The initiative “Germany – Land of Ideas” has achieved a lot. Under the roof of the Federation of German Industry, Germany’s Federal Government and strong commercial partners such as the Deutsche Bank developed a new form of locational marketing: creative and full of surprise for foreign countries, motivating and likeable within Germany. The success of this private-public-partnership of industry and cooperations, sponsors and supporters from parties and society gives credit to the initiative.

“Germany – Land of Ideas” has been established as a sustained success. From the start, it was meant to be more than just an advertising campaign to promote the World Cup 2006. It was created to be an initiative that relies on themes and content. Themes and content are visible in the manifold acitivities that present an authentic and modern image of Germany as the Land of Ideas.

Germany’s Federal Government and the German industry have decided to continue the locational marketing campaign beyond 2006 in the form of a union with the same name, steered by Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, former Foreign Minister, Jürgen R. Thumann, President of the Federation of German Industry, Dr. Wulf H. Bernotat, President of the Steering Committee, Dr. Tessen von Heydebreck, German Banking Association, Dr. Karl Hans Arnold, German Publishers Association, as well as Michael Glos, former Minister for Industry and Technology and Dr. Annette Schavan, Federal Minister of Education and Research.
Welcome to Germany, the land of ideas! The initiative launched under that title in the year of the FIFA World Cup by the Federal Government and the German business community is dedicated to introducing a creative and innovative Germany to a world audience. The core project, "365 Landmarks in the Land of Ideas", is a unique compendium of what Germany has to offer, what Germany is capable of and how Germany is actively shaping the country’s future with ideas. In an unprecedented series of events, it will showcase one of these award-winning ideas on each day of the year for a whole year.

Our commitment as exclusive partner is not limited to material sponsorship. 365 times a year, on every single day, a Deutsche Bank staff member will be there to present the award to the "Selected Landmark".

As the "bank of ideas" in the "land of ideas"

• we are supporting our home market with our commitment and strengthening Germany’s positive image as a great place for innovation;
• we are confirming our belief that fresh ideas are a key prerequisite for sustainable business activity, a prosperous economy and cultural diversity – and are thus crucial to our country’s future;
• we want to join the award-winning places in telling the public about Germany's fitness for the future and our country's wealth of ideas.


The following pages put you in the picture on the year-long series of events and explain what Deutsche Bank and its people are doing to power this initiative.
I wish you lots of fun on your journey to our country's centres of innovation!

Jürgen Fitschen