WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen

What WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen does

WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH is the officially mandated economic development agency of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (Land Bremen), structured as a private limited company (GmbH) wholly owned by the municipal state entity. It delivers one-stop services spanning company settlement (Ansiedlungsservice), commercial real estate and land disposition, business consulting and funding programmes, and tourism/location marketing. Its physical infrastructure — the ECOMAT aerospace and lightweight-construction centre, World Trade Center Bremen, BRIG Bremerhaven innovation centre, the 475-hectare GVZ Bremen logistics park, and a network of technology Gründerzentren — functions as both service delivery platform and go-to-market channel for attracting firms.

The agency serves a deliberately broad constituency: SMEs seeking digital or sustainability consulting, startups incubated via Starthaus Bremen & Bremerhaven and the ESA BIC Northern Germany, and large industrial employers in aerospace (Airbus, OHB, ArianeGroup), maritime/logistics, wind energy and hydrogen, automotive, and food. International outreach runs through the Bremeninvest brand and representative offices in Vietnam, Silicon Valley, and Turkey, supplemented by partners such as Jiang & Son GmbH for China-market advisory and Werder Bremen for sports-tied promotion. The agency also operates tourism marketing under the Bremen Tourismus brand and is hosting the national Tag der Deutschen Einheit 2026.

WFB does not publicly disclose revenue; funding derives principally from municipal appropriations by Land Bremen, augmented by programme-specific income. Visible performance signals include approximately 60 million euros of foreign direct investment into Bremen in 2025 (versus 16 million euros in 2024), roughly 400 jobs created by the Panattoni/Nagel-Group Mega-Center settlement in GVZ Bremen, a science sector contributing approximately 31,000 jobs and 228 million euros in annual tax revenue, and a German-leading position for GVZ Bremen as the country's #1 freight village and Europe's top-ranked freight transport centre since 2020.

Name

WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen

Legal name

WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH

Website

https://wfb-bremen.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH is the official municipal economic development agency for the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, delivering company settlement, commercial real estate, funding advisory, and tourism marketing services to SMEs, startups, and industrial firms in Bremen and Bremerhaven.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Land & Build-to-Suit Site Brokerage (BPAJACAJ)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business settlement consulting
• Commercial real estate services
• Location marketing
• Investment attraction

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH is the official economic development agency of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, providing company settlement services, commercial real estate and land management, business consulting and funding programs, and location marketing and tourism promotion. The agency operates technology and innovation centers (ECOMAT, World Trade Center Bremen, BRIG, technology Gründungszentren), supports startups through Starthaus Bremen & Bremerhaven, runs the international investment attraction brand Bremeninvest with overseas representative offices, and delivers industry-specific support for aerospace, maritime, wind, hydrogen, and digitalization sectors.

Product overview

WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH is the economic development agency for the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, providing a comprehensive portfolio of services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include company settlement and location services (Ansiedlungsservice), commercial real estate and land management (Gewerbeimmobilien), business consulting and funding programs (Beratung und Förderung), and marketing services including tourism marketing and location branding (Standortmarketing Bremen). Supporting programs include Wissenswelten for educational tourism, Science goes public! for science communication, and the Digitallotsen program for SME digital transformation. The agency operates technology centers including ECOMAT for aerospace research and the World Trade Center Bremen for company accommodation. Key initiatives include hosting the Tag der Deutschen Einheit 2026 and the international investment attraction program Bremeninvest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ansiedlungsservice (Settlement Service) Attraction and settlement service for companies looking to establish or relocate to Bremen, including consulting on site selection, permits, regulatory navigation, and business setup support.
• Gewerbeimmobilien und Grundstücke (Commercial Real Estate and Land Services) Commercial real estate and land services including a database of available properties, industrial sites, technology centers, and the World Trade Center Bremen for companies establishing in Bremen.
• Beratung und Förderung (Business Consulting and Funding Programs) Business consulting and funding programs for companies including sustainability offerings, event promotion, skilled-worker programs, and the Digitallotsen digital transformation advisory service.
• Marketing und Tourismus (Location Marketing and Tourism Services) Marketing services for Bremen as a location brand, including tourism marketing, online marketing, location branding campaigns, and the BIKE IT cycling campaign.
• Bremeninvest (International Investment Attraction) International investment attraction brand and service for companies considering Bremen as a business location, operating through overseas representative offices in Turkey and Vietnam.
• ECOMAT Zentrum für Leichtbau (Center for Lightweight Construction) Research and technology center operated by WFB focusing on sustainable transformation of the aerospace industry, featuring cryogenic labs, 3D printing research, and hydrogen technology facilities.
• World Trade Center Bremen Professional office environment for young companies in Airport-Stadt, offering meeting rooms, reception services, and office equipment as a hub for international business networking.
• Starthaus Bremen & Bremerhaven (Startup Incubator) Startup incubator supporting new company formation through mentoring, funding connections, and workspace provision, including the ESA BIC Northern Germany space business incubator.
• Digitallotsen Bremen (Digital Navigators) Advisory service helping small and medium-sized enterprises with digital transformation, social media strategies, and AI applications through personalized consulting.
• BRIG Bremerhavener Innovations- und Gründerzentrum Innovation and startup center in Bremerhaven supporting company formation and growth in the maritime, logistics, and fisheries sectors with office space, labs, and advisory services.
• Foreign Business Club International business network organized by WFB that connects foreign managers and executives working in Bremen, facilitating cross-cultural business relationships and knowledge sharing among the international business community in the region.
• Technology Gründungszentren (Technology Incubators) Network of technology and startup incubators offering flexible workspace and laboratory space for new and growing companies in Bremen.

Quantifiable outcome

• The GVZ Bremen logistics center is Germany's leading freight transport center and ranked #1 in Europe since 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Panattoni GermanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2026Logistics and industrial real estate developer that acquired the last large plot in GVZ Bremen to build a Mega-Center for Nagel-Group. WFB facilitated the marketing and sale of the 90,510 sqm site through a competitive bidding process.
• Nagel-GroupmajorOthers · 23 July 2026Europe-wide food logistics company that will occupy the Panattoni Mega-Center in GVZ Bremen as tenant, creating approximately 400 jobs including 20 apprenticeships. The project features sustainable design with solar energy, fossil-free heating and cooling.
• World Trade Center BremencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Trade Center Bremen, operated by WFB, provides office space, meeting facilities, and business services to companies establishing operations in Bremen. It serves as a hub for international business networking and supports companies through professional office infrastructure and reception services.
• ECOMAT Center for Lightweight ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ECOMAT technology center operated by WFB provides research and development facilities for lightweight construction and aerospace technology companies. It serves as a hub for collaboration between industry partners, research institutions, and startups in the aerospace and materials science sectors.
• Starthaus Bremen & BremerhavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe startup incubator supports new company formation through mentoring, funding connections, and workspace provision. WFB supports the Starthaus which provides comprehensive services for entrepreneurs including the ESA BIC Northern Germany space business incubator.
• BRIG Bremerhavener Innovations- und GründerzentrummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe innovation and startup center in Bremerhaven supports company formation and growth in the maritime, logistics, and fisheries sectors with office space, labs, and advisory services.
• Foreign Business ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn international business network organized by WFB that connects foreign managers and executives working in Bremen, facilitating cross-cultural business relationships and knowledge sharing among the international business community in the region.
• BremeninvestcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBremeninvest is WFB's international investment attraction brand that markets Bremen globally to foreign companies. The brand operates through overseas representative offices to attract international investment to the Bremen region.
• Vietnam Representative OfficemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWFB maintains a Vietnam office under the Bremeninvest brand to support trade relations between Vietnam and Bremen, particularly in maritime and logistics sectors. The office facilitates business delegations and market entry support.
• Jiang & Son GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Bremen-based consulting firm that helps companies evaluate China-related technologies, business partnerships, and implementation projects. WFB connects companies to Jiang & Son for China market advisory services.
• Science Goes Public NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Wissenschaftskommunikation Bremen/Bremerhaven network and Pier der Wissenschaft in Bremerhaven to organize science communication events in bars and pubs, bringing researchers and public together.
• Aviaspace BremencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAviaspace Bremen is the aerospace network that connects companies, research institutions, and policymakers in Bremen's aviation and space sector. WFB supports this network to promote the region's aerospace industry internationally.
• Female Tech Talents InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with bremen digitalmedia to promote women in IT careers, increase diversity in the tech sector, and create visibility for female tech talent in Bremen.
• Digitallotsen (Digital Navigators)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital advisory service operated by WFB that helps small and medium-sized companies with social media strategy, AI applications, and digital transformation through personalized consulting.
• Bremen Sports Association (Spospom)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with sports marketing organization to leverage sports events for tourism and economic promotion of Bremen.
• Silicon Valley Representative OfficemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWFB maintains a representative office in Silicon Valley to connect Bremen companies with the global tech hub, organize delegation trips, and facilitate technology transfer and partnerships with US companies.
• Werder BremenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSoccer club partnership to promote Bremen internationally, particularly in Asian markets through Werder Bremen's international activities and Vietnam presence.
• Bremen TourismuscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWFB operates tourism marketing under the Bremen Tourismus brand, promoting Bremen and Bremerhaven as travel destinations domestically and internationally through various campaigns and partnerships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NRW.Global Business GmbH: Foreign trade and investment promotion agency of Germany's largest state, North Rhine-Westphalia, providing settlement, real estate, and FDI services — analogous mandate to WFB but with materially larger resources.
• Business Finland: Finland's national economic development and innovation agency providing company attraction, settlement services, and startup/innovation support — directly analogous public-sector development mandate to WFB.
• Baden-Württemberg International (bw-i): International marketing and location-promotion agency for Baden-Württemberg providing FDI, settlement, and cluster services — closely comparable to WFB's portfolio at another German state level.
• Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH: Hesse state-level economic development agency delivering site selection, FDI promotion, innovation services, and inward-investment support — comparable municipal-economy mandate to WFB at Länder scale.
• Invest in Denmark: Danish government's national investment promotion agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, providing site selection, FDI, and aftercare services — closely comparable public-mandate economic development agency to WFB.
• Bayern International: Bavaria's foreign trade and investment promotion entity, supporting company attraction, real estate services, and international network programs — comparable state-level economic development mandate to WFB.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie: Berlin's official economic development agency offering company settlement, real estate brokering, FDI attraction, and innovation support — directly comparable to WFB's role within a German city-state context.
• Hamburg Invest Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft: Hamburg's official state economic development agency providing company settlement, industrial/commercial real estate, FDI attraction, and cluster support — direct mandate parallel to WFB's Bremen role within another major Hanseatic city-state.

Regional players

• Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH): State development bank for Schleswig-Holstein providing economic development, real estate, and FDI services in a German state neighboring Bremen — closely comparable structural mandate at smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Germany's federal economic development agency covering the whole country — broader incumbent operating above WFB's regional scope, often channeling international FDI inquiries down to state agencies like WFB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaUY-0RMmtyQwwXu-7oSoYg
• LinkedInwfb-bremen.de/de/page/social-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen