The Ruhr at MIPIM

MARK 51°7, one of Germany's most modern technology campuses, is being built on 70 hectares, seamlessly bringing together industry, science, and cutting-edge research. The former Opel site is now a future-oriented district that connects companies, universities, and innovative business models in one place.

• Innovation hub with O-Werk as a landmark, over 6,000 jobs created and strong players from DHL to Volkswagen Infotainment
• Center of excellence for IT security: home to RUB, HGI, CASA, and numerous cybersecurity companies
• 30% green space, winner of the polis Award, flexible plots starting at 3,000 m²

© Bochum Wirtschaftsentwicklung

© Design: stegepartner

A 114-hectare innovation hub for micro and nanotechnology, IT, and modern production is being created around the former blast furnace plant. The authentic industrial landscape meets new usage concepts, creating a distinctive environment for companies and talent.

• Over 120 companies and 5,700 employees, supported by TZDO competence centers such as MST. Factory and ZfP
• Unique industrial monuments such as gasometers, pump houses, and gas blower halls with great development potential
• Excellent connections via the B54, highways, local transport, and close proximity to PHOENIX Park and PHOENIX Lake

Thurmfeld is one of the key projects in Essen's innovation districts and is developing into a compact, inner-city location for research, knowledge-based economy, and urban living. In the immediate vicinity of the University of Duisburg-Essen, a future-oriented district with high appeal is growing.

• A mix of office, laboratory, and research space, student housing, and urban amenities on 5.8 hectares
• Scientific anchors such as “Active Sites” and the planned Future Water Campus strengthen transfer and innovation
• High planning security: development plan, flexible building plots (2,000–4,000 m²), car-free interior area with green axis, prime public transport location

© Gerber Architekten

The Ruhr Metropolis is a constantly evolving conurbation, where pioneering developments are taking place. The region is undergoing significant changes in terms of living, working, and mobility. The environmental and circular economies are particularly active here, with around 127,000 people employed and an above-average number of start-ups compared to the rest of Germany. Programmes for ecological restructuring of neighbourhoods and bodies of water, renewable energies, modern mobility concepts, and paths for more climate-friendly business models, in the sense of circular value creation, are now on the agenda in the former coal and steel region.

The Ruhr region is a strong region of knowledge and research. The densest university landscape in Europe ensures you have access to an extensive talent pool.

Around 250,000 students from all over the world study and conduct research at 22 universities and technical colleges, which offer more than 400 bachelor's and master's degree programmes. A further 150,000 young people attend one of the numerous vocational colleges in the Ruhr region. The talent pool therefore also includes skilled trades that you need to establish your project in the region. More than 150 technology and research centres, incubators and innovation centres connect the universities with the practical world.

The Ruhr region boasts an extraordinary cultural landscape: numerous theatres and museums, landscape parks with industrial heritage and slag heaps with impressive art installations.

Germany's former coal and steel stronghold has changed its face: around 60 per cent of the region's area is now covered by vegetation.

Several thousand events take place every year at over 200 locations – an incomparable variety of cultural activities, from stadium visits to high culture.

The Ruhr region knows how change works. The skies above the region have long since turned blue again. New innovative companies are settling on former mining sites.

The Ruhr region is transforming the challenges of the past into opportunities for the future. Grey is turning green: Greentech.Ruhr brings together the expertise of the environmental sector in the region. Over 240 partners are involved in our Green Economy network.

The Ruhr Metropolis is aiming to become the world's greenest industrial region while also prioritising hydrogen. It aims to be the first model region for the expansion of the hydrogen market in Germany.

The region already has a significant H2 long-distance pipeline network, which will be connected to the European hydrogen network at an early stage. The presence of harbours and research institutions connected to hydrogen further enhances its locational advantages.

In addition to traditional industrial companies in the steel, energy, and chemical sectors, there are also many innovative H2 start-ups. The emergence of new business areas and value chains is creating new jobs in the Ruhr Metropolis. The hydrogen economy facilitates the industrial transformation towards a climate-neutral and sustainable economy.

Digital advancements are also driving structural change. The IT sector has significant market potential and international appeal. The region can benefit from potential solutions to key economic and social challenges such as climate protection, resource efficiency, mobility and logistics, shared production and smart health.

The IT sector can take advantage of excellent location conditions in the region, thanks to modern office properties, short distances, and high-speed internet.