Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck

What Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck does

Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck (legal name: Wirtschaftsförderung LÜBECK GmbH) is a municipal economic development corporation founded in 1998 and headquartered at Falkenstraße 11, 23564 Lübeck, Germany. The organization is owned by four shareholders: the IHK zu Lübeck (Chamber of Industry and Commerce), the Kreishandwerkerschaft Lübeck (Chamber of Crafts), the DGB (German Trade Union Confederation), and KWL GmbH (municipal project developer). Dirk Gerdes serves as Managing Director (Geschäftsführer), with Birgit Wille as Chair of the Supervisory Board. Operating under Schleswig-Holstein jurisdiction, the organization serves as the unified single-point-of-contact for economic development in the Hanseatic City of Lübeck.

The organization's core services span commercial property marketing and site selection across six managed commercial/industrial areas (Dänischburg, Genin-Süd, Herrenwyk, Roggenhorst at 147 ha, Skandinavienkai, and Semiramis at 64 ha planned), cluster and network management for foodRegio, logRegio, Technologie-Cluster-Süd, and Co-Kreatives Wirtschaften, startup and founder support, location marketing campaigns, inner-city vacancy activation through the ÜBERGANGSRÄUME program, and bilateral German-Danish cross-border initiatives. It produces regular market analyses including the Business Monitor, Einzelhandelsmonitor, Branchenreport, and Imageanalyse, and operates digital channels (website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Xing, YouTube, Spotify podcast "Leben & Arbeiten in Lübeck") plus recurring events such as zukunftsDIALOG Wirtschaft, BERUFSWELTEN, and "Erfolg ist die beste Existenzsicherung."

The revenue model is primarily public-sector funding: municipal and shareholder contributions supplemented by project-based grants including EU Interreg funding (1.63M EUR Fehmarnbelt Growth Region project through August 2029) and BBSR federal programs (ÜBERGANGSRÄUME 2022-2025). No proprietary technology platform is operated; the organization's value proposition rests on its statutory mandate to market city-owned commercial land, its institutional position within Lübeck's governance structure, its cluster network management, and consultative advisory services delivered to companies seeking to relocate, expand, or found operations in the region.

Name

Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck

Legal name

Wirtschaftsförderung LÜBECK GmbH

Website

https://luebeck.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck is a municipal economic development corporation (GmbH) founded in 1998, serving as Lübeck's single-point-of-contact for commercial site selection, cluster network management (foodRegio, logRegio, Technologie-Cluster-Süd, Co-Kreatives Wirtschaften), startup support, location marketing, and inner-city vacancy activation across Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Relocation & Corporate Mobility Services (FSAEAJAM)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business location consulting
• Startup founding support
• Cluster management services
• Regional investment promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Lübeck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal and public funding: The organization is a municipal economic development corporation (GmbH) funded by its shareholders, which include the IHK zu Lübeck, Kreishandwerkerschaft Lübeck, DGB, and KWL GmbH. Primary funding is from public/municipal sources.
2. Project-based public grants: The organization generates funding through public grant programs such as the Bundesprogramm 'Zukunftsfähige Innenstädte und Zentren' (for the ÜberGANGSRÄUME project running until November 2025) and Interreg funding (Fehmarnbelt Growth Region project, total budget 1.63 million euros).
3. Membership and network fees (through affiliated networks): Cluster networks such as foodRegio e.V. were funded by a combination of state (Land) funding and membership fees from member companies. foodRegio transitioned to its own independent GmbH in July 2023.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck is the municipal economic development company (GmbH) of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck. It supports companies interested in locating, expanding, or investing in the Lübeck region by providing site selection, commercial property marketing, startup and business founding advisory, cluster and network management, and location marketing. It also runs vacancy activation programs, organizes regional economic events, and advises on public funding and grants.

Product overview

Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck is an economic development agency (Wirtschaftsförderung) for the Hanseatic City of Lübeck, Germany. Rather than offering a unified software product, the organization provides a portfolio of advisory services and programs including: commercial real estate marketing and site location services (Gewerbe-Immobilien-Portal), business founding and startup support (Gründen), cluster and network management (Cluster & Netzwerke with foodRegio, logRegio, Technologie-Cluster-Süd, Co-Kreatives Wirtschaften), location marketing campaigns, skills initiative (Fachkräfte-Initiative), foot traffic measurement (Passantenfrequenzmessung), business analyses (Business Monitor, Einzelhandelsmonitor, Imageanalyse, Branchenreport, Identitätsanalyse), digital settlement management, and event organization (zukunftsDIALOG Wirtschaft, Erfolg ist die beste Existenzsicherung, Klönschnack digital, Mentorensprechstunde). They manage multiple commercial and industrial areas (Gewerbegebiete): Dänischburg, Genin-Süd, Herrenwyk, Roggenhorst, Skandinavienkai, and Semiramis. The organization facilitates connections between businesses, municipal administration, educational institutions, and investors to strengthen the economic position of the Lübeck location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site selection and commercial property marketing Brokerage and consulting service helping companies identify suitable commercial real estate and sites in the Lübeck region, marketed to investors and relocating firms.
• Startup and business founding support
• Cluster and network management
• Location marketing campaigns
• Vacancy activation program
• Regional economic events
• Public funding and grant advisory

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 employees in Lübeck as of the standortprofil, a ~20% increase since 2007
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hansestadt LübeckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2025Hansestadt Lübeck is a project partner in the Fehmarnbelt Growth Region initiative. As co-initiator alongside Wirtschaftssenatorin Pia Steinrücke, the city is collaborating on cross-border regional development to prepare for the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel opening.
• Kreis OstholsteincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2025Kreis Ostholstein is a German partner municipality in the Fehmarnbelt Growth Region project, contributing to cross-border regional development planning between Lübeck and Danish partner regions.
• IHK zu Lübeck (Chamber of Industry and Commerce Lübeck)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2025IHK zu Lübeck is a project partner in the Fehmarnbelt Growth Region initiative, contributing business community perspective to cross-border regional development.
• Femernbelt DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2025Danish partner organization in the Fehmarnbelt Growth Region project, representing Danish business interests in the cross-border region around the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel.
• Næstved KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2025Danish municipality and project partner in the Fehmarnbelt Growth Region, contributing to cross-border organizational development and regional planning.
• Lolland KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2025Danish municipality and project partner in the Fehmarnbelt Growth Region, contributing to cross-border organizational development around the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel.
• foodRegio e.V. / foodRegio GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerfoodRegio is the central food industry cluster network in northern Germany, managed from the Wirtschaftsförderung offices until July 2023. It transitioned to an independent GmbH in Q3 2023. As of 2019 it had 84 member companies with ~35,000 employees. The organization continues to manage the logRegio network from its offices.
• logRegio e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional logistics network logRegio e.V. has 25 member companies and institutions and its secretariat is housed within Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck. The network promotes the logistics region Lübeck through joint projects and events.
• FAKTOR 3 (Hamburg)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFAKTOR 3 is a Hamburg-based communications agency that worked with Wirtschaftsförderung to develop the strategic communication concept and location marketing campaign 'Lübeck. Eine Geschichte mit Zukunft.' The agency contributed to the brand positioning process and content strategy presented at zukunftsDIALOG Wirtschaft 2021.
• DiWiSH (Verein für digitale Wirtschaft Schleswig-Holstein)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiWiSH co-organizes the 'Klönschnack digital' online talk format with Wirtschaftsförderung, focusing on digitalization topics for SMEs in Lübeck and the region.
• Interreg (EU-funded program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterreg is the EU funding program providing 65% of the 1.63 million EUR Fehmarnbelt Growth Region project budget. The Interreg Committee approved project funding on June 25, 2025. The organization serves as lead partner.
• Hansestadt Lübeck (Bereich Stadtplanung und Bauordnung, Bereich Gebäudemanagement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal departments co-executing the ÜberGANGSWEISE initiative with the organization and Lübeck und Travemünde Marketing GmbH. The project ran from 2022 to end of 2025, funded by the Bundesprogramm 'Zukunftsfähige Innenstädte und Zentren' (BBSR).
• Lübeck und Travemünde Marketing GmbH (LTM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLTM is a sister organization of Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck and co-partner in the ÜberGANGSWEISE initiative. LTM focuses on tourism marketing while Wirtschaftsförderung focuses on location and investment marketing. Both organizations share the same corporate design and co-coordinate on brand positioning for Lübeck.
• Mentoren für Unternehmen Schleswig-Holstein e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe association of mentors provides free consulting sessions for entrepreneurs in Schleswig-Holstein. Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck provides its premises for initial consultation meetings, held on the second Friday of each month.
• Kaufmannschaft zu LübeckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 'Erfolg ist die beste Existenzsicherung' event series, alongside Handwerkskammer Lübeck, Junge Unternehmen, and the Arbeitgeber-Service of Jobcenter and Bundesagentur.
• Handwerkskammer LübeckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 'Erfolg ist die beste Existenzsicherung' event series, contributing craft/trade sector perspective to the events.
• Junge Unternehmen (JU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 'Erfolg ist die beste Existenzsicherung' event series, representing young businesses in Lübeck.
• Technikzentrum LübeckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Interreg 5a-funded German-Danish Innovation project, co-organizing the Innovation & Startup Journey to Copenhagen/Denmark with Danish Industry (DI) and Danish regional partners in September 2022.
• Danish Industry (DI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish employers' confederation (BDI equivalent) partnered in the Interreg 5a German-Danish Innovation project, facilitating connections for German SMEs with Danish business angels, investors, and startup coaches.
• Erhvervshus SjællandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish business development organization and partner in the Interreg 5a German-Danish Innovation project, supporting the startup journey to Copenhagen.
• Business Lolland-FalsterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish regional business development organization and partner in the Interreg 5a German-Danish Innovation project.
• Technologie-Cluster-SüdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology cluster initiative established by Wirtschaftsförderung in 2019 for technology companies in Lübeck, organizing networking events, workshops, and 'club evenings' (Klubabende) for company representatives and decision-makers.
• Co-Kreatives WirtschaftenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative launched by Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck in 2019 to connect creative economy businesses (agencies, photographers, artists, designers) and promote cross-industry collaboration. Supported by workshops, networking events, and innovation activities.
• Kieler WirtschaftsförderungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Interreg 5a German-Danish Innovation project, collaborating with Lübeck's Wirtschaftsförderung and Danish partners on the startup journey to Copenhagen.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH (WFB): Bremen's municipal economic development agency with similar structure (GmbH), focused on company settlement, cluster management (aerospace, logistics, automotive), and location marketing. Closely comparable in city size and northern German context to Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck.
• Hamburg Invest Wirtschaftsförderungs-GmbH: Hamburg's economic development corporation handling investment promotion, location marketing, and cluster initiatives. Comparable in service portfolio though operating in a much larger metropolitan market; serves as a primary competitor for northern German corporate relocations.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH: Berlin's municipal economic development agency providing site selection, cluster management, and investment promotion services. Directly comparable in mandate and service portfolio to Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck, though operating at significantly larger city scale.
• Kiel Marketing GmbH: State capital of Schleswig-Holstein, with a marketing and economic development organization covering site selection, cluster work, and tourism. Directly comparable city size and regional economic structure to Lübeck.

Broad incumbents

• Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH): State-level development bank of Schleswig-Holstein providing funding programs, economic development financing, and EU fund administration. Operates at broader geographic scale than Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck but with overlapping mandates in regional economic promotion.
• Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH (HTAI): Hessen's economic development agency providing investment promotion, cluster management, and innovation support. Comparable function to Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck but with broader state-wide mandate and resources.
• NRW.INVEST GmbH: State-level investment promotion agency for North Rhine-Westphalia, handling inward investment, site marketing, and FDI attraction. Comparable service portfolio to Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck but operating at much larger state scale.

Others

• Lübeck und Travemünde Marketing GmbH (LTM): Sister organization of Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck, focused on tourism marketing. Operates under same corporate design and co-coordinates brand positioning for the city; complementary rather than competitive, often co-organizing events.

Regional players

• Metropoleruhr GmbH: Regional economic development agency for the Ruhr metropolitan area, coordinating economic development, marketing, and cluster initiatives across multiple municipalities. Similar multi-stakeholder governance model to Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck's shareholder structure.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKrX1IWbOBuZMHgHHRxL_cQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Wirtschaftsfoerderung.Luebeck
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wirtschaftsfoerderung-luebeck
• Instagraminstagram.com/wirtschaftinluebeck

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck