Heilbronn stands for economic strength and innovation – paired with tradition. The people here know that success doesn’t just come to you, you have to work for it. The industrial age started early in Heilbronn – and today the city, which has 125,000 residents, is home to a large variety of industries and sectors. Well-known names like LIDL, Bechtle, Audi and Knorr call Heilbronn home, just to name a few. A cluster of life science companies has formed in Heilbronn in the recent years, and numerous high-tech and cleantech companies have been founded.

The city is constantly developing its universities and educational institutions. There are already about 10,000 students at the six universities. The Heilbronn Education Campus has hosted a satellite office for the renowned Technical University of Munich (Read More) since 2018. And the Nobel Prize winners of the future can now experience natural sciences and technology hands-on and conduct their own experiments in the futuristic “experimenta” science centre in the city centre.

After the devastating destruction left in the wake of the Second World War, Heilbronn was rebuilt as a modern city. An innovative rail network (S-Bahn) links the city and its surrounding areas, with trains even travelling as far as Karlsruhe, a hub for IT. Furthermore, the industrial area along the Neckar river has been redesigned for the National Garden Show Heilbronn 2019 (BUGA).

Modern office buildings play host to innovative companies and start-ups at the Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen technology park, which is situated directly by the river. In the city, the Innovationsfabrik (innovation factory), a former machine factory building, offers affordable office space for entrepreneurs looking to get their start-ups off the ground. 

Networking is more than just a buzzword in Heilbronn. Representatives of the city, companies, industries and investors work in close harmony. Together, they aim to support the development of the city. At ZFHN, we support the formation of local and international networks in order to offer innovative industries the best possible environment – both now and in the future. This spirit of partnership and collective commitment has really helped drive Heilbronn forward. And we’re working to make sure this trend continues.