The metropolitan region of Rhein-Neckar (MRN) is located in the southwest of Germany at the intersection of the three federal states of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. The economic success of the region is closely linked to an excellent science and research landscape, which offers an outstanding innovation potential. Thus, compared to the innovative strength of other regions, the MRN maintain a position within the leading group.
The metropolitan region Rhein-Neckar (MRN) is located in the southwest of Germany at the intersection ofFederal States of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. The region is divided in more than seven local districts (Bad Dürkheim, Bergstraße, Germersheim, Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis, Südliche Weinstraße) and eight independent cities (Frankenthal, Heidelberg, Landau, Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Neustadt a. d. Weinstraße, Speyer, Worms). About 2.35 million people are living in an area of 5,637 square kilometres. Compared to the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the economy of the region is rather characterized by business activities in the services sector, whereas production plays a less significant role. Hereby, the share of corporate services is above the federal state's average.
The economic success of the region is closely linked to an excellent science and research landscape, offering an outstanding innovation potential. In 2006, the restructuring of the organisations involved in the common regional development gave rise to a public-private-partnership model which is unique in Germany. Since that date, the Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH, the Associations Region Rhein-Neckar and Zukunft Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar e.V. form a community for regional development work.
The most important industries include (by the number of jobs liable for social insurance contributions excluding commerce, the construction and the public sector):
Compared to the other districts, the innovative strength of the MRN occupies a position in the middle of the ranking in fifth place according to the level index. Thus, the region's innovation activities have experienced an average development compared to the other regions.
Innovation Index of the region* | ||
---|---|---|
Overall index | 39,3 % | federal state 38,8 % |
| 37,6 % | federal state 36,5 % |
| 44,3 % | federal state 45,8 % |
Share of the employment in the different sectors** | ||
---|---|---|
Manufactoring | 31,4 % | federal state 36,2 % |
Services | 67,7 % | federal state 63,2 % |
| 13,6 % | federal state 13,3 % |
| 13,2 % | federal state 12,5 % |
| 4,6 % | federal state 4,1 % |
*Statistical State Office of Baden-Wuerttemberg 2012
**Statistic of Employment of the Federal Employment Agency 2012