20 years of the European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg: A success story of cooperation

Around 3.6 million people live in one of the strongest economies and most liveable regions in Europe. The EMN is more attractive to skilled workers from all over the world than almost any other. Around two million employees currently generate an economic output of 167 billion euros.

"The basic idea of the metropolitan region is to move things forward together that are much more difficult to achieve alone," says Peter Reiß, Chairman of the EMN Council. Thanks to the close regional cooperation between 23 districts and eleven independent cities, the EMN has developed into a model region. Its innovative strength was honored in 2024 with recognition as an "EU Regional Innovation Valley".

The EMN's greatest successes are impressive: As a world-leading healthcare cluster with centers in Erlangen, Amberg-Weiden and Bamberg, the "Medical Valley" bundles research and business in healthcare. Municipalities, energy suppliers, science and civil society are working together in the "Climate Pact2030plus" on the path to climate neutrality. And under the umbrella of Original Regional, 33 regional initiatives with around 1,900 direct marketers and producers have created a tasty "specialty map". For gourmets, families and culture lovers, the 15 tourism regions of the EMN have been prepared for specific target groups - with the "digital home guide" as a user-friendly tourism guide.

The development of the EMN is a broad-based process that led to a joint mission statement for sustainable growth and employment in 2010 - under the leadership of the Nuremberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Middle Franconia. Its Managing Director Markus Lötzsch puts it in a nutshell: "The mission statement is the compass when it comes to attracting funding, investment and research facilities to the region."

The European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg has grown together because politics, business, science and culture are all pulling in the same direction. This can be seen, for example, at the annual Science Day, where 21 universities and around 100,000 students present themselves. Or when the Greater Nuremberg Transport Association (VGN) grows into the second largest transport association in Germany.

In its anniversary year, the hidden champion takes to the stage and does so with many receptions and various events throughout the year. At the anniversary event "Economy celebrates 20 years of the metropolitan region" in March, Bavaria's Minister of the Interior Joachim Hermann praised the region as the "engine of Bavaria's economic, social and cultural development".

In addition to former Fürth District Administrator Matthias Dießl, NürnbergMesse CEO Peter Ottmann was also honored with a Metropolitan Region Award for his many years of commitment. As a central player, NürnbergMesse showcases regional expertise with events such as the medical technology trade fair MedTechLIVE and the hydrogen congress Hydrogen Dialogue, while at the same time opening the EMN as a gateway to the world.

The EMN is positioning itself for the future and responding to the changes that are affecting the automotive industry in particular, with around 100,000 jobs in the region. With a future agency, the EMN provides targeted support to 500 small and medium-sized suppliers, assists companies with technology transfer and thus - once again - accelerates the innovation process.