The state of Bavaria has always been home to world-renowned companies like BMW, Siemens, Allianz, MAN and others. Over the last couple of decades, hundreds of smaller ventures and global leaders across various industries have joined. While the mention of Bavaria may still conjure up images of beautiful countryside with folk in dirndl and lederhosen, traditional music, and of course the Oktoberfest, the state with its capital, Munich, is Germany’s answer to the Silicon Valley. Historically a region known for agriculture, Bavaria developed into a manufacturing powerhouse and is now home to a high-tech economy and is amongst Europe’s top tech-hubs. The Bavarian U.S Offices for Economic Development is calling on industry experts and thought leaders in Bavaria to get their view on the “Present & Future of Germany’s Economic Powerhouse: Bavaria.”