Quelle: https://www.main-spitze.de/lokales/kreis-gross-gerau/raunheim/innovation-hub-rheinmain-laesst-sich-in-raunheim-nieder-4317631
Michael Kapp | 06. Februar 2025
The Innovation Hub RheinMain aims to fill a crucial gap that arises when Asian companies seek to establish themselves in the region. Managing Director Stephan Wittekind explains the background of this initiative.
A New Business Hub in Raunheim
Raunheim – The long-vacant former Schüchen building has come back to life. For several weeks now, it has been home to the Innovation Hub RheinMain. The name was chosen, as Managing Director Stephan Wittekind explains, to appeal to business partners in India and Pakistan through the Far East Association (Zweckverband Fernost).
Following the decision to scale down contacts with China, which had been initiated by Rüsselsheim, Raunheim, and Kelsterbach under the “3 gewinnt” partnership, the Far East Association has expanded its focus to all of Asia. The goal is to attract companies from India, where the local mayors traveled last year, to settle in the business district along the Main River, known as the “Gateway to Europe”, which is managed jointly under the association.
A Strategic Location for Asian Companies
“The building at Kelsterbacher Straße 38 is fully leased by the Far East Association, which operates its incubator and development center there. Rooms not temporarily used by the association are sublet to third-party businesses,” explains Mayor David Rendel when asked about the facility.
Alongside Vantage Data Centers (VDC) and construction company Porr, both involved in the development of the FRA32 data center in Frankfurter Straße, as well as Baukontor Niederrhein, the Innovation Hub RheinMain provides an entry point for businesses from the Asian economic region. Spanning the ground floor, the hub serves as a launching pad for companies looking to establish themselves on the commercial properties of the “3 gewinnt” partnership.
A Hub for Serious Settlement Inquiries
The Innovation Hub fills a critical gap for Asian companies looking to relocate to the region. According to Wittekind, the first step to initiating business activities is securing a business address. The Innovation Hub RheinMain provides not only the necessary infrastructure but also hands-on support for companies looking to establish themselves, thanks to Wittekind’s extensive network, which extends as far as India.
Among the first tenants is a Pakistani company that plans to repackage Basmati rice in Kelsterbach for distribution across Europe. According to Wittekind, there are already several serious settlement inquiries, including:
- A German-Indian language school
- A packaging company
- A coaching provider specializing in skill management
Expertise in Building Business Partnerships
Wittekind has lived in Asia for several years, including Hong Kong and Singapore, and has worked for Osram and a start-up specializing in display film production. The Flörsheim-born executive, whose parents once operated a butcher shop in the area, sees his greatest strength in identifying and establishing new business partnerships, managing contract negotiations, and developing market structures.
Grand Opening on April 2
The official inauguration of the Innovation Hub RheinMain will take place on April 2, attended by Hesse’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Kaweh Mansoori, and Mubarak Bawe Syed, the Consul General of the Republic of India. As part of the event, an office for Asienbrücke e.V. will also be opened.