is on the economic promotion activities of the Stuttgart Region and the Support of certain business clusters. Amongst others.: Automotive industry and engineering Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Energy and Environmental Engineering Information Technology (especially in the field of Open-Source-Software) Health based economy Aerospace Engineering Cultural industry In order to support these Clusters, the WRS initiates, coordinates and mentors the WRS branch networks (e.g. the Clusterinitiative Automotive CARS, the MedienInitiative Region Stuttgart or the Initiative Open Source Region Stuttgart), organises Symposiums (as for example the annual fuel cell congress f-cell) and gathers and publishes a variety of branch information. In order to promote the employer attractiveness of the regions small and medium-sized employers to the pupils, students and graduates, the Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH hosts an online Stuttgart Region employer directory. There organizations have the possibility to present themselves and their current offers for junior employees. In order to improve the knowledge transfer and contacts between industry and science, 15 competence and Innovation Centers have been established in the Region within which organisations, universities and research facilities work together interdisciplinary on industries related projects. Examples for such competence and Innovation Centers are the Virtual Dimension Center (VDC, competence Center for virtual reality in Fellbach), the Kompetenznetzwerk Mechatronik in Göppingen, the Packaging Excellence Center (PEC, competence Center for packaging and automation technology) in Waiblingen or the Software center Böblingen/Sindelfingen. Further activities aim at the supply of skilled employees (for example through advancing the compatibility of family and careers and model projects on professional development). As well as the support of company foundations (for example through the partner network Partnernetz für Unternehmensgründungen aus Stuttgarter Hochschulen (PUSH) or the agency of founders and private Investors; see also Business Angels). In order to sponsor the music and film industry the Region has established two separate institutions: The Film Commission Region Stuttgart and the Popbüro Region Stuttgart. Honorary Chairmans The designations were: 1974–1994 „Vorsitzender des Regionalverbands Mittlerer Neckar“ respectively „Vorsitzender des Regionalverbands Stuttgart“; since 1994 „Vorsitzender des Verbands Region Stuttgart“. March 1974 until 1 October 1994: Walter Hirrlinger (former Minister of Labour) 19 October 1994 until 29 March 1995: Hans Jochen Henke (Lord Mayor City of Ludwigsburg) 29 March 1995 until 26 June 1996: Wolfgang Rückert (former mayor) 26 June 1996 until 7 December 1999: Eberhardt Palmer 7 December 1999 until 21 August 2000: Helmut Xander 21 August 2000 until 20 September 2000 Peter Hofelich (temporary