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© Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel

Kassel Industrial Park Network

What in the year 2004 with a first meeting by company representatives in Kassel Industrial Park began, developed into a special success story: the Kassel Industrial Park Network. Since its official founding in 2005 The network connects local companies, strengthens exchange among them, and makes Industriepark Kassel visible as a significant economic location in the City of Kassel and the Kassel Region.

Founding of the Kassel Industrial Park Network

Logo of the Kassel Industrial Park Network

The unofficial kickoff The network of Industriepark Kassel took place on November 11, 2004 instead: At the initiative of Bernd Günther, the then-managing director of Wagener Technik GmbH, Economic Development Agency Kassel over 30 company representatives in the Kassel Industrial Park one.

In the September 2005 was the network officially established as a project of Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel and participating companies. Under the patronage of the then Lord Mayor and Head of the Economic Department of the City of Kassel, Bertram Hilgen, a comprehensive overview of the local companies was created for the first time; at the same time, the first joint after-work running group was launched. The logo has been updated over the years and now also visually includes the Industrial park Kassel-Niederzwehren.

Format & Partner

Engagement and corporate partnerships shape the network. since the beginning. Besides the two chambers, city of Kassel and county of Kassel support also the Foreign Trade Forum and Career North Hesse - The job and training portal The Kassel Industrial Park Network.

In the dropdown menu below, you will find more information about Industrial Park Dialog as well as to the training and career fair regioUP!

Business meeting at Kassel Industrial Park People talk to each other
© Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel

Since its premiere in 2012, the Kassel Industrial Park Network has been inviting companies once a year to the Industrial Park Dialogue, a business card fair within the network. Here, company representatives and network partners can get to know each other in an informal atmosphere and exchange information about their offers and services. The trade fair has become a highlight in the industrial park calendar.

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At the regioUP! training and careers fair, numerous companies introduce themselves to young people with their opportunities and training occupations. In this way, they highlight the Kassel Industrial Park in its important role as a training and employment location for the Kassel region.

regioUP! is organized by BZ Bildungszentrum Kassel GmbH together with partners and Netzwerk Industriepark Kassel. regioUP! offers a unique market for networking training and careers as well as a place where information on all aspects of training and further education can be obtained.

History – From Shared Ideas to Cooperation

Over the years, numerous ideas arising Cooperations Over the years, a relationship has developed between companies in the Kassel Industrial Park and—facilitated by the Kassel Industrial Park Network and Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel—regional stakeholders such as political leaders. 

A concept was developed for the future presentation and activities of the new network. The initial focus was on internal communication with the slogan: „From Information about Communication to Cooperation.“

At the same time, the companies involved increasingly wished to present the Industriepark Kassel more strongly to the outside world as a business location. A KVG bus designed with the Industriepark Kassel network branding was used as a mobile advertising medium. The after-work running group also continued to establish itself.

The first edition of the „Company mail in the industrial park“appeared. She informed the resident companies about news and activities of the network as well as of the companies in the Kassel industrial park.

On September 30, 2007, the „Open House“instead. Tens of thousands of visitors from Kassel and the region came to the industrial park. The program included, among other things, a Sunday sales opening, a company showcase, a career fair, helicopter rides, and the presentation of the "Unternehmens-Herkules" award.

In 2008, preparations began for the exhibition „Industriepark Kassel im Lauf der Zeit“ (Kassel Industrial Park Through the Ages), which was to be presented in 2009 for the park's 30th anniversary. Additionally, business meetings on current topics were introduced, which took place regularly from that point on.

A large area in the industrial park's access road was occupied by the Industrial Park Kassel network and has since been used to communicate events in the industrial park.

With the Company Soccer Tournament „Fair Play Cup“another new sporting highlight was added. The third Open Day achieved a record with more than 80,000 visitors. In addition, the exhibition „The Industrial Park Through the Ages“ was officially opened.

With „Cool Runnings“The network supported the Sababurg Zoo: Over $2,000 was raised for a new penguin enclosure during a 24-hour charity run.

The company discussions continued to be met with a strong response. Subsequent company tours were also readily taken up by company representatives.

The tenth edition of the company newsletter was published in 2010. In addition, „Network Advantage Purchase“ was launched, where local companies offered special promotions and deals to other participants and their employees.

In 2011, the vision of on-site childcare in the Kassel Industrial Park became a reality: the company kindergarten. Additionally, the open house took place for the fifth time. The new section of company portraits was met with great interest.

The open house was held for the first time as a Fairy Tale Shopping Sunday. Companies from the Kassel Industrial Park and the DEZ Shopping Center joined forces for a joint event.

The Industrial Park Dialogue celebrated its premiere in May. This laid the foundation for a successful event for the local companies.

In 2013, the apprenticeship fair took place for the first time as a standalone event. The apprenticeship exchange, which had previously been part of the open house program, was intended to reach young people more effectively in the future. With regioUP!, a new highlight emerged in the industrial park's event calendar.

The 25th company get-together took place in 2014. In addition, a public relations campaign was launched: companies in the industrial park jointly advertised for themselves and the Industriepark Kassel location on a tram.

In 2015, a bus tour led to the „most beautiful corners“ of the industrial park. For the anniversary, a special stamp with the motto „10 Years Kassel Industrial Park Network“ was issued. The anniversary was celebrated in the new premises of the MAN branch in Kassel.

In 2016, Industriepark Kassel was awarded the „EXWOST“ model project as part of a nationwide program. This brought the future development of the industrial park into focus. Further information on the project can be found on the City of Kassel Website.

As part of the supporting program for the Experience Day 2017, there was a special highlight: for the first time, visitors gained access to and an insight into the underworld of the Industriepark Kassel.

The „Green Industrial Park“ action day took place in 2018.

In 2019, the focus was on mobility in the industrial park – together with the city of Kassel.

Shortly before Corona severely restricted the economy and society, the Industrial Park Dialogue was able to take place one last time at the end of February 2020. More than 100 company representatives attended the event, which took place at Winkler's as host for the third time.

A prime example of collaboration emerged from the challenges of the Corona era in the Industriepark Kassel. A visible result was the Corona test vehicle in the Industriepark Kassel.

In addition, due to the pandemic, the event „The Crisis as an Opportunity“ was held online for the first time. During the event, companies were honored for their crisis response efforts with the Pioneer Award from the Kassel Industrial Park Network and Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel.

The continued limited scope of action was used for a large address update campaign. The result showed the scale of the Kassel Industrial Park: over 550 hectares of industrial park space, approximately 550 companies, over 10,000 employees on-site, and over 100 professions for which apprenticeships are available at the Kassel Industrial Park.

For the project „Transformation Plan Climate Neutrality Industrial Park Kassel-Waldau“was it about companies in Kassel-Waldau industrial estate to support the path towards greater energy efficiency, renewable energies, waste heat recovery, and sustainable mobility. From Summer 2023 to Mid-2025 free initial consultations, expert events, and a transformation plan with action recommendations for businesses and the city of Kassel were developed. The goal is a future-proof, competitive, and climate-neutral economic location for Kassel. Working together with local businesses, the City of Kassel, Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel, and other regional partners, we were able to bring approximately 30 companies on board for the project, which in part were already incorporated during the project based on its findings regarding Energy Saving Potentials benefited.

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