Host City Essen

History

The city's history goes back to the year 845 when a monastery was founded here. In the 19th century Essen became the heartland of the German industrial revolution. In the 1970s, a major transition towards "cleaner" industrial and service sectors became palpable. The cultural heritage of the industrial era has been preserved. Today, the coal mine Zeche Zollverein and the adjacent coking plant are among the sites on the UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Present

Today top-selling, globally operating German companies have their headquarters in Essen. RWE AG, Evonik Industries AG and E.ON Ruhrgas AG are among these, keeping alive the region's close link with energy production and trading.

Given its industrial past, Essen has an almost unexpected recreational value. Essen Cathedral is home to many treasures of the medieval world. Being its most prominent exhibit, the ancient sculpture the Golden Madonna, is dated at around the year 980.

Parks and gardens in Essen, the banks of the Ruhr River and Lake Baldeney invite you to enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities such as cycling, walking or rollerblading.

With some 600,000 inhabitants, Essen is one of Germany's largest cities. The large number of company headquarters make Essen one of the leading decision-making centres in German business. 9 of the top 100 and 20 of the top 500 German companies rated by turnover have their headquarters in Essen. Essen lies at the heart of the metropolitan area Ruhr, the third largestconurbation in Europe after London and Paris. Around 140 million people live within 500 km of Essen. Its central position for the sales markets of Europe makes Essen an ideal location for entrepreneurial activity. Fore more information on the host city have a look at: www.essen.de 

Conference site: Messe Essen – Place of events

Messe Essen is one of the largest trade fair and congress venues in Germany. The first class-venue is centrally located and easy to reach. The trade fair will be located in hall 3, which is directly linked with the conference area. For more information on Messe Essen have a look at: www.messe-essen.de

Projects

• “The Most Beautiful Museum in the World” Museum Folkwang until 1933, Essen
• Ruhr Views – A photo exhibition with works by famous German photographers, SANAA-Building, Essen
• Out of this World –Wonders of the Solar System, Gasometer Oberhausen
• World Views: Landscape Art from the 17th to the 21st century, Situation Kunst, Bochum
• Biennale for international light art, exhibition in 60 private houses, var. locations
• The Great Game. Archaeology and politics in the age of colonialism, Ruhr Museum, Essen