Most of the Saxon 'industrial base' either moved to Bavaria after WW2 or was looted by the Russians. The Wismut was a 'one hit wonder': after the Uranium deposits were depleted (which didn't take long) it tapered off like everything else in East Germany. The investment in microelectronics in the 70's might have been the only thing that went somewhat right and had a lasting effect even after the GDR imploded.