Initiativkreis Ruhr

ThyssenKrupp is a founding member of the Initiativkreis Ruhr, founded in 1988, which is an alliance of currently around 60 leading companies from the region with the objective of supporting structural change in the Ruhr region by providing impetus and driving important projects for the future. The tasks to be accomplished are set down in the foundation document of the Initiativkreis:

"The objective is to provide momentum to and strengthen the transformation of the Ruhr region from a mining and iron/steel region to a new structure: by initiating new innovative stimuli to drive structural change, promoting structural change and investments to that end, supporting measures undertaken in science, sport and culture aimed at achieving these objectives and improving the region’s image."

The Initiativkreis Ruhr was launched by Cardinal Franz Hengsbach – bishop in the Ruhr region – Alfred Herrhausen, former Spokesman for the Management Board of Deutsche Bank AG in Frankfurt, Rudolf von Bennigsen-Foerder, Chairman of the Executive Board of the former VEBA AG in Düsseldorf, and Adolf Schmidt, former Chairman of the IG Bergbau trade union (Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union). ThyssenKrupp is a founding member of the Initiativkreis.

Dialogue with Youth

The Initiativkreis Ruhr’s “Dialogue with Youth” project actively exposes senior high school and comprehensive school students in the region to the world of business. The dialogue events focus on business topics and opportunities for the future. Face-to-face conversations with leaders from the member companies facilitate authentic and accessible encounters with abstract business topics. These school visits are supplemented by excursions to industrial locations, which in recent years have also included our steel mill in Duisburg.