Almost 100,000 people work in energy-intensive industry in Rheinisches Revier. Leading international companies are looking for partners here with whom they can modernize their processes, infrastructure and products in the long term. At the same time, the know-how of the metal, chemical, polymer and glass industries promises a strong supplier base for all those who want to make history with their investment in Rheinisches Revier.
© Westend61, Patrice von Collani
Strong arguments for your investment in Rheinisches Revier
Versatile areas, extensive funding and new partners: Investments in Rheinisches Revier pay off in many ways.
Win-win for your investment and Rheinisches Revier
Rheinisches Revier is located in the heart of Europe and its transformation is one of Germany's pivotal projects for the future. What's more, its path to becoming the continent's first climate-neutral industrial location has the potential to set an international benchmark. This is precisely why companies from all over the world are being invited to participate in the transformation. The list of arguments for investing in Rheinisches Revier is long. You can find the compact version here.
© Alamy Stock Photo, AnnaStills
#1 Extensive funding
The transformation of Rheinisches Revier is a key political project. This is why the federal government, and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia have set up a 14.8 billion euro transformation budget. Extensive funding programs provide targeted incentives for companies to relocate here.
STARK
The federal STARK program promotes investments and relocations that enable the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
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Produktives.
NRW
This program promotes the settlement, investment and expansion of companies that manufacture critical technologies.
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RWP in NRW
The RWP offers funding in particular for investments that create permanent jobs or accelerate the transformation.
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#2 Versatile areas
Whether brownfield or greenfield, office or large-scale settlement, your investment projects will have the space they need in Rheinisches Revier. A wide variety of sites in prime locations have already been created around the recultivated open-cast mining areas. Areas that NRW.Global Business profiles and markets for you.
© Kraftwerk Frimmersdorf
Frimmersdorf power station
In the immediate vicinity of two Microsoft hyperscale data centers, an old power plant is being transformed into a state-of-the-art digital park.
© FSI GmbH
FUTURE SITE InWEST
FUTURE SITE InWEST offers large-scale industrial projects not only 240 hectares of space, but also proximity to Europe's most important seaports.
© BrainergyParkJülichGmbH
Brainergy Park Jülich
The Brainergy Park brings together established companies, start-ups, energy suppliers and science. In the sustainable real-world laboratory, they will develop technologies for the energy system of the future.
#3 Economic environment
No term describes the economic role of Rheinisches Revier more aptly than “powerhouse”. The region is the energy hub of industry, an important production location and now also setting the pace for all those who want to future-proof their economy with new sectors. The advantages at a glance.
Rheinisches Revier has a long tradition as an energy supplier. As such, the power supply for industry and the digital economy is secure. The calculated annual power outage time is less than ten minutes. A worldwide benchmark! The coal phase-out will not change this. Empowered by their own “gigawatt pact”, local authorities, project sponsors and large corporations such as RWE are driving the massive expansion of renewable energies. Digital technologies for smart grids are being developed in the Brainergy Park, which is unique in Europe. In addition, a great deal of hydrogen expertise has developed throughout the region.
Rheinisches Revier lies in the heart of Europe. 60 million people, including many skilled workers, live within a radius of 250 km. The economic centers of Cologne and Düsseldorf are in the immediate vicinity. Belgium and the Netherlands, on the other hand, are international markets whose four ZARA seaports open the gateway to the world. The well-developed road and rail network, several airports and the inland port of Duisburg also put investors in a logistical pole position. The location also has a digital advantage because two data routes intersect in Rheinisches Revier and Microsoft is building hyperscaler data centers here.
NRW is about to become a true start-up stronghold, not least thanks to Rheinisches Revier. Two digital parks are currently being built on old power station sites, where lignite was once burned. Supported by the digitalHUB, a vibrant start-up scene has emerged in Aachen. With the visionary AI Village Hürth, a hotspot for artificial intelligence is developing just outside Cologne. In the Brainergy Park in Jülich, start-ups with a focus on energy are set to grow, while the Aviation Innovation Center in Aachen-Merzbrück is also preparing the runway for climate-neutral aviation with an incubation program.
The boundaries between science and growth are traditionally fluid in Rheinisches Revier. This is because internationally renowned institutions have always maintained a close exchange with companies here. In this way, cutting-edge research for innovative technologies finds its way directly into practical application. That makes investing in the transformation of the region promote your own future viability.
Science that creates business: Discover the practical research environment in Rheinisches Revier!
It is not just the nearby cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne that are known for cutting-edge research. There are also internationally renowned institutions in Rheinisches Revier itself.
As one of Germany's universities of excellence, RWTH Aachen University is in demand internationally – as shown by various rankings. On the campus of the technical university, specialized institutes cooperate with leading industrial companies. They develop pioneering solutions in areas such as production technology, sustainable energy and mobility.
14,000 students, ten faculties, 19 institutes and four competence platforms make FH Aachen one of the most important German universities of applied sciences. Research focuses include life sciences, mobility, the digital transformation of industry as well as energy and sustainable construction.
Europe's largest organization for applied research sees itself as a “supplier of innovation for industry and society”. It is represented several times in Rheinisches Revier and neighboring cities, for example with the Fraunhofer Institutes for Production Technology (IPT), for Laser Technology (ILT) in Aachen and for Scientific-Technical Trend Analysis (INT) in Euskirchen.
With over 7,000 employees, FZJ is one of the largest interdisciplinary research institutions in Europe and an indispensable partner for SMEs and large companies alike. 14 institutes work on future technologies in the fields of energy, bioeconomy and information. A campus highlight is the Jülich Supercomputing Center.
© Gettyimages, Morsa Images
And another advantage: your local partner
Convinced? Or do you still have questions? Either way, let's talk! NRW.Global Business will work with you to find investment potential and accompany you on your way to gaining a foothold in Europe's most exciting investment region.
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