The region around the city of Dresden is known as a traditional site of industry and research in the first place. Its position in the east of Germany near the border to the economically important new EU member states Poland and Czechia gives rise to new development potentials. The excellent symbiosis of science and economy, art and culture in a manifold natural landscape leaves its stamp on this region and so makes it attractive for people and enterprises. The historical inner city of Dresden, its attractive environment and the great number of cultural events draw millions of tourists to Dresden every year and attract people due to the first-rate working and living conditions they will find here. In contrast to common trends, the total population of the "Metropolis on the Elbe river" has been constantly growing.

The Dresden region has an excellent infrastructure. The rail and road network is one with the highest density in Europe. Great pains have been taken to rehabilitate and expand the network of motorways and major roads. There is a high-capacity airport at Dresden-Klotzsche. The river Elbe is a navigable waterway. All this is a sound basis for coping with the flow of traffic and the exchange of goods with German and other Eurpean cities. The motorway to Prague further improves the ties with Eastern Europe.

Our region has a countrywide network of high schools and facilities for vocational training and education. The Technical University Dresden is a full university with more than 35,000 students and with its 14 departments it covers a scientific spectrum the width of which is offered only by a small number of universities in Germany.

Furthermore there are eight more colleges and academies with a scientific and technical orientation. The reputation of Dresden as a region of science and innovation is also based on a number of renowned non-university research institutions. More than 40 research institutes linked to renowned enterprises and institutions have settled here, alone 15 of which belong to the Leibniz, Fraunhofer and Max-Planck societies.

The location of Dresden - East Saxony is an influential economical factor within the Free State of Saxony, the most powerful business region in East Germany by a wide margin. This region looks back at a long tradition as one of the leading centres of German economy and is at present going to again pick up the thread of its story of success. In the course of the market-oriented reformation that has taken place, the variety of business branches could be maintained in spite of deep-rooted changes. The total number of enterprises (including the craft) has more than tripled and is now at more than 100,000.