The magazine on the
FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan region

INVESTMENT Why Snoop Dogg is investing in FRM

LOCALS Which faces you need to know

INTERVIEW How Eintracht Frankfurt won over countless hearts and minds­responses FrankfurtRhineMain has to the global megatrends
to be the World Design Capital 2026

EXCELLENCE What

NETWORK How FrankfurtRhineMain is competing

DISCOVERIES What’s new in the region and awaiting discovery

FrankfurtRhineMain

The international­business communities>glishEn ion
Edit

Issue 2022

The natural choice
for businessPulsating, vibrant cities with the beauty of pristine nature at yourdoorstep. A highly qualified English-speaking workforce ready tomove forward with you. And our unwavering commitment.
As a government agency, we provide support to international
companies across a range of major industry clusters, throughout
the entire process of setting up shop here. It’s your choice:Prefer a bustling metropolis or a dynamic smaller city? Eitherway, we will help you hit the ground running.
Where? Frankfurt RheinMain, naturally.

FrankfurtRheinMain GmbHInternational Marketing of theRegion is the official pointof contact for companies
moving to the area fromoutside Germany.

frm-united.com

//

Editorial

LIVED
COSMOPOLITANISM

SHAPINGTHE FUTURE

FrankfurtRhineMain is one of the most interna­

The pandemic definitely boosted people’s thirsttional metropolitan regions in the world. Inter­to get outside and discover things. Whichnational business communities in particular

prompts the question: Where to go? What’s new

hold the transportation, research, commercial, and financial hub

and what is still undiscovered in the region? Have you heard of ain high regard. No fewer than 20,000 Americans live in the region,

pyramid in FrankfurtRhineMain, for example? Or of a subterra­

along with about 12,000 French, 11,000 British, 10,000 Chinese,

nean cathedral with glittering walls of crystal? We’ve compiled a7,000 Korean, 6,000 Indian, and 4,000 Japanese expats.

list of unique locations with Insta-potential for you – from page
20 onwards. And you can reward yourself for your efforts at one of

So much for the facts and figures. We took a look at what it was

the four places that offer culinary delights: with the world’s bestthat really attracted people to come here, what they do, where they

pizza from Ingelheim, award-winning pralines from Frankfurt’smeet up, and what links them with the region. Frequently, their

Westend, extraordinary ice-cream flavors from Seligenstadt, or a­initial contact with Germany was at school, and they love Frankfurt­

snack from Germany’s most beautiful restaurant in Darmstadt.

RhineMain in particular for its sports opportunities and cosmo­
politan flair. Find out more by turning to our cover story on page 6.

We’re also casting a glance into the future. What will work andmobility look like tomorrow? How safe will our data be going
International business people are of course not the only ones

forwards? And what responses does FrankfurtRhineMain have

who help make up the region’s international nature. All in all,to the global megatrends of New Work, New Mobility, and Cyber

people from 200 different countries live harmoniously together

Security? Turn to page 34 to find out more. Design Network

in FrankfurtRhineMain. In Frankfurt they actually accountFrankfurtRhineMain also aims to stimulate smart solutions tofor almost one third of the population. Some came here looking

the issues of tomorrow. The cluster is applying to have the city

for work, others as emigrants, and they all made a life for them­

designated World Design Capital 2026 and can field a powerfulselves here.

story and many strong players in the process. See page 40 on­
wards. At the end of the day, it is always people who shape the

Hassan Annouri is one of them. Born in Langen to Moroccan im­

future with their ideas. Only recently, for example, a researcher

migrant parents, he grew up in Griesheim, a former social flash­in Hessen developed an artificial form of photosynthesis thatpoint in Frankfurt. It was there that he first encountered rap as a­removes CO2 from the ambient air and enables it to be used sus­

teenager. Today, he’s a musician and restauranter, and hastainably as a material. For this and other stories about tomorrow’s­released a new Frankfurt anthem which now swings along softly

people, turn to page 42.

in the background in all the in haunts. That again is a great pieceof internationalism – for the details turn to page 42.

Enjoy reading this issue of FRM!

Most cordially yours

Yours

Peter Feldmann

Eric Menges

Lord Mayor of the City of Frankfurt

Managing Director of FrankfurtRheinMain GmbHInternational Marketing of the Region

THE PARTNERSGOLDSILVER

BRONZESUPPORTERS

OF THIS FRM ISSUE

Content

06//

Location

INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESSCOMMUNITIESIt is, more than anything else, its large communities of French, American,
Chinese, Korean and Indian nationals that characterize FrankfurtRhineMain
and make this metropolitan region one of the most international of its kind
globally. What do they do here, and what do they have in common?
A little round-the-world trip in FrankfurtRhineMain.

BY MARTIN ORTH (TEXT) AND JONAS RATERMANN (PHOTOS)>Nathalie Maier-Bridou rolls up to Thurn-und-Taxis-

Platz in the heart of Frankfurt on her bright red

scooter and talks about how she came to be in Frankfurt. She ex-wanted to move back to Germany. She has been living in Frankfurt since 1990 because of its international flair, its compact size,
and its French community.

plains how, while she was teaching at a secondary school in
Nantes, she became fascinated by the German language. Thencame student exchanges, after which she embarked on a German
language course at the interpreters’ institute in Saarbrücken be-

For the past 30 years Maier-Bridou has also played an active rolein the Club des Affaires de la Hesse. She has been its chair since2016. The club’s declared aim: To lend the French community

cause she very much wanted to become a German teacher.

here greater visibility. There are around 12,000 French residents

Then, however, she embarked on an entirely different course:

Français Victor Hugo in Frankfurt’s Rödelheim district. Frenchin the region and more than 1,000 children attend the Lycée
She started studying for the bar in Saarbrücken, after which she
went to the Sorbonne in Paris – where she met her future husband. “A tall blonde German who spoke atrocious French andpharmaceuticals giant Sanofi and motor corporation Stellantis(Opel) operate large factories here, and all the reputed Frenchbanks, Air France and Club Med have representative offices inworked in an English-speaking law office,” she recounts with adowntown Frankfurt. In her spare time Maier-Bridou goes into

smile. She now works for a legal practice in the Nextower onschools, hoping to stimulate interest in French language and

Hauptwache where she advises French companies on German

culture; she even helps out with presidential elections at thelaw in French. At the beginning of the 1990s, her husband

French school. She is also to be found zipping around the

06

07

FRM 01 I 22

French lawyer Nathalie
Maier-Bridou enjoys travelling to work on her scooter.
She is also CEO of the Clubdes Affaires de la Hesse.

20//

Adobe Stock/helmutvogler//

Discoveries

1

THE
NEW
OUTDOORS

The pyramid of rods in Dreieich is a
popular photo theme, complete withFrankfurt’s skyline in the background.
“Gut Neuhof” is very close by, serving
good farmer’s food.

The pandemic significantly boosted people’s
desire to get out and discover things.
17 great locations and a cool route.
BY MARTIN ORTH (TEXT)>

Tourist numbers are on the rise and FrankfurtRhineMain in-

habitants are also being attracted back outdoors. By May 2022,

the City of Frankfurt had recorded three times as many visitors as one year
earlier and in June Frankfurt Airport recorded its highest monthly passenger figures since the pandemic began. Which all prompts the question:
Where to head for? What’s new, what’s still undiscovered in the region, andwhat’s all the rage? We have drawn up a list of 17 locations that have great
Insta-potential and will help keep you fit. You can reward yourself at four ofthem that offer culinary delights.

20

21

\\

FRM 01 I 22

DISCOVERIESHow international business communities
shape the region

What’s new and waiting to be discovered

34

42

Excellence

MEGA­
TRENDS“Skyhall” with a view ofFrankfurt: A public viewing
platform is planned for the
top of the 280-metre-highMillennium Tower.

What answers does FrankfurtRhineMain have to
New Work, New Mobility and Cyber Security –the latest global megatrends

BY CARSTEN HAUPTMEIER (TEXT)

New Work
By day the number of people in Frankfurt tops a million when in addition to the

750,000 residents who are already here, around 400,000 people commute to
the city to work. In fact, the entire FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan regionis one giant job-creating machine – one reason being that here trends arequickly taken up and advanced. That also goes for the megatrend: New Work.
For example, at the COPETRI Convention 2022, a new event format hosted on

the COPETRI community platform, over 2,500 experts discussed how to connect the future topics of people, transformation, and innovation. People in
the FrankfurtRhineMain region have been structuring their work flexibly forsome time – alternating remote working with time spent in the office. The city
will nevertheless continue to act like a magnet – given the ever-new attractions on offer like the Millennium Tower that is to be inaugurated in 2030. At
280 metres in height, the office-and-hotel tower will be the tallest high-risein the EU.

34

35

FRM 01 I 22

in FrankfurtRhineMain//

Jonas Ratermann//

CA Immo

LOCATION

LocalsTOMORROW’SPEOPLE
Seven out of 5.8 million: Looking at these faces,
it’s easy to see what makes the metropolitan regionof FrankfurtRhineMain so strong.

BY LAURALIE SCHWEIGER AND MARTIN ORTH (TEXTS)

Hassan Annouri
RapperAnnouri is the composer of Frankfurt’s latest anthem. Published in May 2022, hissong “Wir sind alles Frankfurter” (“We are all from Frankfurt”, YouTube) now
swings along softly in the background in all the in haunts. Still, it is not a song to bebelted out at football stadiums and more of a ballad in praise of the internationality
and feeling of togetherness in the region. This is really important to Annouri, who
is also socially very committed. The son of Moroccan immigrants, he grew up in
Griesheim, once a deprived area of Frankfurt, and became a rap fan in his teenage
years, “Simply because I recognized myself in it, the same way that American rap­
pers hung around in the ghettos.” He has brought out several songs since then but
none of them has been as successful as this one. “The feedback has been sensa­
tional,” reports Annouri. He sang at Frankfurt Fashion Week, at the Newcomers’
Festival in the Römer, and as a spur­of­the­moment thing in front of his bar “Noah”
behind the Alte Oper. “Everybody can identify themselves in the song.”

42

43

FRM 01 I 22

EXCELLENCELOCALS

What responses FRM offers to
the global megatrends

Which faces and stories
you have to know

03 Editorial
04 Contents/Imprint
06 Location> How international business communities

GIESSEN

LIMBURG

shape the region

BAD HOMBURG

16	Best Practice

FRANKFURT> How an Indian corporation put down roots in FRM

18	Investment> Why US rapper Snoop Dogg isinvesting in FrankfurtRhineMain

20	Discoveries

HANAU

WIESBADEN
OFFENBACH
ASCHAFFENBURGMAINZDARMSTADT> What’s new and waiting to be discovered in the region

30	Interview

HEPPENHEIM> How Eintracht Frankfurt won the Europa League
and many hearts and minds along the way

34	
Excellence

The magazine on the
FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan region> What responses FRM offers to the global megatrends

40	Network

INVESTMENT Why Snoop Dogg is investing in FRM
responses FrankfurtRhineMain has to the global megatrends
to be the World Design Capital 2026

> How FrankfurtRhineMain is competing> Which faces and stories you have to know

50 Special> What’s on show at the first museum of electronic music

EXCELLENCE What

NETWORK How FrankfurtRhineMain is competing

DISCOVERIES What’s new in the region and awaiting discovery>

FrankfurtRhineMain

The international
business communities

to be the World Design Capital 2026

42	
LocalsLOCALS Which faces you need to know

INTERVIEW How Eintracht Frankfurt won over countless hearts and minds

Issue 2022shEngli on
Editi

International
Business Communities
French lawyer
Nathalie Maier-Bridou is head ofClub des Affaires de la Hesse.

IMPRINT
Publisher FRM – The magazine on the FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan region
is realized by FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region in­collaboration with Fazit Communication GmbH, Frankfurt/Main.
On behalf of FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH: Eric Menges, Managing Director
Publishing house Fazit Communication GmbH, Tel.: (069) 75 91-3101,
Management: Jonas Grashey, Hannes Ludwig
Adress of the publishing house and editors Frankenallee 71–81, 60327 Frankfurt/Main,
which is also the legal address for all responsible persons and representatives
stated in the imprint
Editor-in-chief Martin Orth04

05

FRM 01 I 22

Art director Martin Gorka
Production Zarka Ghaffar
Translations Jeremy Gaines
Distribution Jadwiga Jaenicke, Tel. (069) 75 91-3011, Fax (069) 75 91-2673
Notes Articles where the author’s name is given do not necessarily reflect the­editors’ opinions. Reprints only with express permission of the publishing company.
Printed in Germany,
Copyright © by Fazit Communication GmbH 202. The magazine is printed on ecofriendly paper. It was manufactured using cellulose bleached without using chlorine.
Cover photo Jonas Ratermann Photo back cover Holger PetersFoto: Marina Ackar

WHERE

are you creative?
SEVINC YERLILives and works
in Frankfurt.

HERE ARE
U CREATIVE?
ANNE IMHOF

Künstlerin und Goldener Löwe Preisträgerin,
lebt und arbeitet in Frankfurt.

//

Location

INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESSCOMMUNITIESIt is, more than anything else, its large communities of French, American,­Chinese, Korean and Indian nationals that characterize FrankfurtRhineMain
and make this metropolitan region one of the most international of its kind­globally. What do they do here, and what do they have in common?
A little round-the-world trip in FrankfurtRhineMain.

BY MARTIN ORTH (TEXT) AND JONAS RATERMANN (PHOTOS)>Nathalie Maier-Bridou rolls up to Thurn-und-Taxis-­wanted to move back to ­Germany. She has been living in Frank-

Platz in the heart of Frankfurt on her bright red

furt since 1992 because of its international flair, its compact size,

scooter and talks about how she came to be in Frankfurt. She ex-

and its French community.

plains how, while she was teaching at a secondary school in
Nantes, she became fascinated by the German language. Then

For the past 30 years Maier-Bridou has also played an active rolecame student exchanges, after which she embarked on a Germanin the Club des Affaires de la Hesse. She has been its chair sincelanguage course at the interpreters’ institute in Saarbrücken be-2016. The club’s declared aim: To lend the French community

cause she very much wanted to become a German teacher.

here greater visibility. There are around 12,000 French residents
in the region and more than 1,000 children attend the Lycée

Then, however, she embarked on an entirely different course:

Français Victor Hugo in Frankfurt’s Rödelheim district. French

She started studying for the bar in Saarbrücken, after which she

pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi and motor corporation Stellantis

went to the Sorbonne in Paris – where she met her future hus-

(Opel) operate large factories here, and all the reputed Frenchband. “A tall blonde German who spoke atrocious French andbanks, Air France and Club Med have representative offices inworked in an English-speaking law office,” she recounts with adowntown Frankfurt. In her spare time Maier-Bridou goes into

smile. She now works for a legal practice in the Nextower onschools, hoping to stimulate interest in French language and

Hauptwache where she advises French companies on German

culture; she even helps out with presidential elections at thelaw in French. At the beginning of the 1990s, her husband

French school. She is also to be found zipping around the­06

07

FRM 01 I 22

French lawyer Nathalie­Maier-Bridou enjoys travelling to work on her scooter.
She is also CEO of the Clubdes Affaires de la Hesse.

//

Location

American manager David Knower
has his “residence” in the Opernplatz. In his spare time, he plays
an active role in the Frankfurt­Galaxy American football team.

08

09

FRM 01 I 22

Taunus on her Harley-Davidson. “The scooter is more for thecity” she ­comments, laughing.
David Knower is sitting in his office on the 20th floor of the Euro-theum, not far from the Alte Oper. In it, people arequick to notice the photos of American footballteam Frankfurt Galaxy, framed American footballshirts and a shelf full of souvenir photos of David
with George Bush Sr. and George Bush Jr., with
Helmut Kohl, and with Angela Merkel. These aregood indications of Knower’s interests and hobbies.

I am up for anything
to do with the U­ nitedStates.

In his professional life, the American is CEO of Cerberus Deutschland, a leading American holding//

David Knower, American manager

company. Knower, who was born near Boston, also came to Germany on a student exchange programme, arriving in Neustadt ander Weinstrasse in 1978. Then, from 1981-2 he studied in Freiburg,and in 1986 was offered a position with Procter & Gamble in Germany. There he worked in Finance and Controlling before goingon to manage an international consulting company. In 2002, hemoved into the field of private equity.
Procter & Gamble, chemicals giant Dow, not to mention the big
Knower is a great networker, something that benefits him, but

players in the banking and financial services sectors. These com-not only in his professional life. The fact has also been instru-

panies have payrolls of around 150,000 – amongst them the US

mental in bringing the National Football League to Germany. On

Army, whose European HQ is located in Wiesbaden. However,November 13, 2022, in the first regular match of the season, thethe French and Americans are only two amongst many otherTampa Bay Buccaneers will be meeting the Seattle Seahawks at

communities in FrankfurtRhineMain. The British expats number

Munich’s Allianz Arena. The run on tickets was overwhelming.

some 11,000 persons. The latter have shrunk since Brexit because

The NFL is scheduled to come to Frankfurt in 2023. On top of this,a number of them have now assumed German citizenship. The

Knower is a shareholder in the Frankfurt Galaxy Team, which

Chinese community has now grown to 10,000, the Korean one toplays in the European League established in 2021, won the Euro-

7,000, the Indians number 6,000, and the Japanese 4,000, withpean league cup last year, and is managed by his son Christopher.

the latter minority displaying a sharp upward trend. All theseIn addition to all these activities, he holds numerous honorary

boast their own networks, preferred haunts such as schools,

positions, such as being a member of the American Chamber ofchurches, sports clubs and restaurants, places that connect themCommerce in Germany, the American German Business Club,

with the region and make FrankfurtRhineMain one of the world’s

and the English Theatre in Frankfurt. “I am up for anything to domost international metropolitan regions.

with the United States,” says Knower, who has hopes, not unjustifiably, of one day becoming the American Ambassador to Ger-The Korean community’s business hub is in Eschborn, in the

many. In fact, he was on the shortlist as long ago as 2016. “ThatMain-Taunus area. This is partly explained by the town’s compar­

would give me the opportunity to bring the two countries I love

atively low trade tax rates and its good infrastructure. However,even closer together.”the main reason is the municipality’s exceedingly active business
community networker Dong-Mi Park-Shin. Dong-Mi has been

There are 20,000 American citizens living in FrankfurtRhineMain

in charge of business development here since 2006. She cameand the US General Consulate in Frankfurt is the largest in theto Germany at the age of ten after her parents had arranged forworld. More than 700 American companies have based their Ger-

her to join them. After completing secondary school, she

man or European operations in FrankfurtRhineMain, including­studied ­A rchitecture in Cologne and, following a stint with

//

Location

Xiguo Hong from China, whoworks in trade promotion, spends
his lunch breaks at Campus
Westend, unless he happens tobe advising companies.

10

11

FRM 01 I 22

Korean Dong-Mi Park-Shin, whoworks as economic development
agent, has brought more than
10,000 jobs to Eschborn. For her
per­sonal life she prefers the Taunus.

//

Location

Indian researcher Anuradha­Doddaballapur is now
captain of the German nationalcricket team.

12

13

FRM 01 I 22

the “Lokalbaukommission”, a building authority in Munich, she
moved to Eschborn. According to the then Lord Mayor she not
only boasted all the necessary qualifications but also and especially had an understanding of the Asian mentality. The result: Today a great many Asian companies are based in Eschborn, includ­ing all the well-known Korean firms, which range from LG tocomponent suppliers Mobis and Glovis, and their numbers even
include Posco from the steel industry. Samsung will be relocatingfrom Schwalbach to Eschborn to join them in 2024. The town, with
its population of 21,600, now has more than 40,000 people work­
ing in it, on balance a figure more than 10,000 higher than before
she arrived. Park-Shin lives in Kronberg, as do a large number ofother Korean professionals. However, unlike many of her compatriots she plays tennis rather than golf. The younger ones prefer therestaurants and karaoke bars in the Main-Taunus area and inFrankfurt – or they go to the K-Pop-Festival that was launched inFrankfurt in 2022 and immediately attracted 70,000 fans.
Of course, Xiguo Hong is familiar with the lower taxes inEschborn. Hong is representative-in-chief of the China Council
for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) which is basedin the Fürstenberger Strasse, opposite the Westend Campus ofFrankfurt’s Goethe-Universität. Initially, the CCPIT was mainly
responsible for helping out when Chinese companies required apresence at a trade fair. Nowadays however, it advises Chinesecompanies about opening subsidiaries in Germany, along withGerman firms that are targeting the Chinese market – most recently Chinese server manufacturer Inspur“In India, cricket isas popular as football
is in Germany.” //Anuradha Doddaballapur, Indian researcher

about establishing its European HQ in Stuttgart. Just under 1,000 Chinese corporations arelocated in the FrankfurtRhineMain region and
it is worth mentioning that unlike the Koreans
they do not have a preferred location. Probably
China’s best-known investment is that of Geely
in Raunheim, where it is the car manufacturer’s
objective to continue to develop its racing car

brand Lotus. Hong first came into contact with the German­language at school in Beijing. His uncle advised him to do so, he
had studied in Aachen. When Hong is not relaxing on the Uni
Campus he likes to go for a spicy lunch at “Hunan”, a Chinese
restaurant not far from Frankfurt’s main train station. In his
little free time he goes jogging – 14 kilo­metres in the Rebstockpark which is close to his rented flat.
Sport, or to be more precise cricket, plays an important part in

the life of Anuradha Doddaballapur. “In India, it’s as popular as
football is in Germany,” explains Doddaballapur, who was bornin India. She came to Frankfurt via Great Britain to do a doctorate//

Location

French teacher Raphaëlle
­Blomberg teaches at the Lycée
Français Victor Hugo. In her­leisure time she organizes­evening salons.

14

15

FRM 01 I 22

in Biomedical Sciences. FrankfurtRhineMain is considered the­comes to the Lycée Francais Victor Hugo in Frankfurt’s Rödel-cardiology centre of Germany. Her most recent research was as aheim district on her bicycle. “Over here, many places can bepostdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research inreached by bike and that’s a real luxury,” she comments. Eight

Bad Nauheim. However, she has always had a real passion foryears ago, the French educational authorities were offering job­cricket, right from her childhood days in Bangalore. She firstopportunities abroad. When she visited Frankfurt, the French

played in Frankfurt at the Bockenheim sport centre, together withschool happened to have a teaching vacancy. On the spur of thethe men. The women’s team that she established just became Ger-

moment, Blomberg applied, was accepted and moved from Bor-man champion for the second time in a row with her as player,

deaux to Frankfurt practically overnight. Since then, she hascoach, and manager. She is captain of the national German teambeen enjoying life in the region, likes making the odd visit to theand even holds a world record. She was the first woman bowler in

French bookshop “La Pause Française” or the “Fromagerie” ininternational cricket to succeed in taking four wickets in a row.

Frankfurt run by an ex-pupil from Bordeaux. Added to which she

Since the games involve a great deal of travel, she now knows

regularly plans cultural projects. As chair of the “Cercle Condor-

Germany like the back of her hand – and has even come up withcet de Francfort”, she organizes cultural evenings in Frankfurt

her own recipe for integration – with her team boasting playerswith aperitifs, discussions and music. On the subject of sport, shefrom India, P­ akistan, the Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand,also has an anecdote to tell: “My very first visit here coincided

Portugal and Germany.

with the Frankfurt City Triathlon,” recollects Blomberg, with atwinkle in her eyes. “I, however was not aware of the event andliving here

Sporting activities and school connections are recurrent themes

thought to myself: ‘Oh là là, the people here are very sporty

in the above biographies. French teacher Raphaëlle Blomberg­i ndeed. I’m staying!’” \\living here»living here« is the current focal theme of Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain.
It focuses on the perspectives for living together:
How are global crises (climate change, pandemic, war) changing our society?
Given the heterogeneous nature of the world, how can we rethink our ‘habitats’ and redefine the region?
What opportunities and possibilities does the RhineMain region offer in this respect?
Against the backdrop of the major tasks facing society, culture makes a significant
contribution to finding answers to such existential questions, for example through democratic
discourse and by coping with existential crises.

The non-profit fund is supported by the State of Hessen,
the City of Frankfurt, the Hochtaunus and Main-Taunus
local authorities, the cities of Darmstadt, Wiesbaden, Hanau,
Bad Vilbel, Offenbach/Main, Oestrich-Winkel, as well as by
the Rheingau-Taunus and Offenbach local authorities.
To find out about other outstanding Kunstfonds culturalprojects simply click www.kulturfonds-frm.de / Facebook /Instagram / Newsletter//Best PracticeSPACE
FOR OUROWN­CULTURE
It is now 20 years since a couple of­Indian IT specialists arrived in Germanyfor Hindustan Computers Limited.
­Today, HCL Technologies based in
Eschborn is a major player in Germany.
HCL Manager Dr. Frank Fehler knows
the reasons for its success.

maybe even in Germany. In this center, we are working on IT andbusiness transformation solutions for our customers by com­bining the global know-how of our entire group of more than
211,000 employees with the local business know-how of our­colleagues in Germany. This combination turned our hope into alongstanding success story. And it was made possible throughthe support of Hessen Trade & Invest and the local economic­development agency of Eschborn.
What is one of the main topics you work on nowadays?

We work on various technological solutions, for example on theblockchain technology. In this topic, we work with an end-toend logistics provider. The company is collecting vegetablesfrom the field, sorts them, cleans them and brings them to afactory, where they are processed and afterwards delivered to a
fast-food restaurant. At the end of the day, the company will beable to seamlessly explain the entire supply chain backwards.
So, if you eat burger and fries in the restaurant, you will knowthat the cow’s name was Elsa and that the potatoes come from afield close to a small village in the north-east of Hessen. This is
traceability and the best way to achieve this is blockchain.
While some of my friends think about strange people doing
business with bitcoins when they hear the word „blockchain“,
we use blockchain for transparency and ­sustainability andmak­i ng the world a little better.
That’s impressive. I guess sustainability is a growing businessfield for you?

BY DARIA DIETZ (INTERVIEW) AND JENS BRAUNE (PHOTO)

Definitely. For instance, we use digital twins to reduce the en­ergy consumption in factories. The automotive industry is an­other area for our services. One of the biggest car manufacturers
in Germany for example pays three billion dollars per year for­energy, which means electricity and gas. Can you imagine? We>currently plan to help them reducing the electricity bill by two
percent. Two percent of three billion. This is 60 million euros.
And it is not only about the money. The question also is what it
First of all: Can you give us an overview of HCL Tech-means for the environment, considering that the industry sector

nologies in Hessen?

is one of the largest contributors to energy consumption in Ger­

The story of HCL in Germany started 20 years ago. With just a few

many. And we can help our industrial companies to meet their

IT specialists, each of them a suitcase in their hands. And with aown sustainability goals. Becoming carbon-neutral as soon as

lot of hope. Today, we are around 1,800 people in three offices

possible is our collective mission.

and ten delivery centers in Germany – and we are planning tostrengthen our presence all over the country. However, our heart

Why did you choose Eschborn for your regional German head-remains in Hessen. Our headquarters are located in the city ofquarters?

Eschborn, near Frankfurt. Here, we focus on financial services

One of the advantages Hessen offers us is talent – the most im­

and the automotive sector. For example, we provide software forportant asset in our industry. In Hessen, we found and still findmodern electric vehicles. Besides our office, we are also oper­

the best talents. This is certainly due to the high education stand­ating an innovation center in Eschborn. By the way, this was theard in the entire state. Moreover, it is easy to find suitable office

first innovation center of an Indian origin company in Hessen,

space in Hessen, also in Eschborn. Just recently, we were happy

16

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FRM 01 I 22

Dr Frank Fehler is Senior Vice
­President & Country Head
­Germany at HCL Technologies.

to find new office space, also for our innovation center. Now, we

Can you give us an example?

are investing in our Hessen location with a new roof terrace andOf course. My colleagues founded their own cricket team. And

by rebuilding and renovating our offices. This is why we recently

now they are pushing me to join them for a cricket match. Well,

extended the rental contract with our landlord. We also benefit

I promised them to do so next year. I think it is great to see howfrom the great infrastructure. You can get anywhere in the

happy they are here. This is possible because Hessen and thepeople in Hessen give room to establish new things and hereby

Frankfurt and Eschborn
offer ideal growth conditions
for innovative companies
in the heart of Europe.

create a very unique culture. We appreciate that and we see that­country, even in the world, very quickly. Having a home inilies are very, very happy to move into the Taunus, to the coun­Frankfurt and in Berlin, I can speak from personal experience.

tryside. They come from huge cities like Mumbai, Chennai andLet’s just say I have two extremes in my life and I highly appre­

Delhi and like to have both, the city and the countryside. It is

ciate the mobility in Frankfurt. Another great advantage is theten minutes by car from a small village to one of the most at­

openness of the region, especially for us as an international com­

tractive cities of the country. This is the great thing aboutpany. Frankfurt as a city and the whole region has such an inter­Frankfurt and Hessen: That you have both worlds so close.

national atmosphere that my colleagues from all over the world

Where else can you have that? //feel very much at home here. The region also offers space tomaintain the own culture.

more and more people like to come. Many of my international
colleagues came to work and now also plan to stay in the region.
They buy houses or apartments because they feel comfortableand picture their future here. They don’t stay in Berlin, they
don’t stay in Munich. They stay in Frankfurt. Especially fam­\\Investment

Harald Schnauder//

Jakob Sons andBenedikt Sons,
founders andmanaging directorsof Cansativa

THE CANNABIS DEAL
How a start-up in Mörfelden-Walldorf managed to
on-board US rapper Snoop Dogg as an investor.

>

Cansativa, a cannabis start-up from Mörfelden-

in August 2020 Cansativa was the only company with legal

Walldorf, has landed a really big deal: During its­approval to sell medical cannabis grown in Germany. In the forth­

last financing round it managed to sign up Casa Verde Capital, thecoming legalization of cannabis, Cansativa believes it is thelargest US investor to focus on cannabis companies. It’s a fundtrailblazer for the democratization of the cannabis market. The

that was co-founded in 2015 by Snoop Dogg. The US rapper, whocurrent coali­tion in government in Berlin has included the lega-

makes no disguise of his love of cannabis and employs a staff

lization of cannabis among the goals in its coalition treaty.

member specially to roll his joints, hopes that Germany will soon
legalize cannabis. Because then Cansativa could emerge as the“The entry of Casa Verde Capital was a major milestone for us,”“Amazon for cannabis products”.

comments Benedikt Sons, founder, managing director and CEOof the Cansativa Group. “We want to pave the way for legalization

Founded in 2017, the Cansativa start-up is the market leader inand provide the operational backbone for the future licensed is-the medical cannabis market and sees itself as the driving force

suing outlets and the cannabis industry as a whole. Our role willin the German cannabis industry. Since getting the green lightbe to enable simple and safe access to cannabis for everyone, asfrom BfArM, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices,

legalization must not become an elitist project,” Sons continues.

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FRM 01 I 22
Adobe Stock / Oleksandrum

“Cansativa is superbly positioned strategically to become one of

the leading platforms for cannabis in Europe,” says Casa Verdepartner Yoni Meyer. “The corporation combines decisive sector
expertise with an ambitious vision and a fast-growing successSnoop Dogg, US rapper
and cannabis investor

story. We are firmly convinced that Cansativa will play a central
role in the expected legalization in Germany and have a decisive
influence on the European market, which promises potential inexcess of 3 billion Euros by 2025.”
Cansativa will be using the resources from the financing round tofurther expand its own cannabis platform. Alongside its integ­
rated product and service portfolio relating to medical cannabis,the group intends to also establish a broad footing in leisure cannabis and expects to see strong growth in its own B2B cannabis
marketplace. In particular, it views the major platforms as its rolemodel. “Cansativa wants to apply its flexible solutions to ensure
Amazon for cannabis products,” suggests Jakob Sons, founderand managing director of the Cansativa Group.\\

picture alliance / newscom

the product is available everywhere. In some respects, we are theFind Your Future inFrankfurtRheinMain!
People from almost 200 nations call FrankfurtRheinMain their home, and everyone who would
like to be part of our community is welcome.
With its strong economy, great quality of life andcultural diversity, FrankfurtRheinMain is one of
the best places to live in Germany. If you would
like to discover the region, we are more than
happy to help!

Conta ct us!
+49 (0)69 2577 2577
contact@find-it-in-frm.deFind everything you need toknow about living andworking in FrankfurtRheinMain

The FrankfurtRheinMain
International Office gives
you advice by email, phoneor in person

For news, events and tips,
have a look at oursocial media channels

www.facebook.com/finditinfrm
www.instagram.com/finditinfrm
www.linkedin.com/company/
find-it-in-frankfurtrheinmain/www.find-it-in-frm.de//Discoveries

1
The pyramid of rods in Dreieich is a
popular photo theme, complete withFrankfurt’s skyline in the background.
“Gut Neuhof” is very close by, serving
good farmer’s food.

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FRM 01 I 22

Adobe Stock/helmutvogler

THE
NEW
OUTDOORS
The pandemic significantly boosted people’s
desire to get out and discover things.
17 great locations and a cool route.
BY MARTIN ORTH (TEXT)>

Tourist numbers are on the rise and FrankfurtRhineMain in-

habitants are also being attracted back outdoors. By May 2022,

the City of Frankfurt had recorded three times as many visitors as one year
earlier and in June Frankfurt Airport recorded its highest monthly passenger figures since the pandemic began. Which all prompts the question:
Where to head for? What’s new, what’s still undiscovered in the region, andwhat’s all the rage? We have drawn up a list of 17 locations that have great
Insta-potential and will help keep you fit. You can reward yourself at four ofthem that offer culinary delights.

\\Discoveries
Adobe Stock/Stephan Dinges//

2“Mainzer Sand” located between
Mombach and Gonsenheim tempts
you to enjoy a Mediterranean daytrip,
complete with chirping crickets, highgrass and plants from the steppes.

SMALL

picture alliance/blickwinkel/McPHOTO/A. Pulwey

picture alliance/blickwinkel/McPHOTO/A. Pulwey

RETREATS

3

4

The Kubach Crystal Cave in­Weilburg was not discovered until
1974 and then only by chance.
The crystal glory on the walls is tobe found nowhere else in Germany.

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FRM 01 I 22

Dietesheim’s stone quarries­ onstitute a stunning part of theccountryside with high cliffs and deep
blue lakes – with basalt mining having
long since been a piece of the past.

Shutterstock/ travelview

5
The Rüdesheim cable car invites
you to float over the vineyards.
First up to the Niederwald Germania
Monument and then back down to
the little town of Assmanshausen,
famed for its red wines.

//Discoveries

6Stand-up paddling with MAIN-SUP
in Frankfurt is both a sport and sight­
seeing. To the one side the skyline,
to the other the south bank museums.

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FRM 01 I 22

Cornelia Sickmain-sup.de

7
The Grosser Feldberg Bike Park is
a paradise for experienced downhill
riders. The trail in the Taunus is agood 1.5 kilometres long.

LEISURE

TIME

picture alliance/dpa

8
The Opelbad swimming pool lies
high up above downtown Wiesbaden
and offers swimmers a unique FRM­panorama.

hansrenner.de//

Discoveries

11
The old Schiffsmeldestelle,
now a mixture of beach bar andbeer garden, once served to record
all shipping passing by on the river.

Ferry over the Main in Höchst
3
0.

km

Schiffsmeldestelle 11

9k
4.

Helena Rudek

12m

Kelsterbar

13

Uferbar in the Okrifteler Wäldchen
woods is not just a riverside bar
but in summer thanks to its size
an o­ utdoor movie theatre and­concert venue.

Uferbar13
12
2.9

LRT Eddersheim

km
k
5.5

m

The Kelsterbar in the curve of theMain River in Kelsterbach is a popular
stop for cyclists – not only becauseof the charging point for e-bikes.

Eddersheim weir26

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FRM 01 I 22

Helena Rudekain
MHelena Rudek

LRTFrankfurt Central Station

Ferry over the Main in Höchst

9

Orange Beach
7.1 k m10

2k

Lilu Frankfurt Niederrad

m

COOL

ROUTE

10

Carsten Bockermann

The Orange Beach, along-standing former kiosk
underneath the Niederrad
railway bridge, is ideal for
those bridging days.

9
The Licht- und Luftbad (LiLu)at the riverside is an urban oasis
located on an artificial islandin the river, and even boasts acafé.

Helena Rudek

Frankfurt is rediscovering the Main River – partly thanks
to its great water quality. This can be seen from the eye-­catching beach bars that have popped up in recent years.
The FRM Bike Tour takes you down the river from Frankfurt
to Eddersheim, across a bridge over the Main, by ferry to
the other side, and back again using a weir.
Best to take the LRT for the return leg.

Discoveries
Martin Orth//

14

Seligenstadt is the ice-cream­ apital of FrankfurtRhineMain.
c­Eiscafé “Zum Maintor” offers unusual
flavours, from sorbets through to­ice-cream with 45% fruit content.

CULINARY

DELIGHTS
15

16

Francesco Ialazzo is the current Pizza World

According to “Feinschmecker” magazine,
Anna Reckmann is Hessen’s best confectioner.
She conjures up macaroons, pralines and petits
fours in her boutique on Frankfurts Reuterweg.

F.A.Z.-Foto/Wolfgang Eilmes

picture alliance / Eibner-PressefotoChampion. A native of Mainz but with Italian roots,
he serves superb Neapolitan pizzas in his pizzeria“Capri” in Ingelheim am Rhein.

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FRM 01 I 22

www.design-in-architektur.de17
A jury of experts voted “Shokudo”
at Darmstadt’s Main Station
Germany’s most beautiful­restaurant. The Asian takeaway
also offers many a culinary­highlight.

//Interview

AT THE
HEART OFEUROPE
Eintracht Frankfurt wins the Europa League and gains
many new friends worldwide. Chairman of the Supervisory Board Philip Holzer relates what the final was
like for him, what the victory means for the region andwhat he’s looking forward to.

>

Mr. Holzer, Eintracht Frankfurt has won the Europa
League – that’s something that is still topping thenews charts in the region. How did you find the event?

Slow-going at first: On the actual day, time passes so slowly until the
kick-off – it seems to stretch out endlessly like chewing gum. During
the game itself you lose all sense of time. When it came to the penalty
shootout, I couldn’t help thinking of the defeat in Chelsea 2019. Backthen I couldn’t bear to watch. So, this time I did. And the penalty shots
I saw were converted so confidently, as perhaps never again five penalties will be converted for Eintracht Frankfurt. After that I was simply
overjoyed. Hundreds of congratulations messages poured in on my­mobile. I have rarely received so many messages from all over the world.
Incidentally, the first well-wisher was Phil Murphy, once the U.S.
­ambassador to Berlin, and now governor of New Jersey. The title has avery positive national and international impact on the region.
You were at Goldmann Sachs for a long time. Does success in soccer

Yes, I would say so. With its 240 banks Frankfurt is a financial centre
with a global reputation. That said, the region has a lot more to offer.
For example, it played a central role worldwide in the fight against the30

31

FRM 01 I 22

Jonas Ratermanntranslate into gains for Frankfurt as a financial centre?

//Interview

Covid-19 pandemic. Biontech in Mainz developed an innovative
vaccine, Merck in Darmstadt supplied lipids for production, Schottin Mainz supplied the special vaccine vials, bottling is done in
Marburg and at Sanofi in Industriepark Höchst, while Infraservprovides the cooling systems for the equipment. Today, our regionis one of the strongest locations for pharmaceuticals in the world.
In fact, the region is also strong in the field of science. We are an
outstanding research and university hub. The universities inFrankfurt, Mainz, Marburg, the Technical University of Darmstadt, the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, and the Houseof Finance – they are all institutions with an excellent reputation.
Or take all the medical expertise offered by the university teaching
hospitals in Frankfurt, Marburg and Mainz.
Is the Covid-19 vaccine the region’s new brand ambassador?

It certainly has the potential to be that. So far, the region has had
four major brand ambassadors: The airport, the Frankfurt tradefair, the Frankfurt stock exchange, and Eintracht Frankfurt. The
airport definitely plays a key role. Logistically speaking, it is by
far the best airport I know of in the world. Such short distances
to anywhere in the region, so close to the cities – that is simply an
incredible advantage. For our club, too, by the way. Because of
the proximity to the airport many international scouts comehere to watch the Bundesliga. It is not for nothing that we de­scribe the Eintracht as being “at the heart of Europe”. This is­precisely the strength of this region and of the Eintracht, which
has always been considered hugely important for Frankfurt’s
image. Now, by winning the Europa League the club has also
­helped get this message out to the world even more emphatically.
What accounts for the region’s international flair?

For anyone who doesn’t speak German FrankfurtRhineMain is aregion where you can find your way around so very easily. I had acolleague from London in my company who lived here for four
years but didn’t speak three sentences of German. Though that’s
a shame she got along very well. That is proof of the region’s­international nature. And another thing: When I transferredpeople to Frankfurt there were tears at the beginning and tears at
the end. At the beginning because they had to go to Frankfurt
and at the end because they didn’t want to leave.
Does that also apply to football?

We hire many players from abroad and bring them to a foreign
city, if you will and they almost always have a very, very good32

33

FRM 01 I 22

Philip Holzer,
Born 1966, graduated in Business Administration at Johann­Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt. From 1992 to 2014, heworked for Goldman Sachs as an investment banker in New York,
London, and Frankfurt. He held various management positions
most recently as a partner and board member responsible for thebusiness in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Since 2014 he has
been active as an entrepreneur, primarily in investment management. He has been on the Supervisory Board of Eintracht Frankfurt football club since 2010. The former goalkeeper is interested
in art and actively committed to social issues has been Chairmanof the Supervisory Board since 2021. Since 2021 the club has also
had a new headquarters in Frankfurt: The address is “Im Herzen
von Europa 1” or “At the Heart of Europe 1”.

Now comes the moment
when we get to hear theChampions League
anthem in our stadium
for the first time.

//

Philip Holzer, Chairman of the Supervisory
Board of Eintracht Frankfurt football clubSo, the club also helps FrankfurtRhineMain?

On the one hand, Eintracht is invaluable for the region, as a brandambassador and due to its popularity. On the other, the region
also has a huge share in our success. Eintracht has over 110,000
members, that places it 7th in Germany and ranks it no less than
14th worldwide. Some 25 percent of our members come fromFrankfurt, 58 percent from the region, 16 percent from Germany

Jonas Ratermann (3)and one percent from abroad.
To return to the Europa League: What was the biggest momentfor you apart from the final?

We witnessed a truly historic game in Barcelona in the quarterfinals. There were 30,000 Eintracht fans in Barcelona. Seeing thatwhite wall of fans in Camp Nou – that was unforgettable. I don’t
think anything like that will ever happen again in European clubtime here. And when they eventually move to another club, tofootball: a game with 30,000 away fans in the stadium. And now

Madrid, to London or Milan, they rave about the fantastic timecomes the moment when we will hear the Champions League an-they had at the Eintracht. Incidentally, they also tell other ­players

them in our stadium for the first time. That has always been my

who we are trying to recruit that their families quickly madedream. I’ve been on the Supervisory Board for 12 years and now

friends in the region and felt at home. Like most people who arethis dream is finally coming true. I’m happy for all of us, the re-newcomers here. And as we have 200 different nationalities

gion, the city, and the club. I’m proud of the reliable cooperation­living in the region it’s far easier for foreigners to settle down

amongst members of the Eintracht management. And we can all

here. It is very important that there are large communities here

be proud of how the team has developed in recent years and thethat speak English or French or Korean, or Japanese.

successes it has delivered.\\Excellence

CA Immo//MEGA­
TRENDS
What answers does FrankfurtRhineMain have to
New Work, New Mobility and Cyber Security –the latest global megatrends

BY CARSTEN HAUPTMEIER (TEXT)

New Work
By day the number of people in Frankfurt tops a million when in addition to the

750,000 residents who are already here, around 400,000 people commute to
the city to work. In fact, the entire FrankfurtRhineMain metropolitan regionis one giant job-creating machine – one reason being that here trends arequickly taken up and advanced. That also goes for the megatrend: New Work.
For example, at the COPETRI Convention 2022, a new event format hosted on

the COPETRI community platform, over 2,500 experts discussed how to connect the future topics of people, transformation, and innovation. People in
the FrankfurtRhineMain region have been structuring their work flexibly forsome time – alternating remote working with time spent in the office. The city
will nevertheless continue to act like a magnet – given the ever-new attractions on offer like the Millennium Tower that is to be inaugurated in 2030. At
280 metres in height, the office-and-hotel tower will be the tallest high-risein the EU.

34

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FRM 01 I 22

“Skyhall” with a view ofFrankfurt: A public viewing
platform is planned for the
top of the 280-metre-highMillennium Tower.

//

Excellence

New Mobility
Germany’s largest airport, one of the most important rail hubs withover 1,200 trains a day at Frankfurt Central Station, and the major
motorway cloverleafs: FrankfurtRhineMain is one of the most important transportation hubs in Europe. The region has long since
begun to rethink and plan mobility. Carmaker Opel (Stellantis) isalready building e-cars in Rüsselsheim, and by 2024 the company
aims to make all its models fully electric versions. At the same time
local authorities are continuously expanding the number of charg­
ing stations and providing free parking spaces for e-cars.
Rail transport is also in the midst of change: In order to increase

capacity, the plan is to build a long-distance railway tunnel underFrankfurt in the near future. And as early as December the world’s
largest hydrogen-powered train fleet will be operational in the Taunus foothills. For those who prefer cycling the entire region can be
negotiated quickly and safely using the cycling expressways. Especially in a metropolitan region, New Mobility requires a wide rangeof alternatives in order for people to get to their destinations swiftlyand sustainably.

Park your e-car in the
hotel’s car-loft and thenswitch to a hydrogen-­powered train or ride an­e-bike on one of the cycle
expressways.

36

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FRM 01 I 22

The world’s largest
hydrogen-poweredtrain fleet is on trackfor December.

Rolf Oeser//Excellence

Jonas Ratermann//Frankfurt is home to theworld’s most importantdata hub in terms of data
­throughput.

//

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FRM 01 I 22

Modern-day safes: Data incomputer centres are well
protected. The Digital HubInitiative ensures effective
cyber security.

Cyber Security
The FrankfurtRhineMain region is not only a hub for classicaltransportation forms; modern data highways also converge here.
Indeed, the world’s most important hub in terms of data throughput - DE-CIX – is located in Frankfurt. The region is one of the largest data centre sites in Europe. Which explains why here there isa keen awareness in particular of the need to rethink security inthe digital world.
Protection against cyber attacks is just as essential for banks as

for start-ups or authorities. Cyber security has long been one of themegatrends of the day – and FrankfurtRhineMain has a first-class
reputation in the field. Thus, Frankfurt and Darmstadt are explicitly working together as part of the Digital Hub Initiative, a­network of 12 hubs across Germany. In Darmstadt, it involves the
National Research Centre for Applied Cybersecurity Athene, which
has teamed up with the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Infor­
mation Technology, Technical University of Darmstadt, and the­Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.

//

Network

THE DESIGN
CLUSTER

Prof. Matthias­ agner K, Director ofW
the Museum Angewandte
Kunst in Frankfurt/Main,is heading up Frankfurt­
RhineMain’s bid to be­appointed World Design
Capital 2026.

FrankfurtRhineMain is bidding to be appointed World Design Capital 2026.
And the region boasts a proud design story as well as strong players.

>

FrankfurtRhineMain has often been a prime example

in 1907 as an economic and cultural association of artists, archi-

of a region for comprehensive social change throughtects, entrepreneurs, and experts. Not to forget Frankfurt itself.

design down through the centuries. For example, over 550 ­years

All of them have on various occasions been centres of modern

ago Johannes Gutenberg from Mainz invented the moving-type

design. The utopian design concept that went by the name ofprinting press and triggered a media revolution that decisively“New Frankfurt” was not only about the well-known housing

shaped social developments such as humanism and the Refor-

programme initiated by Ernst May because from the 1920s

mation. In 1848, the National Assembly drafted the first demo-­onwards it also encompassed universal aspirations in fashion,

cratic constitution for Germany in Frankfurt’s Paulskirche.

interior, industrial, product and communication design. This

Then there is the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony – Germany’s

all provides a strong case for the region’s bid to become World­response to the Art Nouveau movement, or the emancipatory,

Design Capital 2026 and it has chosen as its motto “Design for

design-oriented course set by Deutscher Werkbund founded

Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life.”

GermanDesign Council
The German Design Council, Frankfurt, enjoys aglobal reputation as a leading centre of ­expertisefor commun­ication and knowledge transfer
in the area of design, brands, and i­nnovation.
It was founded in 1953 and p­ resents
the German Design Award.

Deutscher
Designer ClubThe Deutsche Designer Club, Frankfurt, is the leading clubfor d
­ esigners from across all disciplines in Germany, Austria,
and Switzerland. Founded in 1989, every year the club­organises the “Good Design” competition.

Hessen Design
German Design­Museum Foundation
The German Design Museum Foundation seeks tostrengthen an awareness of design and awaken creativi­
ty. To this end, it has initiated and promoted projects
across Germany since 2011. Founded by the German
Design Council.

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FRM 01 I 22

Hessen Design is the State of Hessen design coord­
inating agency and promotes networking between­designers in all the various segments of the discipline.
It organizes the annual Hessen Design Competition
for new talent.

\\Deutscher Werkbund
Deutscher Werkbund, Darmstadt, ranks alongside the
Bauhaus as one of the most outstanding design institutions in thefirst half of the 20th century and laid the foundations of modern­design. It provided key stimuli for the culture of design.

Werkbundakademie
Werkbundakademie Darmstadt was founded in 2000 on
the initiative of Deutscher Werkbund. It serves to raiseawareness for good quality in the design of a worthy­human environment. The academy initiated the bid forthe region to become World Design Capital.

hfg Offenbach
Frankfurt Universityof Applied SciencesFrankfurt University of Applied Sciences was founded in1971 as a state university in Frankfurt/Main. Research­focuses on demographic change, renewable energy,­mobility, and logistics – fields that will continue to beof immense importance in the future

The University of Arts and Design (HfG) Offenbach sees
itself as a university in the tradition of the Ulm Design College,
which set out not only to create attractive design but also
to change society for the better. Two faculties offer coursesof study: Art and Design.

DieterRams is the de­sign icon from theFrankfurtRhineMain­region. For over 30 years
he was Head of Design at
the Braun corporation –­famous for its electrical­appliances – and assuch also inspired
Apple.

HDA
Offering 17 different Bachelor’s and Master’s degree
courses relating to architecture, media and design,
Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences is a key­institution for training young designers.

Every two years the World­ esign Organization based in
D
Montreal, Canada, confers thetitle of World Design Capital ona city of its choosing. Valencia,
Spain, won the title for 2022,
San Diego-Tijuana (UnitedStates/Mexico) for 2024.

TU Darmstadt
The Technical University of Darmstadt is one of themost internationally oriented universities in Germany
and strives for sustainable progress through great­interdisciplinarity and intensive interaction with actors
from society, the business world and politics.

Jonas Ratermann//

LocalsTOMORROW’SPEOPLE
Seven out of 5.8 million: Looking at these faces,
it’s easy to see what makes the metropolitan regionof FrankfurtRhineMain so strong.

BY LAURALIE SCHWEIGER AND MARTIN ORTH (TEXTS)

Hassan Annouri
RapperAnnouri is the composer of Frankfurt’s latest anthem. Published in May 2022, hissong “Wir sind alles Frankfurter” (“We are all from Frankfurt”, YouTube) now
swings along softly in the background in all the in haunts. Still, it is not a song to bebelted out at football stadiums and more of a ballad in praise of the internationality
and feeling of togetherness in the region. This is really important to Annouri, who
is also socially very committed. The son of Moroccan immigrants, he grew up in
Griesheim, once a deprived area of Frankfurt, and became a rap fan in his teenage
years, “Simply because I recognized myself in it, the same way that American rap­
pers hung around in the ghettos.” He has brought out several songs since then but
none of them has been as successful as this one. “The feedback has been sensa­
tional,” reports Annouri. He sang at Frankfurt Fashion Week, at the Newcomers’­Festival in the Römer, and as a spur-of-the-moment thing in front of his bar “Noah”
behind the Alte Oper. “Everybody can identify themselves in the song.”

42

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FRM 01 I 22

44

45

Localsamatwine//

FRM 01 I 22

picture alliance/dpa

Alexandra W. BuschMuseum Director

Domenic Amat Kreft

In the near future her focus will be temporarily shifting to

Winegrower

other activities. In the autumn, Alexandra W. Busch will

Germany’s “Manager Magazin” described him as aZentralmuseum (RGZM), along with its inventory of“wine punk” and a “grape rebel”. After all, Amat Kreft

220,000 objects, from the Electoral Palace in Mainz to a

has his own personal approach to viticulture. With im­

new building in Mainz’s old town. Along with the collec­

pressive results. The first “amatwine” was a sparklingtion, the archives, the library, the restoration workshops,

wine that was as dry as can be. In 2021, it was acclaim­

and the laboratories, the offices of the Leibniz Research

ed in the periodical “Traum von Schaum” (A Sparkling

Institute for Archaeology will also be moving. The RGZM

Dream). Amat Kreft was born in Michigan in the Uni­

is a research institute active world-wide in the field of

ted States and grew up in Ingelheim am Rhein. He ho­­archaeology and has, since 2002, been a member of thened his craft at Hochschule Geisenheim University andLeibniz Association. However, visitors will have to beat some of the larger wineries in California. Today he­patient for some time yet: The opening of the redesigned

produces small quantities in his grandfather’s rearpermanent exhibition is not scheduled until 2024.

courtyard. The latter, a winemaker himself, always
served as a great example to Amat Kreft. “It is hard­manual labour and a combination of long hours in thevineyard, passion, and a fresh approach,” as he tells us,
talking about his business. “Everything goes into smallbarrels and as a result I am able to present customers
with an exceedingly personal wine.”

be responsible for moving the Römisch-Germanisches//

LocalsDaniel Anthes & Ralf Wagner
Brewers

The real challenge was coming up with the idea in the first place. Daniel Anthes and Ralf Wagnerbrew their beer from leftover bread. “After all, we happen to live in the land of beer and bread,”says Anthes (photo left) – and unflinchingly pursued his chosen path. He tested and tasted,­received a German national prize, the name of which means “Too good to be thrown away”, andeventually decided, together with digital expert Ralf Wagner, to transform this small local pro­
ject into a sustainable start-up. They source the surplus bread from one of the region’s organic
bakeries and brew the first zero-waste beer from it. Nowadays Frankfurter “Knärzje” (the termcomes from Hessen dialect and describes the end of a loaf) is available from shops throughout

www.knaerzje.deGermany.

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www.talkinghandsflipbooks.com

Laura Mohn & Maria Möller
Start-ups

The TV show “Die Höhle der Löwen” (the equivalent to Dragons’Den) introduced these two start-up founders to millions of TV­viewers. In the show, investors are in search of new business ideas.
­Admittedly, they did not take up a share in this particular start-up,
but they did donate €10,000 each to this good cause. After all, with“talking hands” Mohn and Möller (photo left) have come up with aconcept for how to break down communication barriers between
children with no hearing problems and children with limited hearing
capabilities, using flip books and gestures. The flip books are prim­
arily sent to educational establishments. Mohn herself grew up withsigning; the communication designer has a sister with 21 trisomy.

Locals

Malte Joechel/Merck//

Tobias Erb
Researcher

He appears to have found a solution to one of the greatest problems of the world inwhich we now live. Professor Tobias Erb has come up with an artificial form of photo­
synthesis, one with which carbon dioxide can be extracted from the ambient air andutilized as a sustainable resource. He has also demonstrated that carbon dioxide can bedirectly transformed into pentadecane, one of the main ingredients of diesel, and into
polyketide, which serves as a precursor to an antibiotic. For this achievement the­Marburg-based researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology
was rewarded with the 2022 Future Insight Prize which comes endowed with one­million Euros and is awarded by Darmstadt-based chemicals company Merck.

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Lena Grewenig
Designer

Lena Grewenig is a jewellery designer andwas one of the discoveries at Frankfurt Fash­
ion Week. Interestingly though, Grewenig
only arrived at her chosen career in a round­
about way. She studied Fine Art at Frankfurt’s
Städel­schule and was a student in Christa
Näher’s master class before transferring to
the Hanau Zeichenakademie to study the artof the goldsmith – as had her grandfather andher mother before her. She now again works
with her ­mother quite frequently – at the
Margret Grewenig goldsmith’s in Syke, North
Germany, her hometown. Only recently she
was nominated by Inhorgenta, the jewellery
and clock fair in Munich, for their award for

Nathalie Zimmermann

the Design Newcomer of the Year 2022.

//SpecialFIRST MUSEUM
FOR ELECTRONIC­MUSIC
picture alliance/dpa, picture alliance / Presse- und Wirtschaftsdienst

The new museum on Frankfurt’s Hauptwache is meant tocommemorate Frankfurt’s contribution to the developmentof Techno and House music.

Visitor in front of a light installation at Museum fürelektronische Musik, and DJ legend Sven Väth atthe decks at the opening event>

April 2022 saw the opening of Germany’s very first museum for electronic music– the Momem – on Frankfurt’s Hauptwache. The first exhibition is dedicated tolegendary Frankfurt DJ Sven Väth (“It’s simple to tell what saved us from hell”, runs until
Oct. 30, 2022). His friend and artist Tobias Rehberger contributed decisively. “If I were still 16,
I’d head there immediately. Anyone can host their own little club there or practice runningone,” comments Rehberger.

Frankfurt is not just the home of Sven Väth, but also of world-famous DJs like Mark Spoon and

Talla 2XLC. There was a time when clubs such as Dorian Gray at the airport, the Omen downtown, or most recently the Cocoon in Ostend shaped the music scene here. The 800-squaremeter museum with its 500 square meters of exhibition space is destined to commemorate
this. And there’s a special Live Area where you can put albums on the decks, not to mention a
Creator’s Stage, where there will be talks, panels, and concerts. \\

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FrankfurtRheinMain.
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