Hamburg’s cluster policy: promoting innovation

Driving growth through innovation

The Hamburg Senate's innovation policy builds on the continued work of InnovationsAllianz Hamburg – a joint initiative of local stakeholders from politics, business and academia. The aim of this initiative is to improve conditions for innovation and to transform Hamburg and the Hamburg Metropolitan Region into a leading innovation region in Europe.

Hamburg's cluster policy is based on maintaining open, trusting and strategic collaboration between partners, while at the same time ensuring that measures are aligned with the city’s locational and economic policy perspectives. Today, innovation increasingly takes place in the interplay between different industry clusters.

The city’s regional innovation strategy thus includes e.g. developing Hamburg as an innovation location in five key areas: marketing & innovation climate, education, networking, transfer, as well as infrastructure & innovation funding.

Hamburg’s industry clusters at a glance

Hamburg Aviation

With more than 300 member organisations, Hamburg Aviation is Europe’s largest location network for civil aviation. Stretching across the entire Hamburg Metropolitan Region, the cluster includes stakeholders from logistics, industry & commerce, research & development as well as startups, public institutions and companies from closely related industries.

Port of Hamburg — © mediaserver.hamburg/Jörg Böthling

Renewable Energy Hamburg

The Renewable Energy Hamburg (EEHH) cluster coordinates and consolidates the expertise of companies, research facilities and institutions from the renewable energy sector. As well as facilitating exchange with other sectors, EEHH supports networking, training, national and international location marketing and innovation promotion.

Fashion studio in hamburg — © mediaserver.hamburg/Sven Schwarze

Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft

Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, a subsidiary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, is dedicated to providing cultural workers in Hamburg with training, space, funding, and innovation opportunities. As a cluster agency, it offers state-of-the-art programmes and events that meet the individual needs of creative professionals

Kesselhaus in Hamburg — © mediaserver.hamburg/Jörg Modrow

Life Science Nord

To put good ideas into practice, you need expert advice and a functioning network. Life Science Nord is a reliable, approachable partner as well as a strong industry network comprising 260 companies, research institutes and universities from Northern Germany.

Hamburg Logistics Initiative

The Hamburg Logistics Initiative (LIHH) is aimed at systematically positioning Hamburg as a leading innovative logistics region in Europe and is thus also working towards establishing the City of Hamburg as a European centre of innovation.

Maritime Cluster Northern Germany

The Maritime Cluster Northern Germany (MCN) fosters and strengthens cooperation across the north German maritime sector. It facilitates platforms for dialogue among stakeholders and helps establish interfaces with other industries.

Building of Spiegel HafenCity — © mediaserver.hamburg/Thomas Hampel

nextMedia Hamburg

nextMedia.Hamburg is the location initiative of Hamburg’s media and digital industries. Supported by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg as well as dedicated companies and innovative players, it has been part of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH since 2018.

Elbphilharmonie at the Port of Hamburg — © mediaserver.hamburg/Timo Sommer

FCH Finance City Hamburg

FCH Finance City Hamburg GmbH is a public-private partnership with the aim of strengthening Hamburg as a financial center, innovatively shaping the future of the financial sector in the city and thus positioning Hamburg as a strong and future-proof location in the face of challenging competition.