Economic Minister Mansoori pays a visit to the Offenbach Innovation Hub
Livin' the Future in Offenbach
Step aside, industrial wastelands, it's time for a transformation! Hessia's Minister of Economy, Kaweh Mansoori, recently paid a visit to the city of Offenbach's Innovation Campus, formerly a 36-hectare dumping ground for dye works. Joined by Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke and Councilman Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Mansoori got a firsthand look at the campus's progress under the national motto "Vibrant Places, Strong Communities".
Since 2016, Offenbach and its subsidiary INNO Innovationscampus Offenbach GmbH & Co. KG have been teaming up to turn this eyesore into a modern economic hub. Funded through the Cities Building Promotion Program "Growth and Sustainable Renewal", the Project City, a part of the Nassauische Heimstätte | Wohnstadt (NHW) corporate group, has taken charge of managing the funds since 2024.
As Mansoori toured the site, he couldn't help but be impressed. "This place is a living testament to Offenbach's long history as a significant center for the chemical industry," he exclaimed. "It's remarkable to see how this desolate land is being transformed into an innovative industrial park, all thanks to the Cities Building Promotion Program 'Growth and Sustainable Renewal'."
Mansoori was particularly smitten with the campus's sustainable renovation of historical buildings. "It's crucial that we preserve these old industrial buildings and thoughtfully redevelop them," he said. "We're not simply creating a future-proof economic space—we're also advocating for sustainable and responsible urban development."
The Innovation Campus is more than just a mere construction project; it's a beacon of innovation for the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. As Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke puts it, "The Innovation Campus embodies the rise and fall of Offenbach's economy. Successfully settling forward-thinking industries is crucial for the people of Offenbach, as it strengthens the city's economic vitality."
Planning Commissioner Paul-Gerhard Weiß underscores the importance of cooperation among all parties involved, stating, "Because all parties are working consistently and collaboratively, we'll successfully develop the Innovation Campus."
Monika Fontaine-Kretschmer, CEO of NHW, points out the unique challenge presented by the campus: "The Innovation Campus is one of the most intriguing challenges facing the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. After all, it's the largest inner-city commercial development area, a highly complex task that we’re tackling hand-in-hand with the city."
Interested parties had the chance to take part in the Cities Building Promotion Day, learning about the campus's key aspects, including protected buildings like the bathhouse, warehouse, and three-arch hall, as well as the planned climate-adapted pocket park with a surface water storage basin. Historical information and visualizations from the urban design and building plan were also up for grabs.
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In the transformation of Offenbach, Economic and social policy plays a significant role, as shown by the national motto "Vibrant Places, Strong Communities" guiding the growth and renewal of the Innovation Campus. The revitalization of this former industrial site is not just about creating a future-proof business environment, but also advocating for sustainable urban development and the preservation of historical buildings.
