Digital technologies in NRW

In a digitalized world, many sectors – especially in industry – need to integrate digital technologies into their processes in order to remain competitive.

The development, implementation and use of these technologies present not only challenges, but also opportunities for companies. They facilitate new business models and the development of innovative products and help to increase efficiency and productivity.

NRW is a diversely positioned location for digital technologies in Germany: companies from the fields of software development, web and app development, IT consulting, data analysis and business intelligence, artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as cloud computing and telecommunications companies are represented here. The result is a broad spectrum of products and services – in both medium-sized and large companies. NRW is therefore very well placed to successfully influence and benefit from digital transformation.

Digitalization is revolutionizing the value chains of almost all companies and industries. Improved products, connected services and completely new business models offer countless opportunities for economic growth, promote new business startups and ensure national and international competitiveness, especially in industry.

Dr. Ralf Mittelstädt & Michael F. Bayer

Managing Director IHK NRW | Managing Director Aachen Chamber of Commerce and Industry

6,400

companies

are active in the field of digital technologies in NRW

One

in five companies

in the sector in Germany is based in NRW

15

billion euros

are generated annually by digital technologies in NRW. One fifth of the sector's turnover for the whole of Germany.

1.5

billion euros

export volume

Long-established companies with innovative strength

NRW is the digital heart of Germany and a hotspot for innovation. The density of global players and renowned companies is higher than in any other federal state: from software development and IT services to e-commerce and web technologies to artificial intelligence and data analysis.

Many startups are researching the digital future

The startup scene in the industry is very diverse. Over 50 startups from diverse areas of data management and processing, FinTech, virtual reality and augmented reality as well as artificial intelligence are continuously working on technological innovations.

Digital technologies: prospects, innovations and trends

Thanks to the competence of numerous universities, startups and global players, NRW possesses outstanding expertise in various areas of digital technologies. In NRW, the industry is already an important driver of technological progress. It is constantly developing and creating new, tailor-made solutions. Especially in the areas of data management and processing, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence and gaming, innovative technologies are being developed in the region that are transforming various industries.

In production, for example, the control of various systems can be networked or automated to optimize production processes. Meanwhile, digital technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and big data analytics can play a critical role in product development. They enable faster and more cost-effective development by facilitating early testing and optimization. By analyzing large amounts of data, new trends and customer needs can be identified and new ideas developed.

ai.dopt

Software makes AI applications easy for businesses

AI automation for SMEs from "ai.dopt": ai.dopt offers companies software that automates the entire process of developing and introducing AI applications. Among other things, it covers the areas of validation, generation and productive use. The software was developed in collaboration with various universities.

Innovation Lab

Robots, drones and AI: the future policing

Innovation Lab in Duisburg: New technologies for the police of the future are developed and tested in a 500-square-meter laboratory at the Port of Duisburg. The lab not only adapts existing products to the needs of the police, but also creates completely new innovations. The Innovation Lab makes it possible to produce prototypes that can be developed into production models, such as the dog-like walking robot "Spot" from Boston Dynamics.

Oculavis

Human-aided models of machine learning

Oculavis has developed augmented reality video software for industrial use that enables companies to connect machines and systems with technical personnel in real time. This can be used for a variety of applications, including maintenance and service, employee training, and troubleshooting. Another example is TUTOR from the Düsseldorf-based company Weltenmacher. This is AI for holistic training in virtual reality. The development of XR-based educational applications with gamified elements supports learning and offers a personalized learning experience.

EnergyCortex GmbH

How businesses can use data to protect the environment

EnergyCortex GmbH acts as a digital energy manager and supports companies with the digitalization of their energy management. With the help of an SaaS solution, all energy data can be collected and visualized. This enables energy providers to reduce energy consumption, costs and CO2 emissions.

NRW is considered the leading location for the computer and video games industry in Germany. The region is characterized by the presence of major international companies such as EA and Ubisoft as well as a wide-ranging independent development scene. An outstanding example is the development studio Blue Byte, which has now been taken over by Ubisoft and is now known as Ubisoft Düsseldorf and has produced brands such as “Die Siedler”. In addition, gamescom, the world's largest games trade fair, takes place in Cologne every year.

The "Fusion Campus" competence center in Düsseldorf serves as an interface between gaming and industry, linking gaming expertise with other economic sectors such as education and healthcare. The Cologne Game Lab, an institute at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences, is also dedicated to education and training in the fields of games, game development and game design.

University and research landscape

With its dense university and research landscape, NRW is a strong science location – also in the field of digital technologies. The state has outstanding expertise in many important research areas, such as blockchain, supercomputing, quantum technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence.

Forschungszentrum Jülich

Forschungszentrum Jülich is an interdisciplinary research center focusing on several key areas, including sustainable bioeconomy, information and energy. In the field of digital technologies, the center is dedicated to research topics such as supercomputing and quantum technology. One of the research center's special projects is a quantum annealer with more than 5,000 qubits, which has been operating successfully since 2022. Quantum annealers are computers that use quantum mechanics to solve various combinatorial optimization problems, for example in aerospace. JUPITER, Europe's first exascale-class supercomputer, will go into operation at Forschungszentrum Jülich in 2024. It will break the barrier of one trillion calculations per second, taking scientific simulations and the use of artificial intelligence to a new level.

Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT)

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT) is dedicated to holistic system development in the application areas of digital energy, digital health, digital sustainability and digital business. FIT's focus areas include data science and artificial intelligence, blockchain, industrial metaverse and 5G. In its "Blockchain for Education" project, the institute is focusing on counterfeit protection: using blockchain technology, certificates can be archived in a tamper-proof manner and correctly assigned to certificate holders on a permanent basis.

RWTH Aachen University

RWTH Aachen University is one of the leading technical universities in Europe and is one of the eleven universities of excellence in Germany. RWTH is active in many areas of research, including digital technologies. To this end, RWTH has its own department, "Digital Transformation", which specializes in production technology. It offers a comprehensive range of services, including technology research in the fields of sensor technology, data science, artificial intelligence and digital business models. In the area of continuing education, RWTH focuses on courses in artificial intelligence, data science, big data, cloud/edge computing and blockchain/DLT.

Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg is a university of applied sciences with a wide range of practice-oriented degree programs. The university's research institutes cover a wide range of topics, including digital technologies. Research focuses on AI and autonomous systems as well as visual computing. A pioneering project is UMBRAS (Utilization of Molecular Modelling for Bio-Chemical Application Scenarios). As part of the project, computer-aided models are being developed to visualize complex molecular relationships three-dimensionally on a screen. The research group uses an innovative computer game technology.

Cluster and networks

Photo credits

The photographic material was kindly provided by

© Shutterstock, suwin
© MIRA GmbH
© Shutterstock, ZinetroN
© Shutterstock, jiang jie feng
© Shutterstock, Sergey Nivens
© gettyimages, jeffbergen
© Vodafone
© Shutterstock, RossHelen
© DeepL SE
© Shutterstock, Gorodenkoff
© AdobeStock, ryzhi
© Shutterstock, Gorodenkoff
© Ubisoft, Düsseldorf
© Koelnmesse / gamescom
© Forschungszentrum Jülich / Sascha Kreklau
© Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Informationstechnik (FIT)
© RWTH Aachen/Peter Winandy
© Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

Feel free to contact us!

NRW.Global Business GmbH

Völklinger Str. 4
40219 Düsseldorf, Germany

+49 211 13000-0

nrw@nrwglobalbusiness.com

Our team

In 4 easy steps to North Rhine-Westphalia | NRW

We support you in your successful settlement in NRW with our international offices abroad and our headquarters in Düsseldorf. We are your partner and accompany the project in confidence – from the first contact to the successful settlement and beyond.

Get in touch

Innovation topics

North Rhine-Westphalia has long since ceased to be just the land of heavy industry and staid SMEs. In a dynamic environment of excellent research clusters, innovative startups, world market and industry leaders and globally active SMEs, a federal state has developed that stands for economic success in Germany like no other. Whether e-mobility, cyber security, Industry 4.0 or biotech or medtech: In NRW, people are already working on the future.