Business surveys indicate a strong preference among European decision-makers for Germany and the Rhine region as prime destinations for overseas business expansion.
The Rhine region in western Germany, currently Europe's largest open-cast brown coal mine, is transforming into a model region for sustainable industry. According to a recent survey conducted by YouGov, a market research company, the region is gaining significant attention from decision-makers in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
The survey, commissioned by NRW.Global Business, the state-owned foreign trade promotion agency of North Rhine-Westphalia, found that 84% of Swiss and UK respondents, and 56% of Dutch respondents, find the Rhine region attractive as an investment location. This makes the Rhine region a unique investment destination.
Jochen Pollotzek, General Manager of the Rhine region at NRW.Global Business, stated that the region offers optimal conditions for growth and innovation. The survey findings suggest that decision-makers from all three countries view the Rhine region as an appealing investment destination. More than three-quarters of business decision-makers from Switzerland (74%), the United Kingdom (72%), and the Netherlands (70%) find Germany "very" or "rather attractive" for investments.
The key factors that make the Rhine region an attractive investment destination include its strategic geographical location, availability of skilled workers, well-developed infrastructure, and strong research partnerships. About 38% of decision-makers valued the geographical location, 36% highlighted the availability of skilled labor, 31% pointed to infrastructure, and 10% mentioned strong research partners as decisive for investments.
The region's proximity to economic hubs like Cologne and Düsseldorf and Europe's major seaports means around 60 million people live within 250 kilometers, providing a large talent pool. Additionally, the area offers commercial space in prime locations and attractive funding instruments.
The Rhine region also supports digital transformation and innovation, especially in future technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), supported by international research networks and tech investments like Microsoft's planned hyperscale data centers. This innovation-friendly environment aligns with the technological priorities expressed by UK decision-makers looking to invest there.
The Rhine region is also home to the Helmholtz Cluster Hydrogen (HC-H2) in Jülich, currently one of the largest hydrogen infrastructure projects in Germany. The vision of Europe's first climate-neutral industrial region is being pursued in the Rhine region, with extensive promotion and prime business locations.
The Rhine region, located in western North Rhine-Westphalia, aims to phase out coal mining by 2030, transforming into Europe's first climate-neutral industrial hub. The region has a transformation budget of 14.8 billion euros and is seeking international companies to participate in this project, as promoted by NRW.Global Business.
R&D-driven companies find ideal conditions in the Rhine region, with the Forschungszentrum Jülich hosting the fastest supercomputer in Europe and RWTH Aachen being an attractive partner for industry. The Rhine region, therefore, combines a central location in Europe with state-of-the-art infrastructure, access to skilled workers, and a strong focus on future technologies, making it an attractive destination for international companies.
[1] Source: YouGov survey commissioned by NRW.Global Business [2] For more information, visit www.nrw-global-business.com
- The Rhine region in Germany, currently Europe's largest open-cast brown coal mine, is attracting significant attention from decision-makers in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands as a potential investment location due to its optimal conditions for growth and innovation.
- The newly transformed Rhine region is not only offering commercial space in prime locations and attractive funding instruments, but also supporting digital transformation and innovation, especially in future technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
- The Rhine region is home to the Helmholtz Cluster Hydrogen (HC-H2) in Jülich, one of the largest hydrogen infrastructure projects in Germany, and R&D-driven companies find ideal conditions there with the Forschungszentrum Jülich hosting the fastest supercomputer in Europe and RWTH Aachen being an attractive partner for industry.
- Given the strategic geographical location, availability of skilled workers, well-developed infrastructure, strong research partnerships, and a strong focus on future technologies, the Rhine region offers an attractive investment destination for businesses involved in environmental-science, finance, investing, technology, and industry.
