Prognos Dual Use Atlas

Dual use is no longer a niche topic. A significant proportion of the German industry is already security-relevant today.

The question is: Which regions and sectors can turn this into an economic strength?

To the Dual Use Atlas

The Dual Use Atlas by Prognos and German newspaper Handelsblatt shows, for the first time, where potential is already concentrated today – and where new opportunities may arise.

Our Atlas reveals that many regions are already home to industries capable of producing goods for both civilian and military use:

• Around 3.5 million employees work in sectors that are fundamentally capable of manufacturing dual use goods.
• Almost one in two industrial jobs is therefore related to dual use.
• Over 43 percent of industrial production is accounted for by such dual use goods, such as components for drones, robotics or satellite-based communication systems.

Security-related industry is not confined to major cities, but is deeply embedded in German regions

• Southern Germany is the core industrial region for dual use: Stuttgart, Munich and Nuremberg not only combine mechanical and automotive engineering, aerospace and electronics, but increasingly also digital technologies. The potential for dual use in the south is also high between and outside the major cities.
• West German regions deliver scale and volume: In the regions along the Rhine, the Ruhr and in Westphalia, there is a broad industrial base with high employment figures across the value chains – from the basic materials industry through to mechanical engineering and industrial services. This means there is significant dual use potential.
• Eastern regions excel in high-tech specialisation: Highly specialised clusters such as Dresden, Chemnitz and Eastern Thuringia combine traditional industry with high tech sectors, for example in optics or microelectronics. These specialisations make the eastern German regions particularly relevant for dual use applications.
• Northern Germany is characterised by flagship locations: Whilst there is less potential across the region as a whole, there is significant potential in locations such as Hamburg, Bremen, Kiel and south-eastern Lower Saxony, for instance in vehicle manufacturing, aerospace technology or security-related maritime technologies. In the north, dual use applications are characterised by concentrated centres with a high level of expertise.

In addition to the well-known hotspots, the maps highlight numerous other areas of potential beyond the major conurbations. Regions with a strong industrial tradition but lower visibility at national level, in particular, possess relevant dual use links.

Last update: 29.07.2026