Innovation Bridge UK strengthens ties between Greater Manchester and Germany’s Ruhr region

Greater Manchester leaders have attended the launch of Innovation Bridge UK, a new international cooperation project between the UK and Germany’s Ruhr region.

British Consul General Nick Russell and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, joined Business Metropole Ruhr (BMR) Managing Director, Jörg Kemna, for the launch. Innovation Bridge UK is The Ruhr’s second Innovation Bridge with a neighbouring European country. It has already seen promising exchange via the Innovation Bridge Netherlands over the last three years, with BMR consolidating its activities in the UK to focus on the core sectors of hydrogen, cybersecurity and digital health, which are all strengths of Greater Manchester and the wider North West region.

Andy Burnham Mayor of Greater Manchester said:

“The Ruhr and Greater Manchester share a common industrial heritage as well as a determination to reinvent our regions for the future. 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.”

Jörg Kemna, BMR Managing Director, said:

“We see the Ruhr region as a leading base for British companies that want to expand into the European market. 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.

“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.”

By building mutually beneficial networks through the Innovation Bridge scheme, BMR aims to attract companies from the UK to invest in the Ruhr region and encourage innovation partnerships between research institutions. The Ruhr is known for its strong companies, established university landscape and strengths in the digital industries of the future.

British Consul General Nick Russell in Düsseldorf said:

“If companies from the Ruhr want to grow internationally, they should ideally start in the UK. And vice versa, British companies should choose the Ruhr first. The UK and Germany are both focused on growth, but growth doesn’t just come from the capital cities”

At the end of May, Manchester will have its own stand at the RuhrSummit, with six companies in attendance to represent the city-region’s strengths in cybersecurity, digital identity, translation services and greentech. September will then see Greater Manchester welcome German representatives from the Ruhr’s businesses, universities and Government at the Greater Manchester-?Germany Innovation Summit.