Stuttgart: Germany’s economic powerhouse
There have been plenty of jokes at the expense of the Swabians over the years, but these days the region is famous for its powerhouse economy and the entrepreneurial spirit of its inhabitants. So it’s no wonder that Stuttgart – the capital of what was once Swabia – is still at the center of it all.
Schlossplatz in Stuttgart by photocase user theo_deluxe
The city introduced
Situated in a lush valley, ringed with vineyards and forests, Stuttgart is both a cultural and economic powerhouse. The city has a population of over half a million, and the 160,000 or so companies located in the Stuttgart region produce a gross domestic product of EUR 90 billion – roughly that of Finland. Add several great universities into the mix, and you have a city, and a region, that attracts both students and businesses from around the globe.
Overview of the universities
University of Stuttgart
http://www.uni-stuttgart.de/index.en.html
Founded in 1829, and now one of Germany’s top technical universities, the University of Stuttgart combines tradition and innovation. In the school’s early years, one of the inventors of the automobile – Gottlieb Daimler – studied here. The university is home to the High Performance Computing Center Stuttgart, a leading computing institute that – in collaboration with scientific and industrial partners such as T-Systems and Porsche – supports research and development all over Germany with cutting-edge supercomputer technology. The center is home to Europe’s fastest vector computer, and has teamed up with the US-based Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center for cutting-edge research projects.
With 19,000 students and highly-ranked programs in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, the university is a good choice for students trying to make the move to one of the thousands of companies located in the area.
The center for most technical subjects (computer science, engineering, etc.) is the Stuttgart suburb of Vaihingen; students of social sciences, architecture, and similar topics flock to the school’s prominently placed downtown campus, just a few steps away from the Schlossplatz. The school has a 25 percent foreign student rate, with some 5,000 students coming from all over the world to study at the university.
University of Hohenheim
http://www.uni-hohenheim.de/i3ve/index.htm
The oldest institute of higher education in Stuttgart (founded in 1818), this unique campus environment encircles the lavish 200-year-old Hohenheim Castle. Here, some 5,500 students pursue natural, agricultural and economic sciences.
Hohenheim’s reputation among foreign students was established during the 19th century with a remarkably high quota of foreigners enrolling. The university has formed partnerships with institutions in more than 90 countries, and is part of the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS), an elite network of leading universities cooperating in the fields of natural resource management, agricultural and forestry sciences, life sciences, veterinary studies, food and environmental sciences.
University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart (HfT)
http://www.hft-stuttgart.de/index_html?set_language=en&cl=en
Focusing on constructional engineering, mathematics and architectural studies, the HfT offers its 2,300 or so students bachelor’s, master’s, diploma and Ph.D. programs linked to top research resources. For many years, the HfT (which has roots dating back to 1832) has been conducting research in the fields of building physics, building technology, geoinformatics and techno-mathematics. In the areas of building acoustics, heat insulation, thermal building physics and the utilisation of solar energy, the institute is among the most highly renowned German institutes.
Stuttgart Media University (HdM)
http://www.hdm-stuttgart.de/english
With over 100 professors and 3,200 students, the Stuttgart Media University might just be the only educational institute in Europe to cover every field of media. Its range of bachelor’s and master’s courses extends from German-Chinese printing technology all the way to internet studies; from media design to business administration, and from library science to marketing and advertising. And don’t forget computer science and the electronic media.
What Stuttgart is like
Tim van Boxtel, a 25-year-old Canadian graduate student, first came to the Stuttgart region as a high school exchange student. At the time, he was in nearby Ludwigsburg, and he took to the area so much that he decided to come back after he finished his bachelor’s degree in Ontario.
Today, Tim is pursuing a Master of Science in Physics at the University of Stuttgart, and he is currently writing his thesis on quantum information. “In Germany, you are so much more independent and in charge of your own learning,” he says. “I find that very refreshing, especially coming from the experimental research side – my program is very exciting; I have the chance to work with some great people and equipment.”
Tim says he likes the city’s many green spots and recommends the Schlosspark as a good place to hang out with friends. “There is always something to do in Stuttgart, but you also have places of retreat.”
As for the future: Tim plans to do a Ph.D., preferably staying in Germany.
Economic powerhouse
Next to Munich, the greater Stuttgart area is Germany’s top economic region. Famous German names like DaimlerChrysler, Porsche and Bosch all have homes here, along with many major international firms – Hewlett Packard and IBM among them. In addition to these global players, the Stuttgart economy consists of many highly versatile and dynamic medium-sized enterprises.
The area currently has Germany's highest density of scientific, academic and research organizations, and tops the nation for patent applications. With over 11 percent of all research and development expenses in Germany generated in the Stuttgart region, it’s a major hub for high tech and medium-high tech manufacturing in the EU.
The region can also lay claim to six institutes of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, four institutes for collaborative industrial research at local universities, two Max-Planck institutes, as well as one large scale research center: the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).
Getting there
Stuttgart Airport is within easy reach via public transport from the city center, and services many of the major international carriers – as well as budget airlines such as easyJet.
Did you know?
Stuttgart is widely seen as the birth place of both the motorcycle and the four-wheeled automobile, thanks to the likes of Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach and Carl Benz. It has also been the home to many other famous Germans including Theodor Heuss, Germany’s first post-war president; the poet Friedrich von Schiller; and Jürgen Klinsmann, the soccer player turned manager who was Germany’s national team coach during last year’s World Cup.
Stuttgart’ beer festival, the Cannstadter Wasen, is second only in size to the Munich Oktoberfest.
Spots to check out
The city’s landmark is the 216 meter TV tower, the world's first to be built from concrete, and now the inspiration for similar towers across the world. Located on the so-called Hoher Bopser hill in the Stuttgart district of Degerloch, visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the city, the Swabian Jura and the Black Forest from its observation decks. On clear days, even the Swiss Alps are visible.
The Königstraße (King Street) is one of Europe’s longest pedestrianized streets and is a paradise for shoppers. Stretching from Stuttgart’s main train station, over the lavish Schlossplatz and ending near Tübinger Straße, the Königstraße is one of Germany’s busiest and most attractive shopping boulevards.
What’s happening?
Believe it or not, but in the summer months, the hippest place in the city is a 19th century toilet house. The Palast der Republik is a toilet-turned-kiosk that now serves as one of the city’s cultish outdoor bars. Frequented mainly by young professionals and students from the nearby University of Stuttgart, its regulars like to sip beer while the DJ spins tunes. Or check out Café Weiss, a favorite with bohemians, unsuccessful artists, lowly poets and in-love students who cherish both the brothel-esque atmosphere and the chance to chew the fat with Branco, Stuttgart’s most talkative (and probably best) barman.
And don’t forget to check out the Schlossgarten. The 600-year-old gardens are home to the state theater, an arts hall and a large beer garden. You can bring your own food to go along with the giant mugs of brew.
The city is home to several great museums, theaters and opera houses, and to the Wilhelma, one of Europe’s most popular zoos with two million visitors a year.
Stuttgart is the home of several major international sports events and in 2007 was named the European Capital of Sport. The city’s two soccer teams – the VfB Stuttgart and the Stuttgarter Kickers – compete in the first and third German divisions respectively. The VfB, playing in the 57,000-seat Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadium, has in the past inspired Bundesliga fans with technical and attractive play. This season, the VfB may even earn a spot in the UEFA Champions League. The Kickers play in the Gazi-Stadium, also home to the German first division American football team Stuttgart Scorpions.
Useful links
The University Ranking of the DAAD
http://www.daad.de/ gives you up-to-date rankings of Stuttgart’s main universities.
Studenten-Wohnung.de (http://stuttgart.studenten-wohnung.de ) is a network where students can search for (or advertise) cheap rooms and shared apartments in Stuttgart – search early, because housing in Stuttgart can be expensive!
The Student Union Stuttgart (http://www.sws-internet.de/) offers help with everything a student could need.
The Stuttgart Web page (http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/index_ENG.htm) is an English-language site that offers a wealth of information on Stuttgart.
