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Together with Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and the British Consul General in Düsseldorf Nick Russell BMR Managing Director Jörg Kemna launched the new international cooperation project this week.

“The Ruhr and Greater Manchester share a common industrial heritage as well as a determination to reinvent our regions for the future,” said Andy Burnham. There are strong industrial connections – particularly in hydrogen, cybersecurity and digital health: “These are the big issues in a changing world that we need to tackle together,” said Burnham at the launch event.

A common understanding of democracy, business relations, and international collaboration is becoming increasingly important, Jörg Kemna stated: "We must see how we can leverage global change as an opportunity for our regions."

The core of the Innovation Bridge is business. Companies should be able to discover market opportunities in the other region more easily, ultimately leading to partnerships and the establishment of businesses. ‚We see the Ruhr as a leading base for British companies that want to expand into the European market,‘ says Jörg Kemna. " That’s why our aim is to simplify access to the German market for British companies and connect them with the right partners in the Ruhr."

"Both Great Britain and Germany are focusing on growth, but growth does not only come from the capitals," said Consul General Russell.

The United Kingdom ranked third in 2024 behind China and the Netherlands in terms of investments in the Ruhr region.

"We are not starting from scratch and have deliberately worked towards this partnership. Over recent years, we have built up trust and networks, especially through the close partnership with Greater Manchester," emphasized Jörg Kemna. The metropolis in the north-west of England also has a great international reputation in the future topics of hydrogen, cybersecurity and digital health. Greater Manchester is considered the fastest-growing city region in the United Kingdom.

The BMR is specifically strengthening its team to expand its international activities and offers British companies personal contacts to provide them with the best possible support for their innovation and investment projects in the Ruhr region. Market entry webinars and trade fair visits are planned. Highlights of this year will be reciprocal visits and conferences.

At the end of May, Manchester will have its own stand at the RuhrSummit. Six companies will be travelling from the island on 27^th May to represent Manchester’s strengths in cybersecurity, digital identity, translation services and greentech at the Ruhr’s leading start-up event.

In September, Manchester will be returning the invitation. “We are excited to welcome representatives from the Ruhr to Manchester for the Greater Manchester-Germany Innovation Summit on the 24th and 25th September. This two-day event will bring together business, academia and local government in the spirit of the triple helix model that underpins our partnership,” said Mr Burnham, referring to the shared understanding of knowledge-based urban development. On the first day, energy will be the central topic, with a particular focus on hydrogen, while the second day of the congress focuses on digital health and cybersecurity.

With the Innovation Bridge UK, the BMR opens its second Innovation Bridge with a neighbouring European country. There has been a lively exchange via the Innovation Bridge Netherlands over the last three years. Other Innovation Bridges exist with Israel and North America. The British Consulate General in Düsseldorf and Greater Manchester, Britain’s second largest metropolitan county, support the Innovation Bridge UK.

You can find more information here:

New Innovation Bridge UK launched – Business Metropole Ruhr