From North America to the Ruhr Valley

Network for expanding companies

Together with partners from the USA and Canada, we raise awareness of the Ruhr Metropolis and help companies find the right location in Germany's largest metropolitan area.

With the Innovation Bridge, we link the Ruhr Metropolis with potential cooperation partners to promote innovation. Together with companies, municipalities and associations from the Ruhr Metropolis, we market the location directly in the target country and establish valuable contacts for both sides.

Because the potential through settlements from the regions of the Innovation Bridge is great:

66 Foreign Direct Investments from 2016 – 2021

4,581 Jobs created in the Ruhr region due to FDIs from Canada and the USA

Success in the Ruhr Valley

For Plug Power - a U.S. manufacturer of fuel cells - the Ruhr Metropolis has become its adopted home. Robert Zalinski, Director European Service at Plug Power, explains why the Ruhr region became the location for European expansion.

Projects link North America with the Ruhr Metropolis

With the Innovation Bridge, we link the Ruhr Metropolis with potential cooperation partners for the promotion of innovation. Together with companies, municipalities and associations from the Ruhr Metropolis, we market the location directly in the target country and establish valuable contacts for both sides.

Mediation of personal contacts
Transparency about relevant organizations for quick market access
Opening of a network of municipalities, companies, science and associations
Search for suitable location
Pitch sessions in front of large corporates from the Ruhr region
Innovation promotion: delegation trips to North America
Marketing the Ruhr region as an expansion destination

Markets with growth potential

The European strengths in the hydrogen, cyber security and healthcare sectors are particularly exciting for both Canadian and American companies:

Germany's #1 Hydrogen Region

The Ruhr region is developing into a hub for hydrogen technologies nationwide: In a comparison of eight German hydrogen regions, the Ruhr Metropolis is in the top spot. This is shown by the first nationwide hydrogen ranking of 2020.
The study by the Institute of the German Economy in Cologne (IW) compared the potentials of the nine most important hydrogen regions in Germany using an index and evaluated these potentials.

Large cluster for IT security and AI

Since the mid-1980s, a unique IT security ecosystem has emerged in the Ruhr Metropolis. It started with G Data, whose founders developed the world's first anti-virus software in Bochum.
There are now 400 to 500 companies, such as Secunet Security Networks.
Cross-industry digitization and ever greater threats from cyber attacks require solutions for data protection and the security of digital systems.

Healthcare industry as the largest employer

With around 30 billion euros, the healthcare industry makes a significant contribution to the gross domestic product of the Ruhr Metropolis.
Annual growth rates of between two and six percent and 360,000 socially insured employees have made the sector the largest employer in the region.
Germany's highest hospital density, several medical universities and a lively start-up scene constantly provide new impetus.