Dr. Rapp strengthens Baden-Württemberg's place in medical technology!

Dr. Rapp strengthens Baden-Württemberg's place in medical technology!

Dr. Patrick Rapp, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy, Labor and Tourism, began his delegation trip to Eindhoven in the Netherlands today. This trip, which lasts three days, is intended to deepen cooperation with the province of North Brabant and the Flemish region of Flanders. The focus is on networking in the areas of life sciences and medical technology. Rapp is accompanied by a delegation of around 30 people, which includes representatives from Baden-Württemberg's economic and research institutions. This trip includes exploring innovative ecosystems in Belgium and the Netherlands. The state government of Baden-Württemberg reported this in a statement in which it emphasized the importance of bilateral relations with North Brabant and Flanders.

The program in Eindhoven includes major institutions that are leaders in drug development and the production of smart biomaterials. These include Pivot Park and the Smart Biomaterials Consortium. On the second day of the trip, Rapp will sign an interministerial declaration of intent with the Minister of Economic Affairs for the province of North Brabant, Martijn van Gruithuijsen. This declaration is intended to stipulate cooperation in key areas such as smart industry, health, energy transition, security and defense as well as sustainable mobility.

Medical technology as a pillar of cooperation

A crucial aspect of this journey is medical technology, an area in which Baden-Württemberg holds a leading position. According to reports from WM Baden-Württemberg, Germany accounts for over 25 percent of medical technology production in Europe. Baden-Württemberg itself contributes to 25 percent of nationwide sales in this industry. Companies in this state cover almost the entire spectrum of medical technology products, with particular expertise in endoscopy and high-quality surgical instruments.

What is particularly noteworthy is that more than 50 percent of sales in medical technology in Baden-Württemberg come from products that have been on the market for less than three years. This innovative strength highlights the international reputation of Baden-Württemberg medical technology manufacturers, strongly supported by close cooperation with application-oriented research institutions.

Economic relations with the Netherlands and Belgium

Economic relations with the Netherlands are of great importance for Baden-Württemberg. In 2024, the Netherlands ranked fourth in exports and sixth in imports. Baden-Württemberg exported goods worth 16.3 billion euros to the Netherlands, which accounts for 14.9 percent of German exports. At the same time, imports from the Netherlands amounted to 12.5 billion euros, which corresponds to 13.3 percent of German imports. Belgium also plays an important role as a trading partner, with exports of 6.5 billion euros (11.1 percent of German exports) and imports of 6.7 billion euros (14.1 percent of German imports).

However, trade figures show that exports to both countries have fallen by around 4 percent in the last two years. While imports from Belgium were reduced by 19 percent, imports from the Netherlands recovered by 0.6 percent. These trends will also be important at the talks in Eindhoven and Flanders to strengthen future trade relations.

The next few days promise exciting insights and discussions that could further advance Baden-Württemberg's economy. The institutions visited and the signed declaration of intent could significantly promote cooperation in innovative areas.