SMWA: Life’s work deserves a future: Free State and chambers focus on opportunities for company succession

Business succession is one of the key challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises. By 2030, around 1,500 companies will be handed over every year in Saxony – that equates to around four successions per day. Against this backdrop, the Saxon chambers of commerce, together with the Saxon State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate Protection (SMWA), are organizing a state-wide series of events on the topic of company succession in 2026. The first dates will take place from mid-March in Chemnitz, Dresden, Mittweida and Zwickau.

“More than 35 years after reunification, the founding generation of the reunification period in particular is now facing the challenge of passing on their life’s work into good hands. This life’s work deserves a future,” emphasizes the Saxon Economy Minister Dirk Panter and addresses potential successors: “The regulation of succession is, so to speak, the promotion of existing businesses. Anyone who takes over a company with a well-established workforce and customer base benefits from existing expertise and established business relationships. Economic effects often become apparent more quickly than with a new start-up or a greenfield site. In addition, every successful succession secures jobs, prosperity and added value directly on site in our communities. The information events are intended to contribute to this.”

The series of events organized by the chambers and the SMWA comprises various formats that take place regionally across Saxony. The events will take place throughout 2026 and will be continuously published on the SMWA website, with the overview being added to as time goes on.

The aim of the series is to bring successors, potential transferees and transferors together, share knowledge and build networks. The focus is on addressing and raising awareness, qualification, knowledge transfer and successful support for company succession. Proven content such as contingency planning, legal and tax aspects, financing and funding opportunities as well as company valuation will be covered, as well as new formats developed.

For example, the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce is organizing an event that specifically targets competitive athletes as potential successors. The SMWA is also supporting three industry events for trade, freelance professions and services as well as gastronomy, which deal with industry-specific topics relating to company succession. Some events are also dedicated to supporting successors in the post-takeover phase.

A particular highlight is the “World Café” workshop on the topic of “Growth through Succession” at the Saxon Innovation Conference on June 17, 2026 at Messe Dresden. Aspects of company succession through takeover will be examined and how companies can be further developed in a targeted manner will be discussed. Growth opportunities open up for acquiring companies through new markets, additional expertise or complementary business models, while transferors are given the opportunity to sell their company attractively and ensure an orderly continuation.

This translation was generated automatically. 

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Further links

👉 To the original news 

👉 Business succession: information and event overview