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Germany and Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar | 5-HT Digital Hub Chemistry & Health

Germany

Facts & figures.

Germany is the largest market in Europe and a leading economy.  It can provide both a large domestic market and easy access to other markets within the European Union. In addition, Germany's highly developed infrastructure easily connects people and goods both within Germany and across the European continent. Germany has a very good climate for innovators; it is Europe's leading patent filer, and German research and development is supported by its government, both financially and regulatory.

Employees in Germany are generally better educated than average, with 81% of the population having a recognized vocational qualification or having obtained a university entrance qualification. Attractive incentives for investors and secure framework conditions for investment as well as competitive tax conditions create a valuable environment for future-proof investments and innovations.

Population: 83.2 mio.

Number of companies: 3.4 mio.

More than 70.000 foreign companies.

Europe's largest & leading economy.

Total GDP 2021: $4226 billion

More than 80% of people have completed higher education.

Europe's leading patent applicant.

Area: 357.000 km2

1160 investment rounds for German startups in 2021.

German startups received 17.4 billion euros in investments in 2021.

Germany is the best location for startups, based on data from the World Bank, UNESCO and other agencies.

Relatively low corporate income tax rates: 15.825 %

Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar

Facts & figures.

The Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar is located in southwestern Germany. It includes the cities of Heidelberg, Mannheim and Ludwigshafen, among others, and covers an area of 5,600 square kilometers. Around 160,000 companies are located in the region.

The main industries are: Chemicals, Software and Health & Life Sciences. Some well-known international companies such as BASF, Pepperl+Fuchs, Daimler, Roche and SAP have their headquarters and operations in the Rhine-Neckar region.

In addition, there is a rich network for startups. With at least 40 events per year, 5 startup support organisations, and more than 20,000 square meters of office and lab space reserved for startups, support for your business is always nearby.

The metropolitan region, which is spread over three federal states, has around 2,4 million inhabitants. It is also characterized by its strong economy. In 2018, at least 45 companies were reported to be involved in the manufacture of chemical and pharmaceutical products, together responsible for more than 6,000 jobs.

Journey

The Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar is centrally and conveniently located, both within Germany and in Europe. From the train station in Mannheim, one of the European rail hubs, there is not only a direct train connection to all major German cities, but also to many major European cities.

The high-speed train also takes you to Frankfurt Airport, one of the largest airports in Europe, in just 30 minutes. So you are always quickly at your destination, nationally and internationally.

Frankfurt (30 min)

Financial services, fintech, cybersecurity

Munich (3 h)

Automotive, IT, Biotech, Insurance

Ruhr area (Cologne & Düsseldorf) (3 h)

Chemistry, energy, logistics, steel

Stuttgart (1,5 h)

Production, sustainability, AI, automotive, IT

Zurich (4 h)

Financial services, life sciences
Regional ecosystem for startups
Active and lively in the Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar.
Corporate & Investment Partners

In addition to startup support partners and events, companies and investors in the Rhine-Neckar region are also willing to cooperate with startups. Many of the largest German companies from the chemical and life sciences sectors as well as companies from the strong German SME sector are based in the Rhine-Neckar region. Research shows that 62 % of regional startups willing to cooperate work with established companies. Another 16 % of these startups work with strategic investors instead of companies.

Also at 5-HT we can help you connect with your potential future German customers & collaboration partners. For startups in our ecosystem, we can organize corporate feedback sessions and other connections with our partners.

Networking events

Founders and young companies need a network. In the Rhine-Neckar region, many events are planned each year where you can network and meet the people who will help your company move forward. Below, you will find an overview of some partners and events in the region per industry.

Life Sciences

  • Life Science Accelerator BW
  • BioRN Lounge
  • BioRN Espresso
  • BioRN Annual Conference

Digital health

  • Inspire program
  • Pilot Incubator
  • Insuring Digital Health

Digital chemistry

  • X-linker

Sustainability

  • Mannheim Conference on Energy and the Environment

Municipal Startup Partner

Several partners of 5-HT offer (free) consultations for startups on a variety of topics related to starting and running your business. These partners are located in the main cities of the region, i.e. Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg.

In addition, local chambers of commerce and industry offer free information and advice on:

  • Legal and tax consultating
  • CE certification
  • Technology transfer and IP
  • Insurances
  • Funding programs

You can find more information about the advisory services offered by the chambers of industry and commerce on their websites: rhein-neckar.ihk24.de and pfalz.ihk24.de. Here it is also possible to register directly for a consultation event.

You can find further addresses for regional innovation management on the website of the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region under Innovation Radar: https://metropolatlas.digitale-mrn.de/#/cms/~dashboards~innovationsradar~

Startup partner in Mannheim

At STARTUP MANNHEIM you can get individual advice from several experts on what to consider when setting up a company in the region. An association of partners in Mannheim offers vouchers for a free consultation for certain target groups.

Focus on medical technology

There is a large funding infrastructure in Mannheim especially for startups in the field of medical technology. Programs and centers within this infrastructure include:

If you are interested in getting in touch with the actors in this infrastructure, we encourage you to contact Ms. Katharina Klotzbach directly or contact us at kontakt@5-ht.com.

You can also read our interview here.

Startup partner in Ludwigshafen

The Startup Centers in Ludwigshafen also offer consulting services for young founders:

If you want to learn more about the TZL Technology Center Ludwigshafen, you can read our interview here.

Startup partner in Heidelberg

Heidelberg has several startup centers that support startups in their ventures. The main location is the Technologiepark Heidelberg with several subsidiaries offering a wide range of services.

If you want to learn more about these, you can read our interview here.

Spaces and Co-Working Spaces

Together with our shareholders and cooperation partners, we provide over 100,000 square meters of space, divided into co-working spaces, lab, office and event spaces. If that's what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.

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