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.

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.

Gaming as a catalyst for innovation

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. 

Cluster & networks

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