Top 10 industrial & logistics projects 2026: Rheinisches Revier, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Project overview
Rheinisches Revier is one of Europe’s largest industrial transformation regions, converting Germany’s former lignite mining heartland into a new centre for advanced industry, energy and technology.
Located between Cologne, Düsseldorf and Aachen, the region combines an established industrial base and infrastructure with extensive development land and large-scale public investment.
The transformation is creating new opportunities for industrial development across former mining areas while building on the region’s existing manufacturing and engineering capabilities. Investment priorities include advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, hydrogen, digital infrastructure and other industries supporting the transition towards a more diversified, lower-carbon industrial economy.
The opportunity
Rheinisches Revier offers greenfield and brownfield sites for industrial development, including large-scale locations around former and recultivated open-cast mining areas. The range of available sites allows the region to accommodate both major industrial investments and smaller manufacturing and technology operations.
Regional partners are seeking international companies and investors able to contribute to the development of new industrial activities and supply chains as the region moves away from lignite-based industry.
The financials
The transformation of Rheinisches Revier is backed by a €14.8 billion public budget provided by the German federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Funding programmes and incentives are available to support company relocations and investment in industrial development, innovation and sustainable infrastructure.
This public funding is intended to help catalyse private-sector investment as new industries and infrastructure replace economic activity associated with lignite mining.
Project sponsor
The transformation is backed by the German federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with NRW.Global Business supporting international investor engagement, site promotion and business development across the region.
Significance
Rheinisches Revier is seeking to transform an established energy and industrial region while retaining industry as a central part of its economy. Investment is being directed towards renewable power generation and hydrogen infrastructure, alongside manufacturing and digital infrastructure.
The pitch
Rheinisches Revier offers an unusual combination of industrial scale, available development land, energy infrastructure and substantial public backing in the heart of one of Europe’s largest economies. Its brownfield and greenfield sites provide space for major industrial projects, while established engineering capabilities and connections to research institutions offer an ecosystem for advanced manufacturing and technology-led industry.
