In the state between two seas the maritime economy has traditionally been of particular importance. Nowadays, this sector covers all maritime research, development and production activities ranging from shipbuilding, shipyard and ship suppliers and marine technology to IT and communications technology, safety technology, energy technologies, material sciences, marine aquaculture and “blue” biotechnology.

The maritime economy in Schleswig-Holstein is made up of around 1,700 companies with some 47,000 employees and 15 academic or research institutions. It generates an annual turnover of €8.5 billion, or around 12% of the state’s GDP.