Westphalia competence region
Interdisciplinary value creation networks
In an industrial region characterised by structural change, the rapid transformation to a bio-based economy is taking place! Local biotechnology companies, research centres, universities and colleges are pooling their expertise in regional and supra-regional networks. The food and animal feed industry as well as the waste and recycling industry are particularly relevant for the industrial bioeconomy in the Westphalia region.
Products & topics
- Large number of universities and research institutions - strong innovation area
- Sector-specific technology centres - laboratory and pilot plant areas for scaling
- Agriculture and forestry + high degree of industrialisation - bioeconomy combines the strengths
- More than 40 companies related to the bioeconomy
- Regional and supra-regional networks e.g. BioIndustry e.V., BIO NRW, CLIB
Industries
- Cosmetics
- Food
- Pharmaceuticals
- Construction
- Textiles
- Chemicals
- Agriculture
Feedstock
- Forestry (wood and wood waste)
- Agriculture (straw, plant residues, animal waste)
- Food and animal feed waste
- Waste from the pulp and paper industry
- Municipal residues
- Industrial residues
Processes
- Biotech: fermentation, enzymatic, bacteria, yeast, algae
- Mechanical process: Fibres etc.
- Thermal processes: Pyrolysis
- Plant engineering
- Analytics/quality control
Projects
Stakeholders
- BioIndustry e.V. BioIndustry e.V. | Life Sciences Netzwerk Ruhrgebiet, Germany
- Kompetenzzentrum Bio-Security Fully equipped S1 & S2 laboratories and offices for rent
- Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt Fully equipped S1 & S2 laboratories and offices for rent
- Medecon Ruhr GmbH MedEcon Ruhr | Netzwerk der Gesundheitswirtschaft an der Ruhr
The competence region of Westphalia was long characterised by coal and steel and is currently undergoing structural change. The necessary transformation towards a bio-based economy is gaining momentum. The region is home to a large number of universities and research institutions paired with industry-specific technology centres that offer a strong innovation space. The future field of bioeconomy bundles the strengths of the Westphalia region: Innovative strength, proximity to agricultural regions and a high degree of industrialisation. The local biotechnology companies, research centres, technology centres, universities and colleges combine expertise in the field of bioeconomy. Regional and supra-regional networks have been formed for this purpose, such as BioIndustry e.V. The food and animal feed industry as well as the waste and recycling industry are particularly relevant for the industrial bioeconomy in the Westphalia region. The Ruhr region is also the largest environmental economic region in NRW and is one of the most innovative in Germany.