Wiesbaden as an attractive business location

Wiesbaden's economy is characterized by a high variety of industries that we want to preserve. This ensures resilience in times of crisis. These include finance and insurance, industry, healthcare, creative industries, among others.

We Greens want to advance the transformation and support the transition to climate-neutral energies as well as the digital transformation. We want to inspire companies from these areas for Wiesbaden.

We understand good location conditions comprehensively. In addition to available commercial space, this includes good transport infrastructure (including good public transport and cycling routes), a secure and affordable energy supply, faster approval processes in the city, for example through digitization, job and study opportunities for young people, as well as everything that keeps skilled workers in our city: affordable apartments, good schools and childcare facilities, an attractive cultural and leisure offer, clean air, lots of greenery and a livable public space.

A vibrant, innovative startup scene inspires the economy. But founders also need tailor-made advice and support on the way to becoming a successful company. We want to further strengthen and perpetuate the founders' ecosystem, which we have already launched in the last parliamentary term, together with actors from the start-up scene. In the Start-up and Innovation Centre ‘Heimathafen’ (Old Court), a social and sustainability start-up hub is to grow as a nucleus for new entrepreneurial solutions for future social tasks. Other topics include cheap offices for founders, for example in the start-up block, as well as the support of company successions.

Areas are a scarce commodity in our highly condensed region. We therefore want to further develop the profile of our location and expand existing strengths. With the help of the already decided commercial space development concept, we want to pool resources, develop a strategically oriented settlement management and define criteria for the allocation of urban commercial space. In this context, social and ecological as well as economic sustainability criteria should play an important role.

We Greens want to sustainably develop less-used industrial areas (e.g. on Petersweg) and create further space and space potentials, for example by increasing the size of the area. We can use parking facilities more efficiently, for example through central car parks. In addition, new commercial premises must be designated.

Our claim is: Thinking outside the box, pooling resources and exploiting synergies in the region, including across the Rhine. This is already being done, for example, in tourism (foundation of the destination Wiesbaden-Rheingau) or at the joint biopower plant. We also strive for inter-municipal cooperation in the development of commercial areas (e.g. at the new S-Bahn junction Wallauer Spange).

The future of the city centre and the centres of the districts lies in a new mix of uses: More gastronomy, education, culture and housing, but also public uses as well as new creative retail concepts. We are committed to ensuring that the municipality plays an active, strategic role in this change process.

However, empty buildings (e.g. the former Galeria) cannot be bought and developed by the city. We therefore support all efforts to reestablish commerce at these locations and also to combine it with public uses. We bring the various actors together, use funding programmes, establish integrated vacancy and settlement management and make public space greener and more livable.

Through the temporary use of vacant businesses according to the pop-up principle, we ensure a revival together with committed citizens and initiatives. Here, the great potential of cultural and community-building projects becomes visible.

Property ownership is a central factor in urban development. With a pre-emption right statute according to §25 BauGB, we want to gain urban influence on strategically important areas in the city center and other suitable districts and break through speculative cycles.

Wiesbaden has strong potential in the healthcare industry with its clinics, rehabilitation facilities, baths and the industrial health sector. With the ‘Health Economy Master Plan’, we want to ensure that the health sector in Wiesbaden is positioned for the future. This includes the networking of the participants, the coordination of processes and the urban planning of development areas. Thus, the plan bundles politics, health care providers, business and research in order to strengthen Wiesbaden as a business location in the health sector and at the same time ensure and improve the medical care of the people.

With the GEKO 2040, Wiesbaden has for the first time a strategic concept for systematically and sustainably controlling the development of commercial space. This will analyse existing land, identify future needs and develop criteria for ecologically, socially and economically viable use. In this way, we prevent land sealing, strengthen the settlement of sustainable businesses and secure good jobs on site. The GEKO 2040 is a central building block for a resilient and climate-friendly economic policy in our city.

With the Industrial Advisory Board initiated by the city of Wiesbaden as a municipal body, we have created a binding dialogue between politics, administration and industry. Led by our Green Representative and Mayor, the Industry Advisory Board brings together companies, chambers, trade unions and academia to work together on a sustainable economic transformation. Instead of individual interests, the focus is on cooperation, climate protection and securing skilled workers. This is how we actively shape the future of industry in Wiesbaden – transparently, in partnership and in line with environmental responsibility and social justice.

With the Wiesbaden industrial study, we have for the first time comprehensively analyzed the needs and potentials of our local industry. The results will be available by the end of 2025. The aim of the study is to provide reliable data on location factors, securing skilled workers and development trends. On their basis, we can derive concrete recommendations for action and incorporate them into local economic policy. In this way, we strengthen the competitiveness of Wiesbaden's industry, secure jobs, promote innovation and create the basis for a sustainable, sustainable industry in Wiesbaden.

Wiesbaden has arrived on the map of the founder hotspots: This is ensured by tailor-made support offers, a broad network, contacts with investors and the Old Court as an innovation centre.

With the InnoStartWi start-up grant, our city is specifically supporting people who want to start up innovative, sustainable or social business ideas in Wiesbaden. They receive up to 1,000 euros per month for twelve months to implement their ideas without financial pressure. This creates a fair start for everyone, regardless of their own capital. This strengthens a diverse start-up culture, promotes sustainable business ideas and contributes to ensuring that Wiesbaden remains an attractive location for future-oriented companies.

With the StartAward 2024, we have put Wiesbaden's founder scene in the spotlight. More than 55 applications show: Our city is full of smart, creative and entrepreneurial minds. The award recognises innovative business models that shape the future, whether in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation or social innovation. In particular, the ‘Impact’ special prize shows that economic success and social added value go hand in hand. In doing so, we are setting a green signal for a responsible, fair and sustainable economy.

Makerspace Wiesbaden is actively supported by the city: Municipal funds secure the infrastructure, rental costs and public spaces in which workshops, regulars' tables and project offers take place. For example, the city enables students, young adults and technology enthusiasts to learn in a practical way, implement their own ideas and build networks. Politics thus creates a lively place of learning and innovation that sustainably strengthens technology enthusiasm, creativity and community in Wiesbaden.

The Social & Sustainability Hub (S3HW) is the result of targeted municipal support for start-ups: In 2024, the city provided infrastructure, network access and advisory services to support socio-ecologically oriented founders. These measures strengthen Wiesbaden as a location for sustainable innovation, link local economic development with ecological and social responsibility and ensure the competitiveness of young companies in the region.

Wiesbaden actively supports companies in their digital transformation. In May 2025, the Wiesbaden 2030 Crafts Agenda was presented. With it, we strengthen the handicraft businesses of our city and accompany them specifically in digitization. It specifically promotes craft businesses through the expansion of fiber optic infrastructure and the development of innovative smart city solutions.

In addition, as of 2025, the company account will introduce central digital access to urban services, allowing companies direct, convenient access to all relevant services.

The WiTECH Alliance was launched in January 2024. It connects Wiesbaden-based tech and IT companies and promotes innovative, digital projects. This creates a strong local technology ecosystem that supports founders, start-ups and companies alike and strengthens the city as a digital innovation location.

The Fiber Optic Summit Hessen took place for the first time on 21 July 2022 in Wiesbaden. With it, we rely on powerful digital networks for schools, companies and public institutions. Through targeted coordination of expansion and cooperation, we ensure a future-proof, fast internet infrastructure – a central building block for education, business and climate-friendly mobility.