With 5.2 million inhabitants, the Metropole Ruhr region is the third largest conurbation in the European Union after Paris and London. The region's direct access to the European market is unique within Europe: from the Ruhr district, more than 60 million people can be reached by road in just a three hour drive.

The Metropole Ruhr is one of the largest and most financially important centres in Europe. 16 of Germany's 100 companies with the highest turnover have their headquarters here as well as 43 of the 500 top turnover companies in Germany. World-famous companies such as RWE, Thyssen-Krupp, Evonik Industries, Klöckner, Karstadt, Aldi and Hochtief are trademarks of the region.

Any queries relating to sites in the region are handled by the Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH economic development agency. More than 30 technology, start-up and innovation centres in the Metropole Ruhr help companies compete with their innovative business ideas. A great deal of sponsorship money also flows into the region and is often awarded as prize money to start-up companies and entrepreneurs as part of competitions.

Research and development is always underway at the region's five universities. The strong presence of renowned institutes (four Fraunhofer institutes, three Max Planck institutes and four Leibnitz institutes) reflects this high intensity of research and development. Together with the 130 additional external technology and research institutes including 30 technology, start-up and innovation centres and nine university information transfer points, the region has the necessary drive it requires to maintain the strength of these regional structures. The region's core fields of competence include energy, logistics, chemistry and health care as well as communications and IT, cross-sectional micro-systems technology, nano-technology and new materials. The Metropole Ruhr offers great potential for development in this sector, even at an international level.

The Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr economic development agency has access to data and exact information about 80,000 companies classified according to their economic sector. A further 72,000 sites also offer geodata-based details of the availability and potential of sites in the Metropole Ruhr. The wmr provides individual (site) information and data on request and offers a comprehensive investor service.
Commercial properties for sale or hire can be viewed by accessing the wmr's ruhrsite property exchange through the Metropole Ruhr region's commercial property portal. The regions are currently developing over 30 property projects on the water as a showcase with an investment value totalling billions. In addition to their excellent infrastructure and inner city location, these urban water locations offer plenty of potential for leisure activities as well as being highly attractive, therefore offering an increased quality of life.

Essen is representing the Metropole Ruhr as European capital of culture 2010. The region is home to Europe's densest network of cultural activities with 200 museums, 100 culture centres, 120 theatres, 100 concerts halls, 250 festivals & feasts and 1,000 industrial monuments. The region's cultural activities are varied, lively and often challenging. Top quality festivals have established themselves in the region including the Klavierfestival Ruhr piano festival, the RuhrTriennale and the Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen plays. In addition to the region's strongly represented artistic culture, an unrivalled form of architectural culture can also be found in the Metropole Ruhr in the form of industrial culture. The 400 kilometre long 'industrial culture route' links 52 impressive sites in the region's mining history including the Zeche Zollverein mine in Essen, the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum, the Gasometer Oberhausen and the Duisburg-Nord landscaped park. The route is also lined with breath-taking views, renowned art museums and cultural offers.