Mittelsachsen, which consists of 53 municipalities and is the second largest district in the Free State of Saxony in terms of surface area, is also one of the strongest in economic terms. Much of it is farmland, with technical manufacturing also playing a major role. It is in addition a major scientific hub, boasting the Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, the Bergakademie Technical University of Freiberg and other research institutions. Freiberg’s silver mine was the cornerstone of mining and metallurgy in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), giving gave Freiberg its nickname, Silberstadt, meaning ‘silver city’.