The State of Salzburg owes its name to its salt mine, which was once prominent but today is of little significance. In 2021, the State had the highest gross regional product per capita in Austria, at just under EUR 50 000. At the same time, its employment rate is one of the highest in Austria. This is one of the reasons why Salzburg’s population has been growing continuously for years – today it is home to some 560 000 people. During the Corona pandemic, Salzburg experienced a sharp drop in economic output of -7.9% in 2020, in part because of the contraction of the hotels and catering sector (which accounts for 7.4 % of value added in the region) by -37% in real terms. In addition to tourism, science and research are also key economic drivers. With its close geographical links with neighbouring Bavaria via the kleines deutsches Eck (‘little German corner’), cross-border cooperation is well established.