welcome.ruhr is a project under the aegis of Regionalverband Ruhr together with the partners Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH, Städtekooperation Integration.Interkommunal, which includes the cities of Duisburg, Oberhausen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Bochum, Bottrop and Dortmund, as well as the business development agencies Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung Duisburg and Essener Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH.

In 2011 the mayors of the aforementioned cities joined with representatives from the fields of business, science/academia and associations in signing the "Symbol of Diversity and Talent" agreement, in which the welcome.ruhr was formulated as a flagship initiative. The goal is to use the establishment of a welcome structure to attract qualified migrants to the Ruhr region, with this influx of skilled workers contributing to growth and employment in the region.