Preface Mayor Katja Dörner
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Annual Economic Report 2022 makes it clear that Bonn as a business location has coped very well with the effects of the Corona pandemic to date. For example, the number of employees in 2021 developed positively again and increased by 2.0 percent or by more than 3,500 in absolute terms.
Bonn is also regarded as a growing city with a high quality of life in the long term. For example, the State Statistics Office IT.NRW forecasts the strongest growth of all cities and districts in North Rhine-Westphalia for the federal city of Bonn. According to the new population forecast, around 359,600 people will live in Bonn in 2050. Compared to the beginning of 2021, this is an increase of approximately 29,000 people or a growth of 8.8 percent.
Due to its outstanding economic and scientific potential, its international orientation as the German city of the United Nations, and its important function as a second federal political center, Bonn will continue to be a dynamic city with very good prospects for the future. However, this goes hand in hand with the fact that the demand pressure on every square meter of space in the city will remain high due to a wide variety of usage requirements for housing, commercial development, service locations, but also for green space, recreation, mobility and environmental concerns.
The city of Bonn intends to become climate-neutral by 2035, to convert its energy supply to regenerative energies and, in parallel, to continuously develop into a city that is best adapted to the consequences of the climate crisis. The crises in the world, especially the war in Ukraine, highlight the importance of energy sovereignty.
Economic development is also focusing more strategically on sustainable business, such as with the pilot project climate-friendly business park Beuel-Ost and the development of the sustainability hub.
Bonn is a special and livable city that I am convinced can master future challenges very well and also take on a pioneering role in some areas. To this end, we will adapt our urban development strategies with regard to sustainability, both in terms of ecology, economy and social participation.
I cordially invite you to participate in these processes and look forward to working with you.
Yours
Katja Dörner
Mayor
Preface Victoria Appelbe, Director of Economic Development
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Annual Economic Report 2022 of the City of Bonn describes the economic development comprehensively and takes stock of the activities of the Economic Development Office.
As the first point of contact for business start-ups, company development and relocation, the team at our Business Service Center was able to process a total of 957 requests and projects in 2021.
In the report, six company projects that the business development department was able to support are presented in more detail as examples. These are projects of the IT consulting company CONET Technologies Holding GmbH, the logistics group Deutsche Post DHL Group, the IT company Hansen & Gieraths EDV Vertriebsgesellschaft mbh, the research-based start-up ClimEtSan-OnTheGround GmbH, the digital company DeepUp GmbH and the theater Haus der Springmaus e.V..
Fortunately, many events, network meetings and consultations were gradually able to take place again in hybrid form or even in presence.
In 2021, the work of the economic development office was primarily directed toward five focus topics, which are described in detail in the report:
- Commercial space development
- Digital city
- Land supply policy
- Cooperation between university and city
- Downtown and urban district center development.
In terms of land supply policy, we are increasingly pursuing strategic land acquisition. The City Council's decision at the beginning of 2021 that urban land will only be granted on a leasehold basis sets a clear framework here. Exceptions apply only if the acquisition of a city-owned site for personal use is the only way to secure the location of a company in the city of Bonn.
In the development of the inner city and the city district centers, the main focus was on the corona-related establishment of a fund for promotions and events, the support of a digital voucher system for the commercial communities and the introduction of a center management in the districts of Bad Godesberg, Beuel and Hardtberg.
The entire team of the Bonn Economic Office would like to thank all partners and customers for the good cooperation in challenging times and will be happy to assist you at any time.
Please do not hesitate to contact us!
Victoria Appelbe
Economic Development
