Duisburg is a center for international cooperation and economic exchange. DBI's HUB Internationalization promotes the settlement of foreign companies, the establishment of international networks and the transfer of innovations between Duisburg and global markets. 

Our list of countries for cooperation is growing! In addition to the grown partnerships with the Netherlands, Turkey, Israel and China, new ones are emerging: These include collaborations with companies and institutions from Norway, North Africa and Pittsburgh in the North East of the USA. 

The HUB's Internationalisation department is paying particular attention to the two projects from the Interreg programme: Accelerate GDT and ASSET. While Accelerate GDT  deals with thematic company networks and guidelines to accelerate the green and digital transformation, ASSET focuses on the implementation of the circular economy in the construction industry in the Eurodelta region.  

What we do: 

• Promoting Duisburg as a location abroad: we place Duisburg as an attractive location for foreign companies in order to support their relocation. 
• Building cooperation structures: We network Duisburg companies with international partners, promote the transfer of technology and knowledge and initiate joint projects, e.g. within the framework of Interreg Europe. 
• Organization of business trips: Companies can take part in trips to our partner countries to benefit from the DBI network and make business contacts. 
• Participation in international trade fairs and conferences: We represent Duisburg at relevant global events and promote exchange on innovative topics such as hydrogen technologies and smart city concepts. 

What you get out of it: 

• Access to international markets: Through our networks and events, we open up business opportunities for you in foreign markets. These include conferences such as the International Day and delegation trips to existing or exploratory trips to potential partners. 
• Innovation and knowledge transfer: Benefit from new technologies, ideas and partnerships that strengthen your innovative power. Get to know new problem-solving approaches from our international partner regions with us. 
   

Previous projects:

• Delegation and business trips to Israel, China, Turkey and the Netherlands: events to promote business contacts and technology transfer, e.g. to Wuhan (March 2024) and Norway (July 2024). 
• Participation in international trade fairs: Presence at leading trade fairs such as the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam and Smart City Expo Congress in Barcelona to promote innovation and networking. 
• International Day: First international networking event in Duisburg involving our partners from the Netherlands, Turkey, Israel and China in June 2024.
• Duisburg–India Alliance Project: The Project is a strategic internationalisation initiative aimed at enhancing cooperation between Duisburg and key partners in India. The project supports the development of networks, investment pathways, and collaborative frameworks that connect the economic strengths of Duisburg with the dynamism of the Indian market.

Current and upcoming projects: 

• Business trip to Turkey: A trip to Turkey is planned for late summer. This year, we will visit the capital Ankara and the industrial centre in the Izmir region. The focus of this business trip will be on smart logistics and green energy.
• Business trip to the USA: There will be another trip to the USA in autumn. This time, representatives from the business community will take part. The focus will be on recycling and manufacturing, AI and innovative space concepts. 
• Business trip to the Baltic States: A business trip to the Baltic States is planned for the autumn. The main focus here will be on digitalisation and security. 
• Smart City World Expo Congress: This year, we will once again be travelling to the Smart City World Expo Congress in Barcelona with a small delegation. The focus will be on technology transfer and establishing business contacts for the participating companies. 
• Duisburg-India Alliance Project: The project is a strategic internationalisation initiative that aims to improve cooperation between Duisburg and key partners in India and supports the establishment of networks, investment channels and cooperation frameworks that combine Duisburg's economic strengths with the dynamism of the Indian market.
• International Day: The second International Day is scheduled to take place in autumn/winter this year. This year's focus is on the security of critical infrastructure, especially ports, and resilience. 
• Delegations: We continuously welcome delegations from various countries (e.g. the Netherlands, Mexico, China, Israel) to Duisburg and present them with individual programmes showcasing Duisburg as a business location. 

MoU with NASSCOM and Tamil Nadu (Strategic Engagements): 
As part of a multi-city cooperation framework, Duisburg is included in the Memorandum of Understanding between NASSCOM (India’s leading technology industry association) and NRW.Global Business GmbH, aimed at strengthening cross-border innovation and technology collaboration between India and North Rhine-Westphalia. 

The MoU supports: 

• Promotion of technology-driven foreign direct investment between India and NRW 
• Increased global competitiveness of companies in both regions 
• Soft-landing support for Indian and NRW companies establishing operations 
• Collaborative research and development in areas of shared interest 
• The agreement covers six NRW cities — Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen, Krefeld, and Solingen — and creates a structured framework for technology partnerships, market entry support, and innovation exchange. 

Chennai Delegation and Tamil Nadu Initiatives: 

Tamil Nadu – NRW Business Dialogue: Opportunities for Indian Companies in NRW 
As part of Indo-German economic exchange activities, Duisburg Business & Innovation GmbH (DBI) participated in the Tamil Nadu – NRW Business Dialogue focused on emerging opportunities for Indian companies in North Rhine-Westphalia. The dialogue highlighted NRW’s strong industrial and innovation ecosystem, its concentration of global enterprises and SMEs, and its research and technology infrastructure, including leading technical universities and applied research institutes. 
The session promoted NRW as a strategic European entry point for Indian businesses across industrial and emerging technology sectors. Duisburg was represented in the panel discussion by a DBI project manager, contributing the city’s perspective on location advantages, transformation opportunities, and partnership potential.