Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

Cologne: a buzzing digital metropolis

Cologne is one of Germany’s most vital locations for Information and Communications Technology (ICT). There are more than 2,500 companies in this sector, employing around 27,000 people and accounting for a turnover of approximately 6 billion Euros.

As Germany's most digitally advanced city, Cologne provides the ideal conditions for companies in the ICT sector. The basis for this is one of the best-developed internet infrastructures in Europe with near-universal broadband coverage. At around 80 percent, the city also boasts the highest expansion rate of fibre-optic cables in Germany. According to a study by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research, companies based in Cologne are also leading edge in terms of the level of digitalisation. The district of Cologne-Ehrenfeld is also home to "The Ship",Germany's most digitally-advanced office building.

The city's extensive ICT ecosystem is made up of a diverse range of players, including a dense network of scientific and educational institutions that provide outstanding conditions for research collaborations and excellent recruitment opportunities. It's no surprise then that patent density in the field of "digital communication" is above the country average in the Cologne region. Strong associations are another important location factor: The Verband der Deutschen Internetwirtschaft e. V. – eco – (Association of the German Internet Industry), Europe's largest industry association with approximately 800 members, is also based in Cologne. Moreover, leading ICT trade fairs are held here such as dmexco, the largest online marketing trade fair in Europe; while gamescom is the world's largest trade fair for digital games with more than 300,000 visitors each year.