Context + challenge

The German Federal State of Lower Saxony is home to Volkswagen, Sartorius, and multiple clusters of leading European research and technology hubs. This forms an exceptionally strong baseline upon which to identify and operationalise innovation in high-impact sectors. Unlocking the state's full potential requires a future-oriented strategy to strengthen research, accelerate knowledge transfer, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit in policy and practice.

Solution

Foster immersive and extensive stakeholder engagement on the interface of science, business and policy through high-level board meetings, expert sprints, human and AI-assisted desk research, and collaborative editorial sessions. Support the Innovation Council – internationally experienced figures from science, business, and society – with external perspectives and process facilitation to create strategic recommendations.

Impact

By shaping the strategic direction for regional innovation and aligning leadership, Lower Saxony is positioned to remain resilient and innovation-driven in the long run. Realignment resulted in a highly focused innovation roadmap with six areas of action, combining regional strengths with global opportunities, thus translating complex needs into actionable ideas.