The state of Bavaria, in southern Germany, is one of Europe's strongest regions economically. With forward-looking cities such as Munich and Nuremburg, it has developed into what Bill Gates has termed "High-Tech Mecca".

As a region, it concentrates on high-tech sectors like electrical engineering, aeronautical technology, medical engineering, biotechnology, information communications technology and environmental research. There is also emphasis on a strong service sector.

"Global players" like EADS, BMW, Audi and Siemens, and international players like BT and O2, are based in the region as well as numerous new economy companies. Bavaria invests 2.8 % of its gross national product in research and technology, which is above the average of Germany and places Bavaria in the leading group of European regions.

There are eleven universities, fifteen polytechnics and a number of large-scale research institutions including the German Aeronautics and Aerospace Center (DLR) and the GSF - National Research Center for Environment and Health.

Regional Chairman:
	Thomas Northoff Regional Chairman Deloitte & Touche GmbH Rosenheimer Platz 4 81669 München Tel.: +49 (0)89 290 36 85 66 Fax: +49 (0)89 290 36 11 85 66 tnorthoff@deloitte.de