Baltic – German Partnerships: Building Europe’s Digital Future in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

When I joined the Latvian delegation to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern last month, I was struck by how familiar the region felt: innovative, open, and ready for transformation. For those of us from the Baltic fintech ecosystem, it was clear: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is not just a neighbor; it’s a partner in building Europe’s digital infrastructure.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Power of Intangible Resources

In economic geography, we increasingly speak about intangible resources — data, knowledge, connectivity, innovation culture, and trust — as key factors of regional competitiveness. In our research, published earlier this year in Geographies (2025), we found that regions that systematically invest in these intangible assets achieve higher resilience and faster digital transformation than those relying purely on physical capital.

Viewed through this lens, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is exceptionally well-positioned. It has:

- High digital connectivity via international data corridors linking Scandinavia, Poland, and Western Europe.

- A strong renewable energy base, particularly from offshore wind and green hydrogen. It is crucial for energy-intensive data operations.

- A supportive regulatory and administrative environment, encouraging innovation, cross-border projects, and sustainable technology.
 

In other words, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern already has the intangible foundation for digital growth. Interest in projects like a mega data center in Dummerstor prove it. What is needed now is to connect the region's capabilities with industries that can fully use it — and that’s where the Baltic fintech ecosystem can become a great partner.

The Baltic Fintech Experience Meets German Infrastructure

The Baltic states – Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia – have become known across Europe for their agility in fintech and digital innovation. We have built efficient digital governance, blockchain-based solutions, and secure electronic identity systems. But scaling these technologies requires something we sometimes lack at home: space, energy, and high-capacity data infrastructure.

That’s where Mecklenburg-Vorpommern comes in. The region offers green electricity, stable connectivity to all of Europe, and a reliable regulatory framework within the EU. One of the most promising cooperation areas is the development of data centers – not only as energy-efficient facilities but as regional growth engines. Locating Baltic fintech data infrastructure here would create a true cross-border digital corridor, linking the innovation of the Baltics with the infrastructure of Germany.

A Call for Collaboration

For tech companies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Baltic countries are not distant markets – they are natural allies. Our companies share similar cultures of transparency, compliance, and rapid innovation. Together, we can design solutions for secure digital payments, green data processing, and AI-driven finance – solutions that strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty.

Partnerships between Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Baltic firms could bring mutual benefits:

- For Baltic fintechs – access to green energy, investment-friendly regulation, and infrastructure scalability.

- For German companies – access to cutting-edge digital products, blockchain know-how, and ready international networks.
 

The next step is simple: connect ecosystems. We need to encourage business missions, joint R&D, and data-sharing initiatives. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can become a bridge that forges Europe’s digital innovation.