A key sector of great economic importance
The healthcare sector is one of the largest and most employment-intensive sectors in the Ruhr region. It most recently generated an annual turnover of over 25 billion euros and provides more than 378,000 jobs subject to social insurance contributions – making it the region’s largest employer.
With around 6,100 companies, ranging from established industrial and medical technology firms to young start-ups, the sector forms a diverse and resilient ecosystem.
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International Health Ruhr
The project enhances the international profile of the healthcare sector in the Ruhr region. It brings together regional and international stakeholders and specifically positions the region as an attractive hub for innovation, collaboration and investment.
Strengths of the Ruhr as a healthcare hub
What makes the Ruhr special:
- close integration of healthcare, science and business
- high urban population density, providing a real-world testing ground for innovation
- strong expertise in transformation, gained from industrial and structural change
- a multitude of regionally based networks and clusters
A unique healthcare and research infrastructure
The Ruhr region has the highest concentration of hospitals in Germany: there are around 37,500 beds across 92 hospitals. This exceptional healthcare infrastructure also makes the region a benchmark for new medical procedures, care models and healthcare innovations.
Leading universities and research institutions – including those in Essen, Bochum, Dortmund and Witten/Herdecke – play a key role in advancing medical research and training in the Ruhr region. In Essen alone, over 1,400 clinical trials are conducted each year.
Key themes:
Digital Health
The Ruhr has established itself as a major hub for digital health applications. Key areas of focus include the intelligent use of medical data, AI-supported diagnostics, eHealth solutions, and digital platforms for healthcare and research. Clinical-industrial partnerships make it possible to test and further develop innovations directly within everyday clinical practice.
Integrated and urban care
As a densely populated urban area, the Ruhr region is an ideal testing ground and benchmark for new care models. Integrated approaches that combine medical, nursing and social services play a particularly important role in the management of chronic conditions, in prevention and in urban development.
MedTech
The Ruhr region is emerging as a leading hub for medtech in the field of neurocare: hospitals, research institutions and companies are driving forward practical solutions for treatment and rehabilitation – from stroke to Parkinson’s disease. International medical technology firms are already using the region as a benchmark, whilst innovations at the intersection of AI, robotics, virtual reality and game tech are emerging and establishing new value chains.
Life sciences and biomedical research
The region boasts strong expertise in drug discovery and biomedical analytics. Internationally networked research centres and specialist service providers work closely with hospitals and industry partners – for example, in the fields of personalised medicine and precision oncology research.
Sustainability & Green Health
Health, the environment and urban development are closely intertwined in the Ruhr region. Issues such as climate-resilient neighbourhoods, sustainable hospital infrastructure and the interplay between the environment and health are becoming increasingly important and are opening up new areas of innovation at the intersection of the health and environmental sectors.
Psylaris as a best practice
Psylaris develops VR-based software, for example for trauma therapy and the treatment of anxiety disorders – and has chosen Bochum as its gateway to the German healthcare market.
Why? Because the Ruhr region offers a strong ecosystem for mental health: 92 hospitals, 5.1 million inhabitants, 22 universities, research institutions and partners such as Quhr. The Smart Health Hub at the Bochum Health Campus connects innovators with healthcare providers and insurers, among others.
Before Psylaris set up at Quhr, the company took part in our two-day programme, which builds bridges between innovative companies and the healthcare sector in the Ruhr region.
Get in touch with us.
Do you have any questions or are you interested in the International Health Ruhr project? Give us a call or contact us directly here.
Internationalisation & Location Marketing