Green industries are a key industry in North Rhine-Westphalia. In total, the sector employs about 468,000 people there. Every 20th job depends on the green industry - and the trend is rising. At 35.8 billion euros, the environmental industry accounts for about 6% of North Rhine-Westphalia's gross value added. Strengths of the green industry in NRW The green industry combines innovative products and services. They protect the environment and make a significant contribution to the transformation of the economy. Innovation and digitalisation are very closely related. In a national comparison, North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the most important innovation locations in Germany, with around 19 % of all green industry patents registered nationwide and around 2 % of those registered worldwide. The focus topic "digitalisation" of the current Green Industry Report also shows: The green industry in North Rhine-Westphalia is digitalised to an above-average extent. "Its level of digitalisation is 15 % higher than that of the economy as a whole and digitalisation topics determine innovation activity to a particular extent," says Prognos Head of Division for Green Industry and Climate Change and Head of Competence Network "Green Industry NRW", Oliver Lühr. "This means that North Rhine-Westphalia is well equipped for a green economy 4.0. The green industries offer crucial solutions to move forward in the Green Deal." The Green Industry Report also portrays the different regions of the state. The strengths of the sector can be seen in varying degrees and with strong regional specialisations, depending on the specific natural environment. Depending on the region, the focus is on resource management, environmentally friendly agriculture and sustainable forestry or environmentally friendly mobility, energy efficiency or renewable energies. The sector is also holding its own on the global market - a supporting economic pillar of NRW's green economy. From 2010 to 2019, exports from North Rhine-Westphalia's green industry grew by an average of 1.4 % annually, reaching a volume of 11.6 billion euros in 2019. Directly to the report (PDF, in German, website umwelt.nrw.de) Authors: Oliver Lühr, Jannis Lambert, Richard Simpson, Myrna Sandhövel, Lukas Eiserbeck, Hanne Hagedorn, Johann Weiß, Saskia Reuschel, Stephan Kling Our work on this topic Take a look at our latest projects and activities. C4T Second Forum 7. November 2024 | Event The Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) platform aims to support structurally weak regions on the path to climate neutrality. The forum will take stock of the programme: What has been achieved so far and where do we go from here? Read more The economic and social situation of the creative industries 2024 | Project On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Prognos and partner analysed the economic and social situation of self-employed solo artists in creative professions. Read more Clusters meet Regions: Charleroi 27. - 28. November 2024 | Event As part of our work for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform, Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents an input paper on the cluster landscape in Charleroi, Belgium. Read more Impact of global crises on regional labour markets ongoing | Project A shrinking workforce, digitalisation and decarbonisation: Prognos examines the specific effects of global trends on regional labour markets. Read more Market exploration trip to Southeast Asia 24. - 29. November 2024 | Event Greta Dekker is going on a market exploration trip for the KNUW: She is examining the market opportunities in Indonesia and Singapore for companies in the environmental industry from NRW and at the same time presenting their potential. Read more NetworkNature Annual Conference 2024 25. September 2024 | Event Greta Dekker will be attending the NetworkNature annual conference and talking to the specialist audience about nature-based solutions. Read more Evaluation of the ERDF programmes of several federal states ongoing | Project How effectively do the federal states utilise ERDF funding? Prognos supports various federal states with the evaluation of their ERDF programmes. Read more Presentation of the study on the economic and social situation in the cultural and creative industries 15. October 2024 | Event The results of our study on the economic and social situation of solo self-employed and hybrid workers in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) will be presented at the event. Read more Evaluation of ERDF funding for SMEs ongoing | Project How effective is EU support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)? On behalf of the European Commission, Prognos evaluates together with CSIL the ERDF funding in the period from 2014 to 2020. Read more Industry Conference 2024 26. November 2024 | Event Together with the Alliance for the Future of Industry, the BMWK is organising the Industry Conference 2024, where Michael Astor will present initial interim findings from our study on the resilience and sovereignty of German industry. Read more Germany Potential Index: Digitalisation to counter the skilled-worker shortage 2024 | Project The skilled-worker shortage is only due to get worse in the future. Our Potential Index shows: Increased digitalisation can help to cushion the negative consequences of the skilled-worker shortage in Germany. Read more Guest article in SPIEGEL: How Europe's economy can catch up with the USA and China 2024 | Expertise A race to catch up - this is what Europe needs if it is not to be left behind by the USA and China. In the SPIEGEL guest article, Christian Böllhoff calls for a new match plan with clear priorities for the new EU legislative period. Read more Prognos Economic Outlook® (PEO®) ongoing | Project In uncertain times, there is a growing demand for orientation. PEO® delivers independent figures. Based on our wolrd economy model we project the developments until 2045. Read more Employers’ attractiveness according to parents and carers 2024 | Project Employees want tailor-made reconciliation measures that ensure work-life balance and not to face professional disadvantage as a result of their care work. These were the findings of our study for the BMFSFJ. Read more Significance of the German economy for Europe 2024 | Project Growth in the German economy benefits the whole of Europe. Our study for the vbw shows that this is due to the size of the economy and its strong foreign trade networks. Read more Guideline: Data management for successful sustainability reporting 2024 | Project We have produced guidelines for successful sustainability reporting in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive for an industry association. The third guide deals with data management in accordance with the CSRD. Read more Web tool: Risk analysis for sustainable supply chains ongoing | Project Prognos develops a tool for an industry association that enables member companies to carry out risk analyses to identify sustainability risks in countries and sectors. Read more AI players in the federal state 2024 | Project Which companies are already using or developing artificial intelligence? Which companies would benefit from the use of AI? Prognos created an interactive dashboard for one federal state. Read more Guidelines: With Sustainable Governance to successful sustainability reporting 2024 | Project We have produced guidelines for successful sustainability reporting in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive for an industry association. The second guide is dedicated to the topic of "Sustainability Governance". Read more Study on Poverty and income inequality in the context of the digital transformation 2024 | Project The study for the European Commission examines the impact of digitalisation on the employment situation in the individual member states as well as on the EU economy as a whole. Read more Regulatory requirements for carbon accounting 2024 | Project Which carbon accounting requirements will businesses have to be aware of in the future and what, specifically, will present the greatest challenge? Read more Germany: Industry sectors put to the test 2024 | Expertise Mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals: In which sectors is Germany still a leader? On behalf of the Handelsblatt, we examined how successfully Germany is holding its own against its international competitors. Read more 2nd Cohesion for Transitions Conference & Meetings 4. - 5. June 2024 | Event Our colleagues are travelling to the conference as part of their work for the Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) platform and are chairing both a meeting of the science network and a working group. Read more Development of a group-wide raw materials strategy 2024 | Project Our retail industry client commissioned us to develop a group-wide raw materials concept. We assisted the company from conception stage right through to the launch of the interactive web tool. Read more Developing the Rhein-Kreis Neuss economic development strategy 2024 | Project Rhein-Kreis Neuss is focusing on more innovative economic development to strengthen its business location. Prognos was instrumental in the development of the new strategy. Read more Realignment of European structural funds ongoing | Project Prognos and partners are developing conclusions for the further development of the European structural funds after 2027 by integrating relevant stakeholders. Read more Decarbonisation of the automotive industry 2024 | Project Digitalisation, decarbonisation, electrification: The German automotive industry faces major challenges. Prognos led the accompanying research to the carbon assessment of the auto industry value chain, on behalf of the BMWK. Read more Hybrid seminar on cohesion policy support for RTDI 23. April 2024 | Event Prognos and its partners are organising a hybrid seminar on the evaluation of cohesion policy support for research, technological development and innovation (RTDI). Read more Future-proof strategies for Europe 2024 | Project Germany and Europe are trying to find their place in the New World Order. Prognos examined four foreign trade strategies for the vbw. Read more Economic impact analysis for selected SDGs 2024 | Project A foundation group commissioned us to use KPIs to visualise the impact of its activities within identified focus SDGs. Read more Supervision of sustainability reporting in accordance with the CSRD ongoing | Project We offered guidance to a group from the publishing industry setting up sustainability reporting that complies with the Corporate Social Reporting Directive (CSRD). Read more Five challenges: How Europe remains competitive in the future 2024 | Expertise What needs to happen for Europe to survive in global competition? We analysed this at the “12 Minutes Europe – Meeting Global Challenges” event organised by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. Read more Harnessing Talent Platform: Technical support in progress 2024 | Project update The Harnessing Talent Platform supports selected regions within the EU that are particularly affected by demographic change and the brain drain. The technical support that Prognos is providing in some regions has now been launched with kick-off meetings. Read more European Cluster Conference 2024 7. - 8. May 2024 | Event The European Cluster Conference 2024 brings the key players in the European cluster economy together in one place. The Prognos team around Head of EU-Services Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer is providing input both as part of our work for the European Cluster Collaboration Platform and for the NRW.innovativ competence centre. Read more KreativLand Baden-Württemberg 2024 | Project Creatives in the countryside? As scientific partner in the model project KreativLand Baden-Württemberg, Prognos examined the status quo, the opportunities and the challenges facing creatives living and working outside of the urban centres and regions. Read more Evaluation of the Bildungsketten Initiative ongoing | Project The Bildungsketten Initiative’s goal is to support coordinated action by the Federal and State governments at the most important interfaces of the educational process. Prognos evaluates the initiative on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Read more Ludwig-Erhard-Gipfel 17. - 19. April 2024 | Event Christian Böllhoff, CEO of Prognos, discusses the topic of (de)globalization at the Ludwig Erhard Summit with host Dr Wolfram Weimer. Read more Support for the Just Transition Platform 2024 | Project Through the Just Transition Platform (JTP), the EU supports the member states and regions in achieving their climate targets in a fair manner. Prognos provided the JTP with in-depth analyses and knowledge management. Read more Career orientation for immigrants 2024 | Project The transition into the job market often represents a greater challenge for immigrants. We evaluated a subsidised programme that supports them in meeting this challenge on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Read more The invisible value of care work 2024 | Expertise 72 billion hours: That is how many unpaid care work hours are performed in Germany, annually, by women. In a new paper, we show the value of unpaid care work and how unevenly it is dis-tributed between men and women. Read more Innovation Index Germany 2023 2024 | Project Once again, Prognos has compiled the Innovation Index Germany on behalf of the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications. The index quantifies the impact the expansion of Germany’s digital infrastructure has had on its innovation strength. Read more A more sustainable working environment 2024 | Project For the working environment to become more sustainable, knowledge and raising awareness are key. Funding programmes such as the BBNE could help with this. Prognos conducted an apprais-al of the programme. Read more Status Report on the German Recycling Economy 2024 2024 | Project The 2024 Status Report gives a comprehensive picture of the whole Recycling Economy sector and its future challenges. Read more Circular economy in the northern Netherlands 2023 | Project Three provinces in the north of the Netherlands want to become leaders in the circular economy in Europe by 2025. Prognos examined the current status of implementation. Read more Indicators of equal living conditions ongoing | Project The establishment of equal living conditions in Germany is one of the goals being prioritised by the Federal Government. But how can the equivalence of living conditions be measured? Prognos develops a set of indicators. Read more Value added of German pharmaceutical exports 2023 | Project Compared to other export sectors, German pharmaceutical exports show above-average levels of innovation and value-added intensity. However, the industry is falling behind in the global re-search competition. This is shown by a new study commissioned by Roche. Read more Climate path implementation in Baden-Württemberg 2024 | Project In Baden-Württemberg, emissions are to be reduced by a further 23% by 2030. As part of a multi-stage concept, Prognos examines the challenges and opportunities for action in the transfor-mation context. Read more New procurement markets for the Bavarian economy 2023 | Project New procurement markets can help increase the resilience and efficiency of the German and Bavarian supply chains. The study quantifies the current procurement markets and those still yet to be further exploited. Read more The Circular Week 2023 24. - 25. October 2023 | Event From October 24th to 25th, Hanne Hagedorn will be in Warsaw for the Green Economy Network.NRW as part of the Circular Economy Week 2023. Read more Supply chains: no climate neutrality without raw materials 2023 | Project Crises continue to put global trade routes at risk. This study by Prognos and partners indicates the measures necessary to secure strategically important supply chains. Read more Adobe Stock - CleverStock About us Prognos – Providing Orientation. Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound. Learn more