all projects

Green Economy in Munich:
Developments and potential

Client

State capital Munich

Year

2023


Prognos’ very own envigos model was used to analyse the Munich region’s environmental economy. With a focus on the developments in employment and global value added the six leading markets of the branch were examined.

Interesting insights emerged from looking at the gender distribution of employed persons and trainees as well as the significance of foreign sales for Munich's businesses. The innovation power of Munich’s environmental economy was measured according to patent activity in the environmental sector and also in terms of the number of start-ups. In addition, interviews were conducted with institutions and companies on the topic of innovation.

Through this project, the State Capital Munich seeks to gain an up-to-date overview of the cross-sectoral industry of the environmental economy in the Munich region (planning region 14). They are particularly interested in the economical and innovative focuses and the potential ways in which the city can better support the sector.

Munich’s green economy as a driver for innovation

The goal of the project was to gain an overview of the environmental economic sector’s development in the region of Munich. This overview will enable the City of Munich to support this process effectively and purposefully. The environmental economy is the “enabler” for the sustainable transformation of the economy. Thus, strengthening it benefits both society and politics. Its innovative power through new technologies and start-ups will also be of central importance in overcoming the current crisis.

Here are the core results:

  • Above average growth in employment and value added
  • Particularly dynamic development of “climate-friendly mobility"
  • Munich is Germany’s most important driver of innovation when it comes to patent registrations
  • Start-ups make use of the many positive location factors such as the strong research and development landscape
  • Institutions such as the Munich Urban Colab make strong contributions in the area of innovation and start-ups

Significance and potential of Munich’s environmental economy

The environmental economy is a significant economic factor for the city as well as the surrounding Munich area (planning region 14). In connection with a branch study from the year 2018, Prognos made a current assessment of the State Capital Munich in terms of the economic development of the sector, innovation activity, and start-ups. Within the process, new developments as well as an extended circular economy were taken into account.

Our approach

The basis for updating the Munich region’s environmental economy key figures was Prognos’ very own tried-and-tested, and already widely used, envigos model. The database was used to analyse key economic figures, innovation activities and start-up dynamics in the sector. In addition, interviews with relevant institutions, businesses and start-ups were conducted. From these combined evaluations, action recommendations and priorities were developed for the state capital.

The results were an overview of the developments, potential and priorities for the environmental economy in the region of Munich.

Links and downloads

Further information on the State Capital Munich’s website (in German)

To the study (PDF in German)

Read more about Prognos’ sector study 2017 (in German)

Project team: Jannis Lambert, Philipp Hutzenthaler, Johanna Draeger-Gebhard, Vera Wechner, Lucas Bierhaus

Latest update: 27.11.2023

Neuigkeiten aus dem Projekt

Umweltwirtschaft in München: Projektworkshop

| Event

Das Prognos-Projektteam stellt Ergebnisse des Zwischenberichtes vor und diskutiert diese mit den Teilnehmenden.

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Jannis Lambert

Principal

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

How far are the regions on the road to a circular economy?

2025
| Project update

Prognos has developed a tool for the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) that supports cities and regions in monitoring their circular economy activities.

How dependent are we really on the US and China?

2025
| Expertise

Foreign trade, employment, investment and raw materials: ahead of the new US administration taking office, we analysed for the Süddeutsche Zeitung how dependent our economy is on the US and China.

Economic potential of the green tech sector in Bavaria

2024
| Project

How powerful is the green tech industry in Bavaria? What is its economic significance? We examined these questions on behalf of the vbw using our envigos model.

New procurement markets for the German economy – update 2024

2024
| Project

German industry can increase the resilience of its supply chains by sourcing its intermediate products from different countries. We have analyzed these new procurement markets.

Skilled workers for the energy transition

2024
| Project

How many laborers and skilled workers will Germany need for the green transformation of its economy? We examined this question on behalf of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

New markets for the export sector – 2024 update

2024
| Project

Even if the global trade in goods is no longer growing, there are still promising markets for German business. We present 13 potential markets in Asia and Latin America.

Mid-term evaluation of the public sector loan facility

ongoing
| Project

The Public Sector Loan Facility is an EU financing instrument to ensure a socially just transition to climate neutrality in the regions. Prognos and partners are evaluating the instrument.

Future governance of EU Cohesion Policy after 2027

2024
| Project

With the involvement of relevant stakeholders, Prognos and partners developed conclusions for the further development of European structural funding after 2027.

Internationalisation of the environmental technology industry in Baden-Württemberg

2024
| Project

The Baden-Württemberg Agency for Environmental Technology (UTBW) supports companies based in Baden-Württemberg in the internationalisation and export of environmental technology. Prognos provided the market information.

A greener economy through green finance

2024
| Project

With green finance, greenhouse gases in Austria can be reduced by up to four per cent by 2040 – in the bond market alone. This is the result of our study commissioned by the Ministry for Climate Action.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more