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I've always wondered why the Ruhr Valley isn't marketed/established as a techhub of sorts. Well connected infrastructure means it's essentially one big city and

by kriro 12y ago

I've always wondered why the Ruhr Valley isn't marketed/established as a techhub of sorts. Well connected infrastructure means it's essentially one big city and there are a few universities with decent tech departments. Berlin makes sense but come on...Valley in the title already ;P

guard-of-terra 12y ago
I can't name terribly many examples where rust belt turned new economy hub. They usually just fade :-/
- tormeh 12y ago
  Rhine-Ruhr isn't rust-belt, though. It's the largest metro area in Germany, at 11.3 million, and is the EU's third-wealthiest metro area, after Greater London and Paris met.
_delirium 12y ago
As far as reputation among foreigners, some of it might be that Berlin is probably the easiest place to live in Germany without speaking German (or without speaking good German). Though, from what I gather, still not that easy, e.g. tech companies will hire you without German skills, and there is a considerable multilingual social/cultural scene, but the "official" side of daily life (civil service, doctors, utilities, etc.) will be challenging without German.
BjoernKW 12y ago
Because while it technically is one big city, politically and administratively it's rather 10 or so distinct cities, all competing with one another with no overarching strategy. Besides, politics in the area is very much still living in the past (to the extent it's largely driven by nostalgia rather than by what's reasonable), when mining, steel and big state-run companies dominated the economic landscape. Politics being run by largely anti-business socialists for decades now doesn't help exactly either. Corruption is rampant, there's no vision and in general people there don't seem to care as long as their favourite football club's still playing. It's a shame really. There's a lot of potential there that simply goes unused. [edit: grammar]

by kriro 12y ago

guard-of-terra 12y ago

I can't name terribly many examples where rust belt turned new economy hub. They usually just fade :-/

tormeh 12y ago
Rhine-Ruhr isn't rust-belt, though. It's the largest metro area in Germany, at 11.3 million, and is the EU's third-wealthiest metro area, after Greater London and Paris met.

_delirium 12y ago

As far as reputation among foreigners, some of it might be that Berlin is probably the easiest place to live in Germany without speaking German (or without speaking good German). Though, from what I gather, still not that easy, e.g. tech companies will hire you without German skills, and there is a considerable multilingual social/cultural scene, but the "official" side of daily life (civil service, doctors, utilities, etc.) will be challenging without German.

BjoernKW 12y ago

Because while it technically is one big city, politically and administratively it's rather 10 or so distinct cities, all competing with one another with no overarching strategy. Besides, politics in the area is very much still living in the past (to the extent it's largely driven by nostalgia rather than by what's reasonable), when mining, steel and big state-run companies dominated the economic landscape. Politics being run by largely anti-business socialists for decades now doesn't help exactly either. Corruption is rampant, there's no vision and in general people there don't seem to care as long as their favourite football club's still playing. It's a shame really. There's a lot of potential there that simply goes unused. [edit: grammar]