Welcome to Duisburg Business & Innovation

Steel production in Germany - an integral part of our public services

Cross-party initiative calls for a clear course to safeguard the steel industry

The steel industry in Duisburg is of essential importance for the industrial value chains and the economic resilience of Germany and Europe. This is underlined by the newly presented strategy paper "Steel production in Germany - an integral part of our public services".

Click here for the steel paper

Investing in innovation: Rain Carbon in the business dialog

From Meiderich to the world: Rain Carbon Germany GmbH combines tradition with the future. As the market leader for chemical intermediates and with 120 years of company history, the company makes a significant contribution to the strength of Duisburg as a business location by investing in innovation. In the DBI series "Lord Mayor in Business Dialogue", we took a look behind the scenes of this hidden champion, for example in the state-of-the-art rubber laboratory. Rain Carbon develops high-quality hydrocarbon resins in Duisburg, which are used in tires, coatings and adhesives worldwide - a significant contribution to the aluminum, steel and chemical industries. Rain Carbon in brief: 150 employees in Duisburg and 1650 in total, number 1 in Europe and number 5 worldwide. Particularly important: Regional production makes supply chains more resilient and secures jobs. Photos: Ilja Höpping / City of Duisburg

Economy: together!

Change through immigration - a clear plus for Duisburg's economy. The figures prove this: Almost a quarter of all commercial enterprises and more than half of all start-ups are migrant.

Economic Development for Duisburg is dedicating a special event to this change: "Economy together" on February 25 in the Königsgalerie, presented together with the Turkish-German Entrepreneurs' and Academics' Association (TIAD).

One of the focal points is the presentation of the new study on the migrant economy in Duisburg, which was commissioned by the City of Duisburg and compiled by the Institute for Work and Technology (IAT). The trade fair will also showcase examples of best practice and innovative approaches by Duisburg's migrant businesses in the catering, textiles and crafts sectors. As an additional highlight, Duisburg's partner city Gaziantep, a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy, will be presenting itself.

Advertising for the trade

Actively addressing the skilled trades is an important pillar of our strategy as an economic developer for Duisburg. At the NRZ-Wirtschaftsforum Handwerk, which was organized by DBI at the Bildungszentrum Handwerk in Neumühl, the opportunities that exist in the diverse professions were impressively demonstrated. "We also want to send a clear signal to the companies: As the economic powerhouse next door, they are a very important part of our location," said DBI Managing Director Rasmus C. Beck.

After all, it is the skilled trades, for example, that are installing the energy transition: whether photovoltaics or heat pumps. In his welcoming address, Lord Mayor Sören Link had already explained that climate protection starts on our own doorstep: "We can take important steps here locally and also make our contribution as a city - for example in the recognition of qualifications of foreign skilled workers."

This can be a key point in the search for trainees and skilled workers: Over the next ten years, 200,000 companies will be looking for management trainees!

Signal from the hydrogen control center: transformation is politically desired!

Strong message at the first Expert Morning Talk of the new year: "The ramp-up of the hydrogen economy is not being driven forward as an end in itself, but is an existential prerequisite for achieving the climate targets and at the same time securing the industrial state of NRW!"

Stefan Herrig, Head of the H2.NRW hydrogen control center at Energy4Climate, the state company for energy and climate protection, spoke about the opportunities and challenges of the industrial hydrogen economy in NRW at the monthly digital exchange format of the hydrogen network association Hy.Region.Rhein.Ruhr.

Even if high costs, such as for electrolysers, would delay final investment decisions, Herrig was convinced: "Many decisive foundations have already been laid in a very short space of time". For example, the agreed import strategies are an important signal to the market: "It is politically desirable."