akkumulatorenwerk GmbH, Faurecia GmbH &Co. KG, Haarmann und Reimer, Fritz Homann Lebensmittelwerke, Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, Lemförder Fahrwerktechnik AG & Co, Lohmann &Co.AG, MAN, Piepenbrock, Rockwell, Sealed Power Europe GmbH, Siemens AG, Solvay Automotive GmbH, Otis GmbH, H. C. Starck GmbH & Co. KG, Stiebel Eltron GmbH & Co.KG, Stöver Produktion GmbH & Co. KG, TUI, TRW Deutschland, Varta Batterie AG, Volkswagen AG, WABCO Fahrzeugbremsen, Wendeln GmbH & CO. KG,

In 1999 the state held rank 4 in investment per employee in the processing industry.³⁰⁷
Weaknesses [short description]

For a long period the unemployment rate was above the German average with high unemployment levels in costal cities such as Emden and Wilhelmshaven and in the eastern part (former border area) of the state.

Evolution in last decade [short description]

Employment has been slightly growing (1992: 3.337.500, 2002: 3.485.800) as also the GDP/per capita (1992: 19.412 €, 2002: 22.977 €).³⁰⁸

The (geopolitical and thus also economic) situation of Niedersachsen has been enhanced by the unification of Germany. Previously, the state had the longest border area to East Germany of any West German states, and today it has good access to the markets in the new eastern German states and of Eastern Europe. Nevertheless, the cancellation of the special funding as a border area created also demands for restructuring. The economic structure generally underwent a shift from a strongly agricultural focus towards an industrial focus with a strong high-tech/computer sector and important fairs (e.g. CeBIT) and at the same time from processing industry towards the service sector. The relevance of agriculture has thus been decreasing over the years. Moreover, the shipyards sector became modernized into a high-tech area.
Further Indicators
Public revenue and spending (mio €)³⁰⁹

	2001	2002
Revenue	43.342.660.771,84 DM	18.195.700.000 €
Spending	45.229.079.111,55 DM	21.685..000.000 €

Employment (at workplace) per sector

	Agriculture (including meat processing industry)	Industry (without building and construction trade)	Building and construction trade:	Trade, tourism, transportation:	Public and private services:^310
DE9 Niedersachsen^311	1999: 123.300^312 2000: 123.500^313 2001: 124.000^314 2000: 31.111^315 06/2001: 35.572^316	1999: 1.410.000^317 2000: 1.419.600^318 2001: 1.419.000^319 2000: 678.521^320 06/2001: 674.007^321	1999: 231.600^322 2000: 230.500^323 2001: 216.500^324 2000: 189.647^325 06/2001: 186.630^326	1999: 916.100^327 2000: 936.800^328 2001: 935.700^329 2000: 589.445^330 06/2001: 583.301^331	1999: 1.417.900^332 2000: 1.463.200^333 2001: 1.482.900^334 2000: 1.409.196^335 06/2001: 1.403.934^336
DE91 BRAUNSCHWEIG^337	06/2001: 5.147	06/2001: 197.954	06/2001: 33.037	06/2001: 109.348	06/2001: 319.087
DE92 HANNOVER ^338	06/2001: 6.363	06/2001: 119.931	06/2001:46.728	06/2001:182.769	06/2001: 451.245
DE93 LÜNEBURG:^339	06/2001: 9.617	06/2001: 90.942	06/2001:41.615	06/2001: 113.532	06/2001: 236.071
DE94 WESER-EMS:^340	06/2001: 14.445	06/2001: 207.100	06/2001:65.250	06/2001: 177.652	06/2001: 397.531

Industrial Structure

DE9 Niedersachsen

Branches of industry³⁴¹

Branch	Employment figures 06/2000
	DE9 Niedersachsen^342 (03/2003)	DE91 BRAUNSCHWEIG	DE92 HANNOVER	DE93 LÜNEBURG	DE94 WESER-EMS:
Mining, stones, coal, ore	8.133	2.738	3.846	1.916	4.769
Food and tobacco	75.264	11.988	16.098	23.275	37.273
Textile, clothing, leather	10.284	1.982	2.565	2.085	6.698
Timber	7.592	2.859	2.303	1.768	4.915
Paper, printing, publishing	38.030	10.447	15.139	5.665	15.300
Mineral oil processing industry	1.770	-	-	115	1.291
Chemical industry	27.833	5.698	10.472	7.394	5.500
Rubber and synthetic material	42.185	11.324	15.964	7.142	14.396
Glas, ceramic, processing of stones and earth	19.081	4.384	9.154	2.680	6.813
Metal (production, working, ..)	53.566	23.686	15.253	9.337	28.703
Mechanical engineering	50.580	10.388	19.680	12.182	22.861
Production of office machines, ICT techniques, optical equipment,…	54.403	24..836	26.237	5.704	12.030
Vehicle production	138.636	79.124	24.841	3.662	31.117
Furniture, jewellery, musical instruments, sports equipment, toys, recycling	12.599	3.737	7.647	4.026	10.116

Research base

Employment in education, higher education and research³⁴³

2001/02

58.798

Public expenditure on science and research³⁴⁴

2001	11.674.467.720,82 DM
2003	6.032,8 mio €

Students at universities³⁴⁵

Wintersemester	Total number of
1999/2000	143.307
2000/2001	143.559
2001/2002	150.104

Support infrastructure

Infrastructure (categories of streets)³⁴⁶

Category	Motorway (Autobahn)	Road network	Total
Kilometres	1.352	26.722	28.074

Vehicles

2001^347	DE9 Niedersachsen: 4.940.598 DE91 BRAUNSCHWEIG: 1.030.390 DE92 HANNOVER: 1.350.072 DE93 LÜNEBURG: 1.090.102 DE94 WESER-EMS: 1.470.034
2003^348	DE9 Niedersachsen: 5.328.738

Doctors and dentists (2000)³⁴⁹

Doctors	24.331
Dentists	5.639

Designation for principal domestic policy support instruments (5 point scale): 3,1

Territorial Policy	3,5
Public sector transfer	2,3
Employment policy	3
Technology policy	3,5

Niedersachsen³⁵⁰

NI	Fiscal resources before SHES (in Mio. DM)	Divergence from national average (balance measurement) (= 100)	Contribution / assignment within SHES (in Mio. DM)	Fiscal resources after SHES (in Mio. DM)	Divergence from national average (balance measurement) (= 100)	Supplementary federal grants (in Mio. DM)						Fiscal resources after SHES and Gap-filling grants	Divergence from national average (balance measurement) (= 100)
						Gap-filling grants	Compensations for special political costs	Compensations for special burdens (east Germany)	Transitional grants (west Germany)	Rehabilitational grants Bremen and Saarland	SFH total
1995	30.413	96.2	0.452	30.866	97.6	678	0	0	507	0	1.185	31.544	99.8
1996	30.739	95.4	0.553	31.292	97.1	830	0	0	456	0	1.286	32.121	99.7
1997	30.312	94.4	0.672	30.984	96.5	1.008	0	0	406	0	1.414	31.992	99.6
1998	31.772	93.8	0.788	32.560	96.1	1.182	0	0	355	0	1.537	33.742	99.6
1999*	32.889	92.2	1.037	33.926	95.2	1.556	0	0	304	0	1.860	35.482	99.5
2000*	33.793	92.0	1.113	34.906	95.0	1.637	0	0	253	0	1.890	36.543	99.5
2001	30.972	89.6	1.864	32.837	95.0	1.556	0	0	203	0	1.759	34.393	99.5

*) preliminary


Impact on ex-ante divergence from national average of support from EU funds (7 point scale): 3,3

		2000-2006 (mio €)
				ERDF		ESF		EAGGF
		Total	EU contribution	EU contribution	%	EU contribution	%	EU contribution	%
Objective 2	Lower Saxony	1492.457	733.953	682.254	92.96%	51.699	7.04%	-	-

Impact on ex-ante divergence from national average of domestic policies (7 point scale): 3,8

Change in standing of region relative to national average in last five and ten years³⁵¹

	1991	1996	2001
GDP/capita (€)	18.573	20.471	22.725
Population	7.426.700	7.795.700	7.939.600
Employment (persons)	3.294.900	3.330.600	3.483.900
Unemployment (persons)	244.283	386.244	350.110
Unemployment rate	8,1	12,1	10,0

	1995	1997	1999
R+D expenditure (mio €)^352	2772	2859	3962

Estimated effect on regional circumstances of different domestic policies:

	Strongly positive:	Slightly positive	Neutral	Slightly negative	Strongly negative
Territorial Policy		X
Public sector transfer		X
Employment policy		X
Technology policy		X