Knowledge-intensive services strongly pronounced
Research, technology and innovation are important foundations for increasing competitiveness in Bonn as a business location. Innovative products, processes and services are the basis for securing existing jobs and creating new, sustainable ones. Various regional studies, such as the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce's “Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Innovation and Intellectual Capital Report”, Creditreform Bonn's “Economic Dynamics in the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Region” or the earlier studies by the Lower Saxony Institute for Economic Research (NIW) and the Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft (Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany), show the special nature of the regional potential in knowledge-oriented services and the IT and healthcare industries.
Knowledge-intensive services are considered to have good growth prospects, as services in areas such as healthcare, information, business and financial consulting will continue to be in high demand in the future. In addition, knowledge-oriented services also contribute to increasing competitiveness in other sectors, for example through more efficient innovation processes or better product marketing. According to our own calculations, knowledge-based services account for 39.8% of all employees in Bonn (federal government: 23.0%, NRW: 23.4%, according to the NIW/ISI/ZEW definition, as at June 30, 2023). This means that 76,648 employees subject to social insurance contributions work in knowledge-oriented services in Bonn (+ 1,589 compared to the previous year).
Economic development measures
Due to the particular importance of innovation for the future prospects of the city of Bonn, its promotion is a central component of location development and an important area of responsibility for Bonn's economic development. The aim is to support companies and scientific institutions with a range of measures to help them transform knowledge, technology and expertise into marketable products and processes.
Last year, the Economic Development Agency once again carried out projects and events at various levels in order to increase the innovative capacity of Bonn's economy and science in a targeted manner. Various information events and well-established networking activities were held, particularly in connection with regional industries of the future. With the end of the coronavirus pandemic, the formats will be held in person again. However, where it makes sense, the technical possibilities and findings will be used and hybrid formats will also be offered, for example.
Bonn's economic development activities focus on areas such as the healthcare industry and Bonn's development into a digital city. There is also a particular focus on cyber security, information and communication technologies and the geoinformation industry. Annual events and trade fairs are used to provide a platform for local companies to present their innovations to the specialist public. Appropriate marketing measures also complete the approach to supporting innovation activities.
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