DigitalMindsKA: Torben Stieglitz - networker, facilitator, business promoter
The karlsruhe.digital initiative brings together Karlsruhe stakeholders from science, business, culture and administration with the aim of advancing Karlsruhe as a driver of digitalization – for competitiveness, quality of life and sovereignty. It pools expert knowledge, promotes networking and deals with topics holistically in order to actively shape the digital future of the city.
And there are people behind it. People who are committed, who are passionate about something and who use their time, their ideas and their expertise for precisely this reason. We want to make visible who these people, the digital minds, are. Once a month, we ask the Digital Minds what drives them and what visions they have.
In the thirteenth part of our series, we visit Torben Stieglitz, Head of Economic Development in Karlsruhe.
A gray day, a clear view
A gray autumn day in Karlsruhe. The wind drives a fine drizzle over the roofs, while the leaves scatter in small swirls over the cobblestones of the market square. People hurry along the streets with their collars turned up and umbrellas held together, city life seems a little more subdued than usual.
We are on our way to the Karlsruhe Economic Development Agency, where its head Torben Stieglitz is about to answer our questions. Once we arrive on site, however, we first have to cross endless corridors full of open doors, accompanied by voices from meeting rooms and the clattering of keyboards. As it turns out later, we took the wrong entrance.
Stieglitz is already waiting for us, smiling in a friendly manner, as if he had already seen our little odyssey coming. From his bright office, the view falls directly onto Karlsruhe’s market square. For us, this is the perfect introduction to the question of what first goes through his mind when he hears Karlsruhe.
Stieglitz doesn’t have to think long. “Professionally speaking, I naturally think of an innovative, strong business location first,” he says, leaning back slightly. “Karlsruhe has a strong SME character, with comparatively little industry, but a large number of IT service providers.” His voice takes on a warm undertone when he adds: “In my private life, however, Karlsruhe is above all a green city with lots of woodland and extensive green spaces that offer a high recreational value.”
From teaching to business development
While the rain pours relentlessly against the windows, we talk to Stieglitz about his personal career, his experiences and how to become the head of economic development in a city like Karlsruhe.
“I actually studied to be a teacher,” he says, “but looking back, that probably wouldn’t have been for me. I’m more of a hands-on person, a hard worker.” After dropping out of university, it was clear to him that a traditional full-time course of study was out of the question. “I wanted something that combined theory and practice,” he says. He finally found what he was looking for at the DHBW Mannheim, in the then still young course of study Business Development.
“I applied to the city of Mannheim and was accepted,” he recalls. “That was an exciting time, because the business development department there was being completely reorganized.” As a student, he experienced first-hand how a classic line organization was transformed into a matrix structure, an unusual step for an administration at the time. In 2012, Stieglitz was taken on and started as a company advisor for small and medium-sized enterprises.
At the same time, he completed an MBA. “That was shortly after the birth of our twins. I then handed in my Master’s thesis shortly before our third daughter was born,” he says with a smile. From 2019, Stieglitz took over the position of Strategy Coordinator and continued to develop the economic policy direction of the City of Mannheim. “My focus was on greentech and the smart economy, i.e. the digitalization of the economy in a broader sense. A lot of pioneering work was required.”
Short distances, strong networks
Since mid-September 2024, Stieglitz has been in charge of economic development for the city of Karlsruhe. “Over the past few years, I have become familiar with many facets of economic development, from practice to strategy. I am now looking forward to contributing this experience here in Karlsruhe.”
“Karlsruhe has a decisive advantage due to its size,” he says. “There are the famous short distances here, we know each other, we meet all the time, and that makes a lot of things easier.” He smiles. “People like to say that Karlsruhe is the biggest village in Germany, and that’s actually true. If I need something or want to start a new project, I can quickly find the right people here. Access is easy, the inhibition thresholds are low.”
This close networking is reflected in a variety of structures and initiatives. “With karlsruhe.digital, the CyberForum, the scientific institutions and clusters such as K³ or Fokus Energie, we have an incredibly strong network,” explains Stieglitz. “This creates ideal conditions for advancing topics together, across organizational and industry boundaries.”
What particularly strikes him: “Almost everything today has some kind of digital connection. Most developments no longer work without digitalization. Karlsruhe recognized this early on and built up a functioning digital ecosystem that is truly unique in this form.”
The role of economic development
Outside, the rain has now stopped. The drops on the window pane glisten in the afternoon light, while the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the room. Stieglitz pours himself a cup, and after all this, the question arises as to how exactly one should imagine the role of economic development in the multitude of players.
“Many people first think of money when they think of economic development,” he says, shaking his head slightly. “That does play a role, but it’s only a small part of our work. It’s much more important that we support companies in all situations and make the right connections. Sometimes these are contacts in science, sometimes to other companies. It often happens that someone tells me they are developing a new product, but they don’t have someone who has mastered a certain technology. That’s exactly where we come in.”
Stieglitz also sees his role as a mediator and translator in everyday matters. “Sometimes it’s about very mundane things, such as administrative matters. My aim is not to say, ‘Call them’, but rather, ‘We’ll guide you through the process’.” He smiles. “A classic case is planning permission. Two worlds often collide here because business and administration simply speak different languages.”
Connecting city, economy and people
In addition to these day-to-day issues, it is also important to keep an eye on the bigger picture. “We integrate companies into networks, such as karlsruhe.digital, to bring people together and build functioning ecosystems. We establish contacts abroad, advise on funding and look after the retail sector in the city center and the skilled trades. This is an important point of contact with the local community, because our task is not only to promote the economy, but also to connect it with the city and its people.”
The person behind the desk
We are slowly approaching the end of our conversation. After all the insights into strategies, networks and structures, we are now interested in the person behind the office. What does the everyday life of an economic development manager actually look like and what drives them personally?
Stieglitz laughs. “To be honest, it’s hard to describe,” he says. “I trained DHBW students for over ten years and the first question I always asked them was: what do you imagine the typical day of a business development officer is like?”
He explains that he has long since given up making a plan for the day in the morning because he can be sure that it won’t work ninety percent of the time. “Sure, there are classic office tasks, coordination, meetings, but then a call, an email or an issue suddenly takes priority and everything is different again.”
Despite this unpredictability, Stieglitz does not appear stressed, but calm and grounded. “I am incredibly grateful for the people who work here. Without my team, nothing would work, because business development is always teamwork. Everyone contributes a small element, and only together can we implement projects, develop ideas and get them out there.”
Before we leave, we want to know how Stieglitz switches off in his private life. “Not really at all,” he admits with a laugh. “I used to do sport five or six times a week, soccer, tennis, but at some point that fell asleep, but I’m trying to get back into it now.” At the weekend, he spends a lot of time with his family. “That’s my balance. It grounds me and brings me down.”
It is now time for us to leave. As we leave the building, the wind has died down a little. The market square is quiet, with only the occasional light from the street lamps reflected in the wet cobblestones. The last haze of rain still hangs over the city, and for a brief moment everything seems to rest in a soft gray. Stieglitz stands at the window of his office, looks down onto the square and nods goodbye to us.