Scottish Government’s Berlin innovation and investment hub opens for business

Television tower in Berlin - Image credit: Patrick Pleul/DPA/Press Association Images

The Scottish Government’s new innovation hub in Berlin has opened for business.

Among the aims of the new hub are to promote investment between German and Scottish businesses and to increase Scottish Government influence and engagement with Germany.

Germany is Scotland’s fourth largest overseas market, with exports worth £1.9bn in 2016.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to set up a trade hub in the German capital at the SNP autumn conference in October 2016.

The hub will house Scottish Government and Scottish Development International staff and is based in the British Embassy.

It will complement the existing network of Scottish trade hubs in London, Dublin, Brussels, Beijing and Washington DC.

External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced the opening as she undertook two days of engagements in the German capital.

These include the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Glasgow and Berlin chambers of commerce and meeting with the organisers of the European Championships, which will be jointly hosted in Glasgow and Berlin this summer.

Hyslop said: “The opening of our Germany hub is a signal of our intent to continue to support deep and lasting links with our European neighbours.

“In light of Brexit, it is all the more important that we deepen those cultural, economic and diplomatic ties.

“The Germany Innovation and Investment Hub is a significant addition to our hub network, as we seek to foster the conditions and relationships Scottish companies and institutions need to internationalise and grow.

“Further to that, the hub will be a focal point for our engagement across the central Europe region.

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chambers of Commerce, added: “The signing of this agreement could not have come at a more appropriate time, with the uncertainty that the Brexit vote has brought to future trading relationships with Europe.

“Glasgow Chamber’s Board took the view that, whatever the outcomes from the negotiations, we should do our best to strengthen trading ties wherever we could, and this agreement shows that we are on the front foot in maintaining business links with Europe and not sitting back waiting on others to make decisions.”