The Metropole Ruhr has always been a pioneer of industrial development - its evolution is unique. For important but energy-intensive industries such as metal and steel production or the glass, aluminum and chemical industries, further developments and innovations ensure competitiveness.
The smart factory of things and the Internet of Things in particular offer these industries high potential for innovation and growth. Intelligent technical methods such as predictive maintenance and digital twins optimize processes and create time savings – hydrogen is the key to a climate-neutral economy and already has numerous areas of application in the Metropole Ruhr.
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.
Innovative research – Direct application
The necessary innovation orientation of regional companies is supported by a large number of research institutions. In addition, industrial skills are also taught at various universities, including production engineering, automation, intelligent production, environmental technologies, resource extraction and efficiency, and recycling. These capabilities enable the application of new sustainable solutions for the transformation of traditional industrial production. Corresponding companies are distributed throughout the Metropole Ruhr - however, the share of employees in the industrial production sector is significantly lower in the center of the Metropole Ruhr.
Concentrated industry expertise
Bochum
Bottrop
Dortmund
Duisburg
Essen
Hagen
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