Leading German daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the Hypo Verein Bank convened their 9th Expert Forum Mittelstand in Munich (Germany) on 28 October 2010.  The Forum discussed green growth, innovation and competiveness, and the role of small and mid-sized businesses – the German "Mittelstand" – in the wider context.  R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute and Klaus Töpfer of IASS Potsdam provided perspectives on science and globalisation.

Jürgen Trittin, leader of the Green Party in the Bundestag, the German Parliament, and Thilo Bode of Foodwatch presented views on politics and consumer interests.  The discussion with business leaders focused on new energies, the role of innovation, environmental technologies and engineering, and the pressures on the Earths resources, waste management and new materials.

The discussion was summarised in a one-page article in Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German).

The contributions to the event are published as a book (in German), which can be ordered from the SZ Shop.

Citation: Beise, Marc, and Hans-Jürgen Jakobs (Hrsg.), 2011: Expertenforum Mittelstand – Grünes Wachstum: Wie die deutschen Unternehmen profitieren [Expert Forum Mittelstand – Green Growth: The Way to Profit for German Businesses].  München: Süddeutsche Zeitung Edition, 247 pages, ISBN 978-3-86615-858-0 (19.90 Euro).