The state capital Munich with 1.6 million inhabitants is the center of the Munich Metropolitan Region. With 33 districts and independent cities, this region has a population of around 6 million and covers a total area almost as large as Belgium.
In order to strengthen the identification and perception of the region as the Munich Metropolitan Region, many districts and cities, institutions from business, science and society are involved on a voluntary basis in the association European Metropolitan Region Munich, EMM e.V. for short. The association's goals are to maintain the high quality of life, to promote excellence in business, education and innovation, to network stakeholders, to bundle internal forces, to strengthen external perception, to achieve sustainable economic development, to develop the region in harmony with nature and the environment, to improve transport links within the region and from outside, and to optimally network rural areas and cities in combination with polycentric development.