Germany's Plans for an Environmental Competency Center

In recent years Germany has established itself as a leader in environmental technologies. Through a great deal of focus on research and development, Germany is internationally a leader in air pollution control, noise mitigation and recycling. In addition, they are focusing greatly on the fields of environmental protection, air pollution control, water conservation and water resource management, waste management, soil conservation and the protection of limited resources. It is through this commitment to the environment, and environmental technologies that Germany is well on its way to reaching its goal of creating an environmental competence center within the country.

The earliest stages of their plan were executed in 1996, when the Council of Ministers decided that Bavaria would be the region dedicated to the promotion of future environmental technologies. Within Bavaria, the Augsburg-Swabia region was intended to be a focused area of development and support for environmental facilities and activities. The area posed a great deal of advantages for being a center for environmental progress. These advantages include: being a central location in Easter European markets; solid trade, industry and service structures; and a transportation infrastructure consisting of road, rail and air connection to other major European centers. With a solid foundation set, in 1998 Germany inched even closer to their goal with the foundation of the Bavarian Competence Centre for Environment (KUMAS). KUMAS was created with intention of offering an opportunity for environmental companies to be welcomed into a supportive network. The network holds true to a variety of founding principles. These principles include the cooperation of companies within the environmental field, assisting in applied research and educational institutions as well as creating optimal conditions for starting innovative businesses.

Though a variety of companies joined this network and one of the most important fixtures in this network is the Environmental Technology Business Incubation Cetnre Augsburg (UTG). The UTG is home to 35 environmentally focused companies with around 200 employees. UTG offers incentives to companies researching green technologies such as subsidized rent and the added legitimacy bonus of being a part of UTG. UTG's success lies in the "cluster effect" of the region. With the integration of companies and universities that are highly cooperated with companies, there are great educational opportunities and a focus on environmental studies. The cluster creates an environment that is highly conducive to the interweaving of both environmental science and economics. Germany's environmental competence region is not limited to the UTC. The overall goals of the region extend to a variety of environmental education projects and science funding. The area is also home to a wide variety of environmental conventions such as the International Trade Fair for Renewable Energy in Augsburg (RENEXPO). Events such as these are intended to allow the leaders of environmental studies in technologies to meet and exchange ideas through presentations and discourse. In general, the increased media presence as a result of the region's activities also leads to greater environmental awareness both locally and internationally.

The presence of the KUMAS network and the UTG has allowed Augsburg to become a well-establish and well-respected environmental city. Augsburg boasts of not only being the location of a variety of innovative projects, but to this day, have the only Environmental Technology Founder Centre and Environmental Medical Centre in Germany. Augsburg has been and will continue to be the home of many environmental successes. In the years to come, it is believed that Augsburg will be responsible for some of the most groundbreaking discoveries in the field of energy systems, waste recycling, catalyst technology and a host of other environmental fields. All of these advancements will be the product of Germany's realized goal of creating an environmental competence center.