The programme family "Unternehmen Region" (“Company Region”) of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) promoted regional innovation alliances between companies, universities, research institutions and intermediaries in East Germany between 1999 and 2022. The funding was aimed at forming strategic collaborations between actors from science and business in order to counteract the initially existing structural disadvantages of the East German innovation system (including the lack of large research-based companies, the lack of established forms of cooperation between SMEs companies and science).

The overarching goal of the evaluation is to analyse the effects of the “Company Region” program family for strengthening the innovation system in East Germany. The following key questions are examined:

• Have technological, scientific and economic competencies been developed and expanded in East German regions, thereby creating internationally efficient research and innovation centres?
• Was it possible to sustainably improve the innovative capacity of companies and scientific institutions and strengthen innovation networks in East Germany?
• Has the exploitation and market orientation in scientific and economic research been strengthened, thereby supporting a faster and successful transfer of ideas into value creation?
• Was it possible to attract or retain top young talent and specialists for science and business in East Germany?
• Were successful innovative start-ups promoted in East Germany?

Did the promotion of internationally competitive innovations and new value chains contribute to economic growth and employment in East Germany?