At the beginning of the 20th century, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin laid the cornerstone for the success enjoyed by the Bodenseekreis district today. Thanks to Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, his brilliant colleague Claude Dornier as well as Count von Soden and Karl Maybach, many other clever minds were drawn to the region. A tradition of innovation, science and research evolved, and the Bodenseekreis district is now the strongest business location in the "Fourcountryregion Bodensee". The key sectors besides the aerospace cluster are machine construction, the automotive supplier industry, IT & electronics, leisure & health, education, research and development. The entire Bodenseekreis district with the town of Friedrichshafen as its economic, political and cultural centre boasts a high
purchasing power, low unemployment and an innovative economy. The Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen is an international airport and the second largest in Baden-Württemberg. Friedrichshafen's trade fair offers many industries ideal access to markets in the neighbouring countries of Switzerland and Austria. The lake’s atmosphere,
its wonderful mountain panorama and historic towns make the Bodenseekreis district an attractive place to live, relax and enjoy a wide range of leisure activities. It offers an ideal combination of tradition and innovation, agriculture and industry, nature and culture, tranquillity and dynamics, regional and international flair. The Bodenseekreis district is fascinatingly diverse!

A forward-looking region with a passion for aerospace technology that is constantly creating new products and innovations. And has been doing so
for over 100 years.

Ever since the first airship took off from Lake Constance (Bodensee) in 1900, the town of Friedrichshafen and the region of Lake Constance (Bodensee) have been inseparably linked to the name of Zeppelin and aviation. Claude Dornier was brought to Friedrichshafen in the early 20th century by Count Zeppelin. He was put in charge of his own department for airplane construction, which soon became an independent company, Dornier-Werke. With aviation pioneer Dornier at the helm, it built mainly metal airplanes and seaplanes, such as the famous Dornier Wal, Do X
and many other models. In 1962, Dornier opened its own aerospace division. Ever since, aerospace has played an important role on Lake Constance (Bodensee). Today, the aerospace division based in Immenstaad near Friedrichshafen belongs to EADS subsidiary Astrium. Astrium is a global leader in the development and production of satellite systems. At its Friedrichshafen location, the focus is on space exploration and earth observation. Another
global player on Lake Constance (Bodensee) besides EADS is the Diehl Group in Überlingen (Diehl BGT Defence and Diehl Aerospace). In addition to these major corporations, a large number of small and medium-sized businesses
contribute to the economic success of the region. In the metal processing sector, they include companies like Hägle & Kollege, ST-R CNC Technik, Homburger Vorrichtungs- und Maschinenbau and Ziegler Feinwerktechnik, which make parts for landing gear, air conditioning systems and landing flap controls for Airbus and other civilian aircraft.

Innovative and growing SMEs
Today, over 7,000 people in the Bodenseekreis district work in the aerospace industry, more than half of all employees in this sector in Baden-Württemberg. The district with just 210,000 inhabitants boasts some 80 aerospace companies. One example is ZIM Flugsitz, a company that demonstrates innovation and growth on Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the making. The company was founded as a small engineering service partner 17 years ago. In 2007, the owners, Angelika and Peter Zimmermann, decided to develop aircraft seating and produce them in their own facility. The company takes orders from international airlines and is growing at an astronomical pace. It expects the number of employees to rise to 150 in the near future and is currently doubling its production area. Dornier Technologie Systems, CH. Schneider and Scheidegg are successful suppliers of parts for the production of airplane seats, ensuring an ideal environment. Small and medium-sized firms in the field of aerospace technology from Lake Constance (Bodensee), such as ASP Equipment GmbH, are also well established. AK Produktionstechnik and HEMA Kabeltechnik manufacture electrotechnical devices and cabling according to certified norms; devices used in the International Space Station ISS were cabled in the latter’s clean room.

Dynamism and networks drive the cluster forwards
The Bodenseekreis district has seen other new developments in the aerospace industry, too. In 2009, the privately funded Dornier Museum opened; in the winter term of 2009/2010, a new course in aerospace technology was  inaugurated at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Friedrichshafen; the Bodensee-Airport  opened a new terminal and the international aviation trade fair AERO has become an annual event since 2010 instead of taking place every two years as previously. The business development office of the Bodenseekreis
district (WFB) sees the dynamism ensuing from these institutions and companies as confirmation that Lake Constance (Bodensee) is home to a unique aerospace cluster with potential for growth. A cluster is a regional accumulation of companies and institutes within an economic sector. The BodenseeAIRea cluster initiative was set up by the WFB in cooperation with its project partners Fraunhofer IAO, the State Cooperative University, Zeppelin University and the University of Applied Sciences Constance as well as the companies themselves with the aim of developing aerospace technology on Lake Constance (Bodensee) and pooling their marketing efforts. In 2012, thanks to this initiative, the first Lake Constance (Bodensee) Aerospace Meeting took place, an international technical conference which will be continued on a yearly basis. Successful trade fair presentations, such as the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin and an event aimed at students to attract future specialists show the synergies that a cluster initiative can capture. The BodenseeAIRea project is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for Finance and Economics with money from the European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF).
For more information, see www.rwb-efre.baden-wuerttemberg.de.

Mediterranean lakeshore promenades invite visitors to stroll and enjoy the views, pedestrian zones and malls offer a wide choice of shops, while a varied cultural programme provides fun and entertainment. Thanks to the passenger boats of the Lake Constance (Bodensee) Shipping Company, the ferries between Friedrichshafen and Romanshorn and between Meersburg and Constance, the catamaran between Friedrichshafen and Constance and excellent public transport connections, other towns in the "Fourcountryregion Bodensee" can be reached easily and quickly. The "metropolis of Lake Constance (Bodensee)" is like a big city. And thanks to Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen, this "gateway to the world" is open to everyone.

Culture, wellness & relaxation
The towns and communities in the Bodenseekreis district boast a variety of annual arts and cultural events. Music lovers get their money’s worth at the many classical and rock & pop concerts. Numerous galleries and museums present works from classical to contemporary art in countless exhibitions. International trade fairs attract thousands of visitors to Friedrichshafen every year, and in the Advent season, Christmas markets of all sizes offer festive cheer. An extensive network of hiking and cycling routes promises memorable tours along the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee) and through the surrounding countryside. Two ultra-modern spas and lidos in Meersburg and Überlingen and the many beaches and open-air pools in the district are perfect for those who want to enjoy the water, pamper themselves and relax. Buchinger Clinic in Überlingen is the ideal place for a longer and more thorough anti-stress regimen.

Exciting history and great attractions
Salem Palace, Birnau pilgrimage church or Meersburg Castle are just some of the many cultural gems that can be found in the Bodenseekreis district. Across wooden boardwalks over the lake, visitors to the lake dwellings in the Pfahlbaumuseum in Unteruhldingen can take a step back 3,000 and 5,000 years in time. The Zeppelin Museum and Dornier Museum in Friedrichshafen offer fascinating insights into the history of aviation and space travel. Visitors can enjoy a trip on one of the wonderful passenger boats on Lake Constance (Bodensee), or take a journey into the past when steam and paddleboats traversed the lake on the faithfully restored historic steamship “Hohentwiel”. Affenberg in Salem is Germany’s largest and most attractive openair monkey enclosure. The theme park Ravensburger Spieleland in Meckenbeuren promises adventure, games and action. Also in Meckenbeuren, Mini Mundus presents the most beautiful buildings in the world on a scale of 1:25.

Culinary delights
The Bodenseekreis district is home to excellent restaurants, cosy country inns and idyllic lakeside terraces offering an impressive range of culinary delights. Special value is placed on the use of regional products. Top-quality local products such as fish from the lake, fruit and vegetables, different kinds of cheese, first-class wines and fruit schnapps can be sampled and bought at the many weekly and farmers’ markets or at attractive wine and fish festivals. Bodenseekreis district offers an endless variety of museums, exhibitions, theatres, concerts, wine festivals, traditional celebrations, glorious castles and parks. The quiet towns and villages along the lakeshore or in the picturesque hinterlands, the intact nature and the lake itself offer plenty of exciting things to do and are a source of energy and vitality. Attractive jobs, an outstanding choice of childcare and education and a high recreational value make the district appealing for young people and families in particular. The Bodenseekreis district offers a high quality of life and is a wonderful place to live!

Friedrichshafen is situated at the heart of the “Fourcountryregion Bodensee” of Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It is one of the strongest business locations on Lake Constance (Bodensee) with 28,000 jobs and numerous students. Around half the people who work in Friedrichshafen commute from the surrounding area to the home town of the Zeppelin, making it an important employer in the region. Friedrichshafen is home to international companies specialized in innovative technologies with a focus on the aerospace, automotive and software industries. It also boasts a large number of small and medium-sized businesses. Looking to the future, Friedrichshafen is increasingly making its mark as a centre of education on the lake. The town not only invests in infrastructure, but also finances afterschool care to enable employees to reconcile the demands of a career and family life, thus helping to promote the business venue of Friedrichshafen. Messe Friedrichshafen, the town’s international trade fair, stands out with its elegant architecture and state-of-theart technology. Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen is a commercial airport offering ideal conditions for business and private travellers from the “Fourcountryregion Bodensee”. The ambience of the lake and its wonderful Alpine panorama provide the ideal setting for moving events.