Investors stimulate the economy, create jobs, strenghten innovation impetus and bring new products, services and processes to NRW.
In doing so, they make a decisive contribution to the competitiveness of North Rhine-Westphalia. NRW.Global Business honors exemplary investments in NRW with the NRW.Global Business AWARD. At the same time, this acknowledgement is extended symbolically to all investors who have opted for NRW as their business location. Over the years since its inception, the NRW.Global Business Award has gone to either an individual company or several companies for their exemplary commitment to NRW and their contribution to the economic development of the state.
The AWARD 2025 went to companies from the Netherlands, Estonia, Turkey and NRW.
The red carpet is rolled out for NRW's foreign trade: Four companies could look forward to the AWARD 2024 – and each one has its own unique success story:
LyondellBasell
The chemicals group LyondellBasell is promoting the circular economy in North Rhine-Westphalia through an ambitious recycling project. The company is building a chemical recycling plant based on its MoReTec technology in Wesseling, its largest European site. This technology can convert a wide variety of plastic waste into high-quality raw materials. The project is accompanied by the construction of a state-of-the-art sorting center at the Hürth site. Both projects are powered entirely by renewable energy and will enable a recycling rate of at least 80%. With a total investment of over 300 million euros, LyondellBasell is establishing North Rhine-Westphalia as a leading location for innovative plastic recycling in Europe.
Tactical Solutions
The Estonian company Tactical Solutions has been producing freeze-dried specialty food for outdoor and crisis operations in Hilden since 2024. Originally developed for extreme situations, the process guarantees a shelf life of eight years while preserving the food's taste, structure and nutrients without the use of preservatives. The company is based in North Rhine-Westphalia and sells its products in 24 countries, supplying the military, aid organizations, schools and hospitals. Over 100,000 meals have also been provided to Ukraine. More than 30 jobs have been created at the Hilden site. Through energy-efficient production and significant social benefits, Tactical Solutions is making an important contribution to sustainable supply and resilience.
Rivian
Headquartered in Istanbul, Laser ISSE specializes in sophisticated industrial laser applications for over 20 sectors of industry, including cutting, welding, engraving and laser cleaning. By establishing a European branch in Duisburg in 2023 and setting up its own sales, development and service structure, Laser ISSE is clearly signaling its commitment to North Rhine-Westphalia as a production location. Laser ISSE manages its growing European business from Duisburg. With robotics, intelligent control systems and its own laser laboratory, Laser ISSE is strengthening industrial transformation and research on the ground. The site will expand in the future to include the Research & Development department.
Herbeder Holzwarenkontor Jörn Brenscheidt
Herbeder Holzwarenkontor Jörn Brenscheidt (Hokon) from Witten is the first craft business to receive the NRW.Global Business AWARD. The company manufactures high-quality wooden staircases and realizes complex projects worldwide. It achieved international fame with the world's largest free-standing wooden staircase for a bank in Norway. What began as a regional craft business has become a globally active company with branches and showrooms in Europe, Asia and the United States. Already, 80 percent of its revenue is generated abroad. Hokon is consistently expanding its global network with new branches – an international success story of the North Rhine-Westphalian trade.
Award winners of the last years
2024
- The Japanese high-tech company Fujifilm.
- The Polish EdTech start-up Coding Giants.
- The US electric car manufacturer Rivian.
- The gearbox manufacturer Flender from Münsterland.
2023
- The US clothing manufacturer Levi Strauss.
- The Indian IT group Tata Consultancy Service
- The Turkish software specialist Gizil.
- The sanitary and heating technology company Viega from Attendorn.
2022
- The US hydrogen pioneer Plug.
- The Japanese technology group Asahi Kasei.
- The British-Ukrainian rocket startup SKYRORA.
- The semiconductor producern Elmos Semiconductor from Dortmund.
2021
2020
- The Indian IT group Infosys.
- The Dutch high-tech steel producer 247TailorSteel.
- The unicorn OrCam Technologies from Israel.
- The logistics service provider DPD Deutschland, subsidiary of the French
2019
- The Estonian software developer Nortal
- The French cosmetics group L'Oréal
- The Dutch online supermarket PICNIC
- The Austrian company Competence Call Center.
2018
- The US online retailer Amazon
- The British systems house Computacenter
- The Japanese high-tech company Shimadzu
- The Chinese automotive supplier Yanfeng Automotive Interiors
2017
- The British cosmetics manufacturer Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
- The Norwegian aluminum manufacturer Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products
- The French contact center service provider Teleperformance Germany
- The hotel search engine operator Trivago
2016
- The Britisch online retailer AO
- The Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric
- The US-multitech group 3M
2015
- The Japanese company Cyberdyne Care Robotics
- The Turkish nut specialist Tadιm
- The Chinese carbide manufacturer ZCC Cutting Tools Europe
2014
- The Chinese provider of information technology and telecommunications solutions HUAWEI
- The US express and parcel delivery service UPS
- The French chemical company Air Liquide
2013
- One of the leading manufacturers of construction machinery on the Chinese market, XCMG Europe, Krefeld.
- The German corrugated cardboard specialist Schumacher Packaging, AirportPark FMO in Greven.
- The Turkish communications and technology company Turkcell, Cologne.
2012
- The German branch of the French welding equipment manufacturer GYS in Aachen.
- The winning duo 3M from Neuss and Kleine Logistik from Grevenbroich.
- The Japanese company XTREME technologies GmbH, Alsdorf.
2011
- The US company Edgetech Europe in Heinsberg.
- The Japanese automotive supplier DENSO Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Wegberg-Oval.
- The Polish company SECESPOL Deutschland GmbH, based in Düsseldorf.
2010
- The Australian company Ceramic Fuel Cells, based in Heinsberg.
- The Japanese manufacturer of power tools and petrol-powered garden equipment Makita with its German headquarters in Ratingen.
- The investor trio Danone Waters, Garbe Logistic and Reiner Bohnen Internationale Spedition.
2009
2006
- The Swedish technology company Atlas Copco, based in Essen.
- The Finnish company Rhein Papier - a subsidiary of the Finnish paper group Myllykoski - in Hürth.
- The Danish company Genan, based in the Dorsten/Marl industrial park.
- The Norwegian energy producer Statkraf, based in Düsseldorf.
2003
- The French company Bonduelle Frische GmbH and NBV/UGA GmbH for their investment in Straelen.
