In addition, the Blue Card (in Germany at least) can fast-track you towards permanent residency. If you can prove German language skills at B1 level, then you can apply for permanent residency after just 21 months (see the section on "level of language skills):

http://www.bamf.de/EN/Infothek/FragenAntworten/BlaueKarteEU/...

AFAIK it's only a work permit if you apply for a job. You have 6 months to find one and then go with the work contract and get the extension, renewable almost forever (or you get a permanent residency permit). I works great if you are looking for a job in the areas they consider strategic.

The thing is that it doesn't cover people wanting to come here to found their own startups.

Also if I understand it correctly the "high skilled" part means having a degree in Germany, that's why I mentioned the "have an Engineering degree" in my other comment.

would love to get more experiences from others, all my friends that used the blue card were for Engineer jobs and they had degrees.