Globalization and a rapidly growing Internet and mail order business make logistics a growth market. At the same time, requirements are increasing due to services such as deliveries within one working day. Digital solutions play a major role in coordinating the flow of goods.
Artificial intelligence in particular can increase the efficiency of logistics processes. Its use ranges from intelligent route planning, supply chain management, transportation and material flows to sensor systems for the use of virtual and augmented reality, for example in AR-assisted picking and packing. This is how logistics becomes a market with the highest innovation performance.
Central location Metropole Ruhr
Due to its central location in the middle of Europe, the Metropole Ruhr is a good location for logistics companies. Metropolitan areas with high purchasing power in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France are in the immediate vicinity. The rail infrastructure and the ports on the Rhine and Ruhr as well as the Rhine-Herne Canal and the Dortmund-Ems Canal ensure good connections.
As the largest inland port in Europe, Duisport is an important transshipment point for goods and is directly linked to the Chinese market by the "New Silk Road". Thus, intelligent logistics is also a target area of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3).
Duisport as a flagship of digital port logistics
In the 5G.Logport Duisburg project, the city of Duisburg, the University of Duisburg-Essen, and Huawei are testing smart logistics solutions based on 5G technologies and bringing them to market. The Startport initiative focuses on digital startups in the port environment.
Leading-Edge Cluster Logistics Ruhr
I am particularly pleased about the close link between 5G.Smart.Logport and our activities at startport. In implementing automation, we are also relying on startup innovations, among other things. In addition, the campus network at logport I offers ideal conditions for testing new business models of technology-driven startups from our program.
Head of Corporate Development at duisport and Managing Director of startport GmbHThe Metropole Ruhr is also home to the LogistikRuhr efficiency cluster, which has been designated a top cluster by the German government. This globally active network is made up of 180 companies and 20 research institutions in the region. This is where cutting-edge research and practice meet.
A prominent player within the cluster is the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics in Dortmund. Fraunhofer ISST, also located in Dortmund, contributes expertise in the field of digitalization. Dortmund is also home to the "Digital. Hub Logistics“, which accompanies and advises medium-sized companies in the logistics sector on the implementation of digital business.
Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics
Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund is Europe's most important research institution in the field of logistics. Together with the Technical University of Dortmund, it is responsible for the LogistikCampus Ruhr and the innovation laboratory for hybrid services in logistics.
Logistics 4.0 up to the last mile
The Centre for Logistics and Traffic (ZLV) at the University of Duisburg-Essen is also part of the Leading-Edge Cluster. Logistics 4.0 is also part of the study program of the Faculty of Economics at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the focus of a business institute at the Hochschule Ruhr West in Mülheim an der Ruhr. An important location for last-mile logistics within the cluster is Essen with the Amazon Hub Essen and the GLS European Eco Hub and as the headquarters of DB Schenker AG.
Increased knowledge transfer from research institutions to the local economy should further strengthen the logistics industry. The promotion of start-ups also contributes to the expansion of the lead market of intelligent logistics, as does comprehensive coverage of the 5G standard in the future. In this way, not only the centers but also the districts such as Wesel, Unna and Hamm can offer competitive advantages with their good land availability.
The strategy of intelligent specialization (S3) is an important basis for obtaining European funding for regional development. The European Commission promotes the specialization of economic strengths - based on the strategy, the Metropole Ruhr further develops its central competencies, unique selling points and lighthouse projects.
Good for the region: sustainable logistics
In the further development of intelligent logistics, the competencies that the region can demonstrate in the field of artificial intelligence are an important foundation. In turn, it is not only the economy that benefits from intelligent logistics.
The avoidance of traffic jams and empty runs through optimized route planning, particularly in the context of last-mile logistics in one of Europe's largest metropolitan areas, also contributes to the reduction of emissions.
The application of hydrogen also lends itself to sustainable logistics. Here, competencies that the Ruhr region has already built up in this area can be combined with the logistics sector, right up to the last mile.
Source Facts: Fraunhofer Arbeitsgruppe für Supply Chain Services (2020): TOP 100 Logistik, Image Header: Marcin Jociwak from unsplash.de