The media & IT cluster comprises more than 23,000 companies and is thus one of the key industries in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. The current focus lies on the development of the digital economy. Hamburg has become the leading city in Germany in the area of computer game development.

The City of Hamburg promotes the development of arts and culture also in niche areas by providing favourable framework conditions. As well as adding to Hamburg’s vibrant and varied cultural scene, the creative industries contribute fresh impetus and new events.

As a green metropolis, Hamburg promotes wind power, solar energy and biomass and has committed itself to clear objectives with regard to climate change and air pollution. The Hamburg Metropolitan Region is home to almost 1,500 green energy companies with a total workforce of more than 25,000. Renowned companies from the wind industry sector have their head offices in Hamburg.

Please contact Nina Alswede in the event that none of the listed clusters match your association’s industry.

The close economic and trade relations between Hamburg and Great Britain date back to the era of the Hanseatic League. Hamburg’s merchants and shipowners traditionally sent their sons to be educated in London and were thus influenced by the English way of life. Examples of this influence include Hamburg’s sprawling landscaped gardens and the founding of the first English-style rowing club in Germany. Today, the River Elbe and the Alster Lake provide an attractive setting for business, hotels, venues and leisure activities while offering good value for money. Many of Hamburg’s famous festivals – among them the Hafengeburtstag port festival, the Alstervergnügen and several Christmas markets – are held directly on the water. Hamburg is also famous for its excellent nightlife and countless music clubs. After all, the Beatles once started their international career on the stages of the St Pauli district.

The world’s first cruise ship was built on behalf of the Hapag shipping company in Hamburg in 1900. One might almost say that cruise tourism was invented in Hamburg. Either way, it is clear that Hamburg has swiftly developed into a leading European cruise hub that now features three cruise terminals. The nearby city centre with its magnificent town hall, impressive Kontorhaus buildings, luxurious shopping centres, the historic Speicherstadt warehouse district and the BallinStadt emigration museum are popular tourist destinations and at the same time reflect Hamburg’s rich history. While the city is immersed in tradition, it also makes it a point to provide fresh impetus – e.g. in the fields of design and architecture or in developing innovative technologies.

Fifty percent of German foreign trade with China is handled through the port of Hamburg, making China one of the city’s key economic partners. Hamburg’s economic clusters serve as important connecting factors here. Common focal points include logistics and transport, as well as aviation, urban and traffic planning, architecture, healthcare and environmental technologies. Today, more than 500 Chinese companies are located in Hamburg and use the city as their main European trading hub.

Hamburg and the Chinese city of Shanghai have been twinned since 1986, and Hamburg also maintains its own representative office in Shanghai – the Hamburg Liaison Office. Since 2004, both cities have also been closely linked via their port partnership programme. In that same year, the conference “Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe” was launched. Hosted by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, this biennial event has since become an important international platform for German-Chinese dialogue. Speaking of which: Hamburg actually offers an authentic Chinese venue for conventions and events: the Yu garden is a replica of the Huxinting Teahouse in Shanghai – a gift from Hamburg’s twin city.

For guests from Scandinavia, Hamburg is located right outside their door, and the ferry ports of Kiel and Lübeck-Travemünde even provide direct access by waterway. Also by plane, Hamburg is within easy reach. Beyond traditional ties in the areas of shipping, shipbuilding and transport, collaborations between Hamburg and Scandinavia increasingly focus on advancing new technologies and sustainable innovations. In particular, collaborations include sectors such as renewable energies as well as media and IT. The Hamburg Metropolitan Region has become an established wind power centre and is among Europe’s leading locations in the field.

For enquiries regarding all other countries, please contact Florian Gerdes.