Saxony-Anhalt’s election has revived debates about economic disappointment, political trust and the role of innovation in offering regions a future. In DIE ZEIT, TransforM researchers Alexander Wentland and Sebastian Pfotenhauer explore an interesting paradox:  

On the one hand, Intel’s abandoned plans for two chip factories in Magdeburg have become a symbol of unfulfilled promises of regional economic renewal through high-tech investments. On the other hand, in neighboring Dresden, the successful semiconductor cluster Silicon Saxony contributes substantially to regional prosperity. Yet its achievements do not translate into widespread confidence in a better future, either, leading to similar trends in voting behavior. 

The authors argue that innovation policy carries political expectations about trust in progress and participation that industrial investment alone cannot fulfill. Moreover, the availability of billions for high-tech projects stands in marked contrast to underfunded public infrastructure. This gap can undermine the credibility of promises. 

They argue that policymakers should connect technological investment with sustained funding for public services and involve communities in defining regional goals before major projects are decided. Decisions about who benefits, whose needs count, and which futures receive public support belong at the center of innovation policy. Social science expertise can help make these choices explicit and sensitive to local histories.   

The common good and social cohesion are not automatic by-products of a chip factory. They are the yardstick against which its promises should be judged. 

To the full guest article in DIE ZEIT