Economy and tourism

The "Program for the co-financing of regional model projects and cooperation in the field of economic and tourism promotion" has enabled 40 inter-municipal and model projects to be implemented since 2014. Following the decision to convert the program, co-funding in its previous form was awarded to four projects for the last time in autumn 2025:

Funding round 2025

Founders Forum Rems-Murr-Kreis (32,750 euros in funding)

• Participants: WTM Waiblingen, Winnenden City Council, City of Weinstadt; other stakeholders: IHK Stuttgart Region, Rems-Murr District Chamber, STIHL Ventures, Kärcher New Ventures, Volksbank Stuttgart
• Project: A lively start-up community is to be built up, an association founded, events such as "Start-up Nights" established, rooms and supporting framework conditions created. This will create an environment that counteracts one of the biggest obstacles to innovation: the often (too) long path from prototype status to the expansion of production to a scale that can be used on the market.

Promotion of business tourism in the Stuttgart region (539,950 euros in funding)

• Parties involved: Regio Stuttgart Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (RSMG), Böblingen District Office, Esslingen District Office, Rems-Murr District Office
• Project: Against the backdrop of developments in the business tourism sector, which accounts for around 70% of all travel to the Stuttgart Region, it is no longer just about renting out premises, but about special experiences that offer participants added value on a professional and personal level. In this sense, the project is intended to create the basis for needs-based added value and new synergies in the region with the aim of increasing the volume of event-related business trips to the Stuttgart Region.

Ludwigsburg start-up-friendly: Places of innovation (funding amount 239,840 euros)

• Participants: City of Ludwigsburg / Department 80 Economic Development; other stakeholders: Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation (WRS), Ludwigsburg district, Inbright GmbH, Tinkertank of the Interactive Media Foundation gGmbH, Kokolores Creative Collective e.V., Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg gGmbH, Ludwigsburg University of Education, Instagrid GmbH, Kiess Water Monitoring Systems GmbH (kwmsys)
• Project: With the aim of closing gaps in the regional start-up and innovation structure, space with demand-driven equipment, e.g. with machines for testing production ideas, is also being created on a larger scale for start-ups. The project also includes intensifying the networking of all stakeholders by founding an innovation and start-up association, as well as developing a permanent sponsorship and participation model for the perspective beyond the start-up financing.

Development of a tourism marketing structure for regional products (funding amount 250,000 euros)

• Participants: Regio Stuttgart Marketing- und Tourismus GmbH; other stakeholders: Existing network of regional producers (Beschicker Tourist Information), "Heimat - nichts schmeckt näher" and other regional brands, Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation, tourism experts from the Regio e.V. municipalities, district offices, organic model regions Ludwigsburg Stuttgart and Rems-Murr-Ostalb
• Project: Development of a regional brand for the touristic marketing of regional producers with the integration of existing brands; visualization of regional producers from the culinary arts, crafts or direct marketing beyond the pure presentation in the House of Tourism and other i-points through positioning in the touristic experience area. Creation of bookable experiences to increase added value and sustainably anchor regional product and production quality in the minds of tourists and locals alike.

The following three projects were awarded co-financing by the Committee for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure and Administration in October 2024:

• SB-Hofladen (98.000 euros in funding)
  • Participants: Technical College for Agriculture (FSL), Böblingen District Office; other stakeholders: Agricultural businesses, Herrenberg-Leonberg Association for Agricultural Education, City of Herrenberg
  • Project: Development of a central farm store to enable the population to buy regional products 24/7. From the concept to the operation, everything is developed by the students of the technical college: Selecting, procuring and setting up the self-service store, working out the basics and concept for stocking products (own and complementary), logistics, cold chains etc., the operating and marketing concept is developed in parallel and a cooperative is founded
  • More information
• Swabian Forest hiking region (103,500 euros in funding)
  • Participants: Rems-Murr-Kreis district administration office (business and tourism department) and Schwäbischer Wald Tourismus e.V.; other stakeholders: nature park guide and forest warden Walter Hieber, Prof. Dr. Manfred Krautter, municipalities in the Swabian Forest, German Hiking Institute, Regio Stuttgart Marketing- und Tourismus GmbH, Naturpark Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald e.V., Naturpark Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald e.V.
  • Project: Development and establishment of the "Swabian Forest Hiking Region". The measures and tasks extend far beyond the trail infrastructure and include gastronomy, accommodation providers and direct marketers. A public transport concept is also part of this. Through close cooperation, direct consultation and intensive communication on site, the joint brand orientation under the heading "hiker-friendly hosts" is to be achieved, thereby strengthening inter-communal cooperation.
• Joint tourism concept and information for Beuren/Neuffen (15,000 euros funding)
  • Participants: Municipality of Beuren and town of Neuffen, other stakeholders: Beuren thermal baths, Beuren open-air museum
  • Project: Joint development and marketing of the region's tourism USPs on the basis of a joint tourism concept and by pooling personnel capacities. Development and implementation of joint tourism information.

The following three projects were awarded co-financing by the Committee for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure and Administration in October 2023

• Inter-municipal start-up grant+ as part of the MachES network (105.000 euros in funding)
  • Participants: City of Filderstadt (Department of Economics and Marketing), City of Kirchheim u.T. (Office of Economic Development), City of Nürtingen (Office of Real Estate, Economic Development and Citizen Participation) and City of Esslingen am Neckar (Office of Economic Development and Esslingen Stadtmarketing und Tourismus GmbH).
  • Project: Financial support and strengthening of services for start-ups in the four municipalities according to uniform funding criteria. The aim is not only to increase the innovative strength and attractiveness of the joint project area, but also to reduce commercial vacancies and underutilization in the district centers and business parks.
• Mobile tourist information for the Bottwartal (29,075.20 euros in funding)
  • Participants: Marbach Bottwartal tourism association, 8 member municipalities
  • Project: Acquisition and equipping of an electric vehicle with appropriate marketing materials for joint permanent use as a flexible tourist information and tasting station by the Bottwartal municipalities and at supra-regional events/fairs such as the CMT.
• Cycle route along the "architecture stations" from the Remstal Garden Show with digital tour book (16,250 euros funding)
  • Participants: Remstal Tourismus e.V.
  • Project: Development of a themed cycle route along the architecture stations in the Rems Valley, including digital features and a reward system. The themed route from the Remstal Garden Show is to be enhanced and marketed by linking it with regional offers and producers (wine, gastronomy, culture).

The decision by the Committee for Economy, Infrastructure and Administration in 2014 marked the launch of the "Co-financing program for inter-municipal model projects in the area of economic and tourism promotion". Up to and including 2022, 34 projects have been funded, all of which will run beyond the funding period and are therefore sustainable. This record clearly exceeds initial expectations. The variety of projects ranges from premium walking trails and the marketing of regional products to an economic dashboard and a start-up district. Find out more about the exciting projects, clustered according to content focus:

To the overview of the projects and programs of the Verband Region Stuttgart