The chemical industry has deep roots in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. As its traditionally economic backbone, it assumes a crucial function with regard to research and development co-operation. About 40,000 people work directly in the chemical organisations, while an even greater number of employees in the region are indirectly dependent upon the pre- and post-processing industry.
The best known representative of this industry is BASF SE, which was founded in 1865 in the Mannheim area of Jungbusch as "Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik Aktiengesellschaft" and today operates the world's largest integrated chemicals complex at its headquarters in Ludwigshafen. The parent works, which cover an area of 10 square kilometres, are also the largest industrial complex anywhere in Europe. Its size is equivalent to around 1,000 football pitches. Production sites and distribution centres in 170 countries are controlled from within the MRN. With about 33,000 employees in Ludwigshafen, "The Chemical Company" is the region's largest employer.
Other leading chemicals companies include BK Giulini GmbH (Ludwigshafen), Woellner GmbH & Co. KG (silicates and special chemicals, Ludwigshafen), Raschig GmbH (Ludwigshafen) and Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH (Mannheim).
In this environment, the region provides superb conditions even for small and medium-sized companies from this sector. Start-ups as well as established companies have already leased office space at the chem2biz start-up centre. Their spectrum ranges from fine chemicals and additives to pharmaceuticals and the production of biogas.
