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 jobs.

Various regional studies, such as those by the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Chamber of Commerce and Industry "Innovation and Knowledge Balance Bonn/Rhine-Sieg", by Creditreform Bonn "Economic Dynamics in the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Region" or the earlier studies by the Lower Saxony Institute for Economic Research (NIW) and the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany (Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft) show the special regional potential in knowledge-oriented services as well as in the IT and healthcare industries.

Knowledge-intensive services are seen as having good growth prospects, as services in areas such as healthcare, information, business or financial consulting will continue to meet with strong demand in the future. In addition, knowledge-based services also help increase 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 40.1 percent of all employees in Bonn (federal government: 22.5 percent, NRW: 22.9 percent, according to NIW/ISI/ZEW delineation, as of June 30, 2021). Thus, 73,549 (+ 2,693 compared to the previous year) employees subject to social insurance contributions work in the knowledge-oriented services sector in Bonn.

Due to the special importance of innovations for the future prospects of the city of Bonn, their promotion is a central component of location development and an important field of activity for Bonn's economic development. The aim is to support companies and scientific institutions through a range of measures so that they can transform knowledge, technology and know-how into marketable products and processes.

In the past year, the Economic Development Department again carried out projects and events at various levels to specifically increase the innovative capacity of Bonn's business and scientific communities. Various information events and well-established networking activities were held, particularly in connection with regional industries of the future. After the start of the Corona pandemic, there was a reorientation to formats such as online events and webinars. In the meantime, most of the events are again held in person or as hybrid formats.

Bonn's economic development activities focus, for example, on the healthcare industry and Bonn's development into a smart city. There is also a special focus on cyber security, information and communication technologies, and the geoinformation economy. Annual trade fair appearances continue to support local companies in presenting their innovations to the professional public, and suitable marketing measures also complete the approach to supporting innovation activities.