Greater Manchester and the Ruhr region: united by the future

The Ruhr region in the West of Germany and Manchester in the North West of England are both regions that are steeped in industrial history. Since 2025, the two regions have been connected by a bridge. The so-called Innovation Bridge is not an actual bridge you can walk on, but it does make many things possible. “This bridge is opening up access to new markets, technologies and opportunities for cooperation,” says Lena Maria Brümmer, a project manager at Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH.  

Political decision-makers and research institutes are also involved in the partnership, in addition to businesses. The goal of the partnership is to create a sustainable innovation landscape. At the launch of the project, Andy Burnham, the 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.” 

Multifaceted exchange 

In their endeavour to reinvent themselves, the two regions plan to focus on the areas of hydrogen, cyber security and digital health in particular. The project is in full swing with activities including workshops and delegation trips. Mohamad Sbeiti, Managing Director of the cyber security company Entryzero from Bochum visited Manchester to introduce his company: “The partnership is very valuable to us, as both regions have expertise in the areas of cyber security and AI and are facing global security challenges. Combining different technological approaches allows for a very productive kind of diversity.”  

Jessica Lüning, a shareholder of G DATA CyberDefense AG, highlights the importance of a close network: “Personal contacts with new partners are essential for us in international cooperation. Our exchange with the UK and Manchester in particular is also interesting on a technical level, concerning aspects such as risk analyses, technology trends and access.”