RAG-Stiftung

MARK 51°7 is an innovation district located in Bochum/Germany that has national appeal (Figure 1): Bochum Perspektive GmbH has developed the 70 ha site of the former Opel factory to include commercial, industrial and technology spaces as well as extensive public green spaces. The RAG-Stiftung, Essen/Germany, has now secured approximately 25,500 m² at MARK 51°7 for redevelopment. The United Robotics Group, which is majority-owned by the RAG-Stiftung through its associated company RSBG SE, also secured some 20,000 m² of the neighbouring premises.

“For RAG-Stiftung, the procurement of the premises is primarily a yield-oriented financial investment. At the same time, however, we can help drive forward the transformation of our region, by creating space for innovation. In a place where coal was once extracted and later countless cars were manufactured, the wheels are, figuratively speaking, back in motion as new companies set up premises here. We are delighted to be a key player in these major regeneration plans,” explains Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the RAG-Stiftung Board of Executives.

The premises should also give the United Robotics Group the space they need to grow in the future. Together with their companies SoftBank Robotics Europe, Humanizing Technologies and Rethink Robotics, United Robotics provides a link for experts and cooperative partners who have committed to the combination of hardware, software and expert knowledge for tailored robot applications, especially in the field of service robotics.

The United Robotics Group, as part of the associated company RSBG SE, holds a majority interest in Rethink Robotics GmbH. Rethink Robotics only moved into its new corporate and production site in Bochum – close to the learning factory of Ruhr University of Bochum’s faculty for production systems – in the summer of 2020. Even then it was clear that this could only be a temporary solution for the growing company, which will need larger production facilities going forward. Just shy of two years later, with the foundation’s planned purchase of a 45,000 m² commercial premises on the former Opel site, the future course has been set for the mid- to long-term expansion of the United Robotics Group.

As well as around half the site being occupied by United Robotics Group, RAG-Stiftung also has the option of developing the remaining premises or renting them out to third parties. This would both further diversify the foundation’s property portfolio and supplement a profitable and reliable capital investment.

“We are delighted the RAG-Stiftung and the United Robotics Group have shown their commitment to MARK 51°7,” says Ralf Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of Bochum Perspektive GmbH. “With another two big names on board supporting our development plan and acting as ambassadors for our site, we are able to create more space for innovative enterprises and promising start-ups.”

For Thomas Hähn, CEO and Founder of the United Robotics Group, it is clear that: “Even though the move of United Robotics Group and the Rethink Robotics production facility is still a long way off, we are already looking forward to being part of the new campus. The new premises will give the subsidiaries of the United Robotics Group the space they urgently need to grow and develop innovations, especially in the future market of service robotics.” (RAG-Stiftung/Si.)

Mining leaves its mark – water in particular as a resource in the former mining regions is affected by the consequences of intensive raw material extraction, some of which has been ongoing for centuries. The key issues in this year’s “NACHBergbauzeit in NRW” conference (Figure 1) looked at the challenges involving the long-term management of water and the resulting effects from the planned increase in pit water levels. The District Government of Arnsberg as the mining authority for North Rhine-Westphalia and the TH Georg Agricola University (THGA), Bochum/Germany, held the joint specialist conference for the sixth time on 10th March 2022. The 250 or so participants exchanged their professional views online on the subject of “Pit water – planned on paper, discussed online”.

In his welcoming address, Hans-Josef Vogel, District President of the District Government of Arnsberg, emphasised the vital cooperation of universities and public administration: “This innovation partnership guarantees the scientific basis for problem solving in the economy, in communities and in civil society. The research into post-mining is a very tangible example of how we can open up new vistas together, with a view to climate protection.”

Bärbel Bergerhoff-Wodopia, Member of the Board of Executives of the RAG-Stiftung, Essen/Germany, added: “In times of a recycling economy, but also with the increased use of georesources, among other things, for electric mobility, it is important to think about post-mining. For only with our post-mining experience can we succeed in using georesources sustainably today and in the future – this will only be the case if post-mining is considered right from the start in every mining process.” New ideas and innovations are needed to resolve the challenges of the future together and to unlock brand new potential.

The presentations of the conference primarily addressed the effects of the planned increase in pit water on the mining districts in North Rhine-Westphalia and in the Saarland. The speaker, Thomas Im-grund from DMT GmbH & Co. KG, explained the possible effects of rising water levels on pit gas extraction. He also estimated the overall possible impacts of the process on the emission of methane on the ground surface. He concluded with a positive outcome. With targeted extraction and utilisation of the pit gas, uncontrolled emissions would decrease considerably. The rising pit water would also cause flooding of flow paths and a lower gas output overall in the long term.

Manuela Nie and Mario Sommerhäuser from the Emschergenossenschaft/Lippeverband (EGLV), Essen/Germany, offered a very different view on the pit water. In their pre-sentation, they addressed the significance it currently has and will have on the flora, fauna and water quality in the Emscher-Lippe region. Overall, they acknowledged that the region demonstrated good ecological development. The impacts of pit water discharge are currently very low due to fast and heavy dilution in the river waters, which is perhaps why the salt concentration is well below the limit – and they continue to decrease. According to the EGLV’s plans, the whole Emscher will be completely free of pit water from September 2022.

The presentations in the second part of the event covered the challenges faced regarding the responsible handling of PCBs. This abbreviation stands for polychlorinated biphenyls; chemical chlorine compounds which were used in the coal mining industry, e. g., in hydraulic systems, transformers and gearboxes. The fact that PCBs are potentially harmful to human health and the environment was not known for some time. The use of this substance was not forbidden until the mid 1980s – traces can still be detected in pit water today, albeit in very low levels.

In his speech, Michael Denneborg presented a report commissioned by the North Rhine-Westphalian regional government to assess possible risks for ground waters and surface waters. In it, the qualified geologist from ahu GmbH, Aachen/Germany, looked at the possible effects of rising pit water on the discharge of PCB and other residual materials. His conclusion: Overall, higher pit water levels reduced the flow of PCB and the pit water volume in bodies of water over the long term.

Following this, Joachim Löchte from RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, presented the intensive monitoring programmes developed by the company in order to constantly check and systematically record the flow of PCB into pit water. He covered the technical challenges faced during monitoring in particular. He also presented current projects the RAG is working on, with scientific support from the Research Center for Post-Mining (FZN) at the THGA, with the aim of further minimising contaminants, e. g., using special filters and treatment plants.
(Carmen Tomlik (THGA)/Si.)

In early 2020, the RAG-Stiftung, Essen/Germany, together with E.ON-Pensionsvermögen, bought the former Colosseum Theatre in Essen. A little later on, Marcus Kruse, managing partner of KÖLBL KRUSE, also got involved in the property. The acquisition of the historic building once known as workshop 8 of the company Krupp was also an investment for the Stiftung, further diversifying its capital assets. At the same time, from the very beginning, the Stiftung was the source of ideas for the property’s re-use. While the new use of the Colosseum is still in the planning stage, the BRYCK innovation and start-up centre is already being launched. In order to give BRYCK an attractive address early on, the RAG-Stiftung has been renting the tower of the FUNKE Media Group since 1st October 2021, and the first innovation partners have already moved in. Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the Board of Management of the RAG-Stiftung, and the managing directors of the innovation and start-up centre, Christian Lüdtke and Philipp Herrmann, first showcased the plans for BRYCK on 16th February 2022, at a digital press conference (Figure 1).

“Our goal is to get the first players up and running while still working on the planning and renovation of the former Colosseum Theatre” says Tönjes. “We are therefore very excited that BRYCK will now be powering the emerging innovation and start-up ecosystem, building it up and developing it, brick by brick. With the media tower in the Essen city centre and right across from the Colosseum, we have found the ideal location to offer anyone who wants to be part of the innovation and start-up centre both the space and the opportunity for networking and collaboration”, comments Tönjes.

The operator of the innovation centre in the media tower and the forthcoming space in the former Colosseum Theatre will be the newly established company BRYCK. The managing directors of BRYCK are also co-founders and co-partners of the new innovation and start-up centre. Also involved with BRYCK as co-founder and co-partner, alongside the RAG-Stiftung, is Kruse. “In Christian Lüdtke and Philipp Herrmann we have gained two renowned experts and networkers as managing directors for -BRYCK, with excellent knowledge in the fields of innovative business ideas and start-ups. As the idea generators and chief partners of BRYCK, we are now passing the baton to the BRYCK management”, says Tönjes.

Lüdtke and Herrmann are already a well-oiled team whose achievements include establishing the start-up forge and digital consulting service etventure, Berlin/Munich, which was acquired by Ernst & Young (EY) in 2017. In the course of the take-over, the two men were most recently working as EY partners with a focus on innovative new businesses and digitisation.

BRYCK’s main immediate task will be the targeted development of a relevant start-up and innovation ecosystem, including modern co-working offers and novel start-up programmes. The first formats and events, which bring together players from research, development, start-ups, etc. are planned from March 2022. In the long term, with a multitude of offers, BRYCK will act as a magnet for innovation drivers from all over Germany and Europe.

Lüdtke and Herrmann comment: “We are very much looking forward to the hugely exciting task to create something here that will develop international appeal. It is a unique project with extraordinary potential. We are therefore starting with high motivation along with the necessary structured approach; in other words BRYCK by BRYCK!”

The first members to use the space in the tower include – alongside BRYCK itself – start-ups, venture funds, businesses, scientific institutions and educational institutions. What is more, the ground floor houses a public coffee bar.

“In the RAG-Stiftung, we have found a reliable and long-term partner for our property, which will now be a nucleus for an important future project in our region. I am convinced that we will see mutual benefit in this neighbourhood”, says Thomas Kloß, FUNKE publishing director, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Besides meeting profitability targets, the RAG-Stiftung hopes that its plans for the innovation and start-up centre BRYCK will make a significant contribution to the further economic regeneration of the region in the post-mining age. As an example, we can look to UnternehmerTUM in Munich/Germany and StationF in Paris/France. Currently, the plans for the renovation of the former Colosseum Theatre are moving on. This is where the newly formed innovation and start-up centre BRYCK is to eventually find its long-term home, along with all of its partners. The company tasked with the renovation is the Essen project developer KÖLBL KRUSE, whose Managing Partner, Marcus Kruse, got involved at an early stage as co-founder and co-partner of the centre. (RAG-Stiftung/Si.)

The RAG-Stiftung, Essen/Germany, and Quinoa Bildung GmbH, Berlin/Germany, are opening the Quinoa school in Herne/Germany in the academic year 2022/23. With this school, the two partners are making an important contribution towards achieving greater educational equality and equal opportunities for children and youth in the Ruhr area.

In Germany, educational opportunities and perspectives on life are still largely down to family background. Children and young people who grow up in an uneducated, socially disadvantaged home and/or come from a migrant background, are not adequately supported in the German education system. The result: many drop out of school, refuse to attend or fail. For years, the number of young people in Germany who leave school without any qualifications has been increasing. In 2014, it was 5.8 %, by 2018 it had already risen to 6.8 % (see national education report for Germany). This affects many young people in Herne, too. In 2020, 7.4 % of pupils left the education system without a qualification. The coronavirus pandemic has further exacerbated the problem. The risk factors for failure at school are particularly high in Herne. This can be seen on the one hand in the high proportion of young people who grow up in households with transfer benefits. In addition, over 30 % of the population of Herne come from a migrant background.

The partnership between the RAG-Stiftung and Quinoa Bildung is based on a shared conviction that more needs to be done to ensure that all young people in Germany achieve a school leaver’s qualification. As one of the greatest promoters of education in the Ruhr region, the RAG-Stiftung initiates and supports numerous educational projects, thereby making a major contribution to establishing equal opportunities for children and young people. “In our efforts to leave no child behind, we must also explore new avenues. This calls for a pioneering spirit. We at the RAG-Stiftung are used to pursuing more creative ideas, as long as they are promising and we are trying to meet particular challenges in educational work”, explains Bärbel Bergerhoff-Wodopia, member of the RAG-Stiftung Board of Management, then adds, “We have absolute confidence in the Quinoa concept. Our belief is also supported by the results of our study into the “Social Return on Investment”, launched in collaboration with Quinoa Bildung, which indicates how much added social value is generated from a project. This is why we are keen to get involved, not only financially, but also by bringing all of our expertise in supporting underprivileged children and young people.” The RAG-Stiftung is supporting the building of the Quinoa school in Herne with approximately 1.5 M € over three years.

The Quinoa educational concept is specifically tailored to the needs of children and young people in difficult situations. The pillars of the educational concept include individual support, relationship work, language development, identity formation, family work, digitisation, vocational orientation and making connections. “We would also like to use our educational concept in the Ruhr region to improve the starting conditions for disadvantaged children and young people. In 2018 almost 1,710 pupils in the Ruhr Regional Association left school without a qualification. Not only is there a significant need here, there is also a great opportunity”, stresses Ulrike Senff, Managing Director of Quinoa Bildung.

The Quinoa educational concept has been successfully implemented at the Quinoa school in Berlin since 2014: In 2018, 88 % of the pupils in Grade 10 achieved a secondary school leaver’s certificate, in 2019, the figure was 92 %, in 2020 saw 100 % achieving the same and 2021 94 %. In comparison with other schools in the Berlin Mitte district, pupils of the Quinoa school achieve more qualifications (on average 9 %) and a significantly higher level of qualification (on average approximately 48 %). The concept is designed in such a way that it can be transferred to other cities with similar structures.

A feasibility study commissioned by the RAG-Stiftung concerning the establishment of a Quinoa school in Herne confirmed the positive impact of the project. The internationally established approach to the Social Return on Investment (SROI) was adopted in the study. This provides information on the added social value of a project, following detailed calculations of costs and effects. If the result is greater than one, the project achieves a positive added social value that is higher than the investments made. The predicted social return for a Quinoa school in Herne significantly exceeds this value. It stands at 2.03 to 4.63 € per Euro invested – a worthwhile investment in the future.

It is clear, therefore that the foundation of a Quinoa school in Herne will make a substantial contribution to equal opportunities and will have a positive effect on the education and qualifications of the pupils – regardless of their social and cultural background. Attendance at the private Quinoa school will be free for all pupils. As an independent school, it receives public subsidies from the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia in accordance with the Alternative School Financing Ordinance (FESchVO). This funding is a good foundation but is not enough on its own to be able successfully implement the innovative and challenging educational concept. Individual support and close cooperation with the pupils takes a considerable amount of personal effort and financial cost. The Quinoa school will start in August 2022 with Grade 5 and Grade 7. New classes will gradually be added in subsequent years, until the school is working at full capacity. (RAG-Stiftung/Si.)

On 7th February 1962, at 7:45, a huge explosion 535 m under the ground shook the Alsbachfeld section of the Luisenthal mine. 299 miners lost their lives, many were injured. The 1962 Luisenthal mining disaster is deeply rooted in the memory of Saarland. The Glück auf miners’ association was founded in 1963, to commemorate the victims each year.

This year will be the 60th anniversary of the event. In a very dignified setting, representatives from the mountain, hut and miners’ associations, the Saarland regional government, the Saarland parliament as well as representatives from the RAG-Stiftung, RAG Aktien-gesellschaft and other invited guests, commemorated the miners who died that day (Figure 1).

“On this day, 60 years ago, Luisenthal saw the worst mining disaster in the history of the Saar mining industry. The entire region mourned. This day has etched itself in the collective memory of Saarland and has caused the people of Saarland to come closer together”, says Tobias Hans, Prime Minister of Saarland.

“Luisenthal and its devastating mining disaster remains in all of our memories. But the danger of forgetting is real. We are very grateful to the Glück Auf mining association of Luisenthal and all traditional associations for preserving the heritage of the coal mining industry in the Saar region”, explains Bärbel Bergerhoff-Wodopia, member of the Board of Management of the RAG-Stiftung, Essen/Germany. “However, the story of Luisenthal is not only the story of a disaster. It is also the story of incredible solidarity, of helpfulness and of miners’ camaraderie. In the same month as the disaster, at the end of February 1962, Saarland and Saarbergwerke AG founded the Stiftung Bergmannshilfswerk Luisenthal miners’ relief organisation. The willingness to help was tremendous; very quickly, the Stiftung was able to financially support the survivors and the bereaved”, added Bergerhoff-Wodopia. She affirmed, “The RAG-Stiftung is very closely connected to Saarland. We support many young people and support them with scholarships and vocational training.”

Peter Schrimpf, Chairman of the Board of Management of RAG Aktien-gesellschaft, Essen/Germany, was deeply moved by the great compassion shown. “Mining disasters belong to the darkest chapters of mining history. They have brought unbelievable suffering to families, communities and the entire country – and have left deep scars”, he stressed in his speech. But out of this suffering we have also seen some positives. In processing the tragedy in Luisenthal, safety in the German coal mining industry has developed significantly. “We feel particularly indebted to the miners who lost their lives above and below ground. The memory of the Luisenthal mining disaster is therefore particularly important in the subsequent use of the mining site.” A dignified place of commemoration is to be created near the Richard shafts. A place that bears witness to the sacrifice made by these people.

“Solidarity, attentiveness, a sense of responsibility and human connection are the qualities that have always characterised the work and interaction of mine workers”, stressed Susanne Hardies, chair of the general works council at RAG. “Let’s stay committed to these values and honour the memory of the 299 colleagues who died 60 years ago.”

Christiane Blatt, Mayor of Völklingen, gave a stirring description of reports from contemporary witnesses. “The town of Völklingen is shaped by coal and steel. We have experienced difficult times. Now, however, it’s also important to look forward, without forgetting the legacy of the past.” She called on the regional government to get involved in developing a new use for the former Luisenthal mine. As long as the city council approved, a cooperative agreement with RAG would be signed to this effect in the near future. (RAG/Si.)

On 7th December 2021, Peter Schrimpf, Chairman of the Board of Executives of RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, and Chairman of the Board of Stiftung Zollverein, Essen, welcomed Ina Scharrenbach, Minister for Home, Community, Construction and Equality of North Rhine-Westphalia. Together, they travelled into the depths: 1,000 m below the surface of the earth, they visited the mine water management pumping systems in the “Zollverein XII” shaft in Essen (Figure 1).

“Zollverein is a symbol of our past and our future. It was one of the most high-performance mining complexes in the world and is a World Heritage Site today, while it remains an active mining site as well as housing the RAG headquarters,” says Schrimpf. “After 20 years, the Zollverein Foundation is facing some big tasks. Maintaining this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site is a challenge. That’s why the Zollverein Foundation relies on a broad support base,” says Schrimpf, who, as successor to Bernd Tönjes, is also Chairman on the Zollverein Foundation Board.

“The Zollverein mine shows how structural changes can be successful: Since the last shift ended in December 1986, Zollverein has turned into a place for art, culture and creative businesses. The Doppelbock winding tower is a widely recognisable monument as the “Eiffel Tower of the Ruhr valley”. With its fully preserved mining systems and coking plant, Zollverein has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001 – a place worth engaging with and experiencing. A strong piece of home. A strong piece of North Rhine-Westphalia, which it is our job to preserve,” says Minister Scharrenbach after visiting the shafts.

On their trip to Zollverein, the Minister and Schrimpf were accompanied by Bärbel Bergerhoff-Wodopia, member of the RAG-Stiftung Board of Executives, Essen, and Prof. Hans Peter Noll, Executive Chairman of the Stiftung Zollverein. “We also really care about this place,” says Bergerhoff-Wodopia, “that’s why we are also supporting multiple projects at Zollverein. And we have chose it as the site of the RAG-Stiftung headquarters. This proves that we believe in the future of this mining site so steeped in tradition.” (RAG/Si.)

The State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany intends to accelerate the development of a pioneering hydrogen economy. Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Prof. Andreas Pinkwart introduced the strategic cornerstones for this back in late 2020 with the hydrogen roadmap. With the decision to fund the H2UB, in which Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE), Essen, RAG-Stiftung, Essen, and TÜV SÜD AG, Munich, are involved as shareholders, another milestone in the implementation of the roadmap has now been reached.

Minister Prof. Pinkwart: “Start-ups are the yeast in the economy’s dough: connecting young companies and industrial enterprises with established ones offers great opportunities for sustainable value creation and viable jobs. We are therefore delighted that North Rhine-Westphalia is the first federal state to set up a hub that promotes hydrogen start-ups across Europe and the creation of a hydrogen ecosystem.”

The five-year project, launched by OGE, is intended to establish a Europe-wide innovation cluster. The H2UB connects start-ups with established companies and research institutions, from North Rhine-Westphalia throughout Germany and Europe. With a variety of digital and analogue events on offer, innovative matchmaking formats and an accelerator programme designed specifically for start-ups, the H2UB combines the dynamism of the scene with the so far heavily research- and corporate-oriented hydrogen economy. The headquarters are in Essen, while plans are in place for further locations in North Rhine-Westphalia and other federal states.

After the successful initiation phase of the H2UB last year, which the State funded with 200,000 €, the H2UB is now moving into its stabilization phase. North Rhine-Westphalia is supporting this five-year project with funding amounting to approximately 4.5 M €. The project has a total volume of some 9 M €.

Jörg Bergmann, spokesman for the OGE management, states: “The market ramp-up in the hydrogen economy in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Europe needs to be accelerated. To that end, a hydrogen ecosystem should be established along the entire value-added chain by developing innovative solutions from partners and start-ups.” Bergmann continues: “The objective is to create strong momentum in the developing hydrogen economy and thus contribute to the market ramp-up and the achievement of climate protection targets.”

Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the Board of Executives for RAG-Stiftung, says: “In the Ruhr area in particular we have a lot of energy-intensive industries, so we know how important it is to promote new developments in the area – in the context of a secure energy supply, but also with a view to making the necessary reductions in CO₂. Essen and the Ruhr region are ideal for the H2UB because of their central location. At RAG-Stiftung, we believe that our commitment will increase access to innovations and help to identify potential future investments.”

“To establish a successful hydrogen economy in Germany and Europe, we need a lively culture of invention, discovery and development,” says Reiner Block, CEO of TÜV SÜD’s Division Industry Service. “What we are bringing to the H2UB are our comprehensive expertise and decades of experience with hydrogen technologies, thereby helping to make technical innovations safe, reliable and marketable, which in turn establish the necessary trust and acceptance within society.”

The H2UB is also being supported and co-financed by notable companies and institutions, including Westenergie AG, CGI Deutschland, Uniper, MAN Energy Solutions and P3, along with the DLR, the GWI Gas and Heating Institute in Essen, the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology at the University of Duisburg-Essen, and, last but not least, the Essen Economic Development Agency (EWG). The H2UB CEO is Uwe Kerkmann, an experienced networker and business developer who has already implemented start-up and hub projects successfully.

Plans are already under way for the first events: Before this year is through, the H2UB will be hosting an event on the topic of “Hydrogen and Mobility”.  (RAG-Stiftung/Si.)

Some three years after the ceremony to mark the end of the German coal mining industry, leading representatives of RAG-Stiftung and RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, joined Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a historic mining site.

Together with the head of state and other representatives from the worlds of politics, business and culture, the chair of the RAG-Stiftung board of management Bernd Tönjes, member of the board of management Bärbel Bergerhoff-Wodopia and the chair of the RAG board of management Peter Schrimpf visited the “We’re from here. Turkish-German Life in 1990” exhibition. Photographer Ergun Çağatay’s retrospective on the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is funded by the Federal Foreign Office and RAG-Stiftung.

Steinmeier visited the exhibition on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the German-Turkish Recruitment Agreement (Figure 1). “We should no longer be talking about how we have people with a migration background here, but instead about how, over the years, we’ve become a country with a migration background,” Steinmeier emphasised after the tour. Without these people, we could not account for some of the prosperity in our country.

While the coal mining industry was active, RAG itself made integration history. A host of different nationalities worked in the mines and factories. Employees originated from, e. g., Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, Hungary and Turkey.

Integration was part of everyday life in the local mining industry – not least because of the district working group for cultural support for miners at that time (Revierarbeitsgemeinschaft für kulturelle Bergmannsbetreuung – REVAG). The REVAG, founded in 1948 as a specialist unit for cultural support for miners, did pioneering work in that field. It led guest workers out of linguistic and cultural isolation, created trust between immigrants and locals and opened up opportunities for immigrants to participate equally in social, political and civic life. (RAG)

In order to achieve the climate objectives by 2045, an enormous transformation is required in our production and business processes – particularly in industry. As a centre of industry at the heart of Europe, the Ruhr area is taking a leading role on the continent when it comes to the development and use of low-emission hydrogen solutions. The hydrogen report recently produced (Figure 1) shows how the ecosystem is driving innovation through initiatives within the established economy, a strong research landscape and, crucially, the many new start-ups coming onto the scene. H₂ start-ups are bringing the dynamism required to the hydrogen market ramp-up, with the Ruhr area and North Rhine-Westphalia leading the way here in Germany, though the potential has by no means been fully exploited just yet.

The key results of the study:

• Ecological transformation forms the basis: H₂will play a fundamental role in the energy transition over the coming decades – the 24-fold increase in annually installed electrolysis capacity worldwide between 2014 and 2019 is already evidence of the sector’s enormous market volume.
• Research is picking up around the globe: H₂research is gaining pace, as demonstrated by the significant increase in patents in the field of electrolysis. However, Germany and Europe are at risk of falling behind as this research is not being implemented in practice fast enough.
• More start-up investments in H₂: The growing investments being made in the H₂sector are further evidence of how attractive this sector is. Investments in European start-ups grew from 6 to 69 M € between 2015 and 2020, while the USA is already seeing investments in the hundreds of millions.
• The Ruhr area is a leading H₂start-up hub: Start-ups are an important vehicle for accelerating the development of the hydrogen economy. North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria are home to over half of these young companies – with the Ruhr area and the Munich metropolitan area each fostering a sizeable 18 %. In order to adopt a leading role globally in the market ramp-up of H₂, the ecosystem in Germany and in the Ruhr area needs to be bolstered. Three key recommendations can be made based on the report in this respect:
  • H₂research in the Ruhr area should be application-oriented and even broader. To this end, the resources of existing facilities must be assessed and any potential for expansion – particularly in terms of links to practical and cooperation projects – identified.
  • In order to boost the number of H₂start-ups, a central, inter-university point of contact is required for anyone interested in starting a business in this sector – similar institutions in other technology fields can be used as a model here.
  • In order to accelerate market developments, strategic partnerships should be forged: To do this, appropriate formats for cooperation between start-ups and the established economy need to be strengthened – experimental opportunities are required that minimise time and costs for both sides.

Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the Board of Management at RAG-Stiftung, Essen, says: “In the Ruhr area, we have an established industry, leading research institutions and strong infrastructure – ideal conditions for the hydrogen market ramp-up. Not only that, we also have innovative start-ups that are bringing the dynamism required to the region. To be successful internationally, we need to bundle these strengths and work more closely together, as hydrogen requires teamwork. That’s why we are delighted to be involved in efforts to improve networking in the region by taking part in initiatives such as Essen’s H₂ Advisory Board.”

Franziska Teubert, Managing Director of the German Startup Association, Berlin, adds: “Hydrogen has for a long time been viewed as an issue solely for the big players, but the growing number of small businesses being established in the H₂ sector demonstrates how much potential start-ups have to offer as well. They are essential drivers of innovation, adding dynamism to the market ramp-up and bridging the gap between theory and practice. To make even better use of these opportunities, we need to further improve the application of research and the cooperation between start-ups and established businesses.”

The “Hydrogen startups. Accelerators of innovation: an opportunity for the Ruhr area” study follows on from the “Ruhr innovation report” also published by RAG-Stiftung and the German Startup Association, which identifies the strengths and challenges of Germany’s largest metropolitan area as a centre of innovation. The latest study on hydrogen demonstrates the importance of research sites in the region and the dynamism of political and industrial initiatives, which are instrumental in driving forward the development of the hydrogen economy. Above all, it demonstrates just how vital start-ups can be as a means of quickly and fully exploiting existing potential. (RAG-Stiftung/Si.)

The year 2020, a year defined by the coronavirus pandemic, has been very successful for RAG-Stiftung, Essen/Germany, despite the resulting challenges. The Board of Management of the foundation communicated this on 9th June 2021 as part of the Annual Press Conference at the Zollverein World Heritage Site (Figure 1). At the end of 2020, the assets of RAG-Stiftung exceeded the 20 bn € mark for the first time.

“The foundation has passed another tough test with the coronavirus crisis,” claimed Bernd Tönjes, Chair of the Board of Management of RAG-Stiftung, at the press conference, and overall appeared very satisfied with the foundation’s business development in a challenging environment. “The foundation model has proven itself to be extremely robust and capable of handling a crisis, even under difficult conditions,” Tönjes pointed out. Despite the pandemic, we succeeded in keeping its effects on the foundation and its shares minimal. In only its second year, the foundation has also been able to reliably finance perpetual tasks from the German coal mining industry of RAG Aktiengesellschaft and, in parallel to this, has been able to increase its assets to more than 20 bn €.

In 2020, the foundation was able to achieve an annual profit of approximately. 859 M €. Even adjusted for the special effect from the sale of Evonik shares at the start of 2020, the annual profit still amounted to 324 M €. Chief Financial Officer Jürgen Rupp: “We worked just as hard and successfully in 2020 on further diversifying our assets. In total, we invested 1.4 bn € in our diversified capital investments in the past year.” The worldwide, widely diversified line-up of the capital investment portfolio has proved its worth. This allowed the foundation to participate in the economic upswings in Asia and the USA, even when the low point caused by the pandemic in Europe had not yet been reached. RAG-Stiftung is off to a promising start for 2021 as well. “Our capital investments continue to perform well. We will continue to use any investment opportunities that arise to further expand our portfolio. As an active capital market participant, we will, however, also make one or two disinvestments. Provided that the coronavirus situation does not get significantly worse, we are essentially expecting a normal second half of the year,” according to Rupp.

The foundation’s funding activities have also been effected by the pandemic. “It especially affects the youngest members of our society,” explained Bärbel Bergerhoff-Wodopia, Member of the Board of Management at RAG-Stiftung and responsible for the HR Department and the funding areas of education, science and culture. “We have therefore financed, i. e., a catch-up programme for primary school pupils who now need to catch up due to school closures – quickly and without complications. The feedback from teachers to date on the learning progress is very positive.” In addition, digitalisation has experienced a boost due to the pandemic. “We will therefore expand our digital offensive in the education sector in 2021. This focuses in particular on communicating the digital and media competence that is so important for children and young people,” says Bergerhoff-Wodopia. Funding activities in the cultural sector were also particularly badly affected by the effects of the pandemic. Here, the foundation developed solutions with the recipients of its funding, in order to lessen difficulties. One thing is for certain – RAG-Stiftung remains a reliable partner for the recipients of its funding. The total budget in the funding sector in 2021 remains the same as in the previous year, 27 M €. Since the foundation of RAG-Stiftung, over 140 M € have now been fed into the funding of education, science and culture.

To conclude, Tönjes emphasised: “The coronavirus pandemic in 2020 demonstrated the limits of our society. But it also sharpened our awareness of responsible behaviour.” RAG-Stiftung will continue to make its contribution to sustainably advancing the transformation of the previous mining regions in the future. As an example, Tönjes named the plans regarding the Colosseum in Essen, where, in the future, economics, science, education and research as well as small, young and medium-sized companies should grow together into an ecosystem for innovation and transformation. “Here at RAG-Stiftung, we have also set ourselves some ambitious targets for the future,” explains Tönjes. “Above all, we will also reliably bear the costs of post-mining and not burden the taxpayer. In a time in which everything has changed: You can still rely on the foundation!” (RAG-Stiftung/Si.)