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Working in the Ruhrgebiet

Starting a business

The Ruhr region offers you excellent conditions for starting a business. As a founder in the Ruhr metropolis, you not only have ideal connections to customers and markets worldwide. You will also receive full support in finding the ideal location and utilising funding opportunities for the development of your company in the Ruhr region.

The perfect location for building your business

With over five million inhabitants, the Ruhr region is the third largest metropolitan area in the European Union after Paris and London. Its direct access to the European market is unique: more than 60 million people can be reached by road from the Ruhr metropolis - in just a few hours travelling time. No other region in Europe has such a well-developed transport network as the Ruhr: it has the densest road network, the largest railway complex, the densest canal and harbour system, the largest canal port and the busiest transport network in Europe. You will also find the largest inland harbour in the world here in Duisburg in the Ruhr region. There are also two airports (Dortmund, Essen/Mülheim) in the region, and five other international airports, including Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn, can be reached quickly by road or rail.

Scientific ecosystem provides access to innovations

With 22 universities, the Ruhr region has the densest university network in Europe. In addition, renowned institutes - four Fraunhofer, three Max Planck and four Leibnitz Institutes - ensure a high level of research and development intensity. Together with 130 other non-university technology and research institutions, including around 30 technology, start-up and innovation centres and 9 university transfer offices, they provide the region with the innovations it needs to sustainably strengthen the economy.

Finding the perfect location

Location enquiries for setting up or establishing your company in the Ruhr region are processed centrally by the regional economic development agency Business Metropole Ruhr. Information on the individual services can be found here: Location search.

Starter Centres NRW

Startups

Technology, start-up and innovation centres provide an initial stable business base for young companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs. They bundle innovative activities, ensure close contact with the scientific environment, facilitate the start-up phase and also stimulate innovation and co-operation.

The more than 30 technology, innovation and start-up centres in the Ruhr region now provide more than 600 young, innovative companies from trade, crafts, production and services with office and production space as well as the necessary infrastructure to get started.

What sets these centres apart is their flexible use of space, functional premises and modern technical infrastructure. Communal facilities and a wide range of information and advice services support you during the start-up phase and as your company grows.

Here you will find further information and the locations of the Ruhr Innovation Centres

Further support services and comprehensive information on setting up a business for foreign investors can be found at the following locations:

The ruhrHUB: For start-ups, companies and digital natives

Gründerallianz Ruhr

Gründerfonds Ruhr - Your partner in venture capital and investor relations

RuhrFounder

NRW.INVEST

 

Leitfarbe Hintergrund