Close and cosmopolitan, rich in tradition and innovation – Bremen is all of these things.
As a city state, Bremen comprises the eponymous Hanseatic city and the maritime Bremerhaven – and literally combines the best of both worlds with the metropolitan region of the Northwest and the seashore. Nationally and internationally, Bremen is therefore considered a success location for business and science. We at MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN and our local partners know the potential of the Free Hanseatic City – and use it to create a unique experience for you and your guests.
In addition to the short distances to and in Bremen, it is above all the diversity of industries that makes the city a very special place where competence and know-how can grow and visions can come true. The resident companies and research institutions form several nationally significant economic clusters, ranging from deep-seated traditional industries to forward-looking branches of economy:
Whether it’s a trade fair or a large congress with exhibition – with experience gained from over 100 international events, we at MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN will give your plans a home.
We will find the ideal solution for your event: from the initial idea to the final implementation.
Economically strong on the Weser: Bremen's economic clusters.
Would you like to find out more? Our competent service team at MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN will be happy to advise you.
Maritime industry and logistics
One state, two cities, two ports: Bremen has always been a Hanseatic city through and through – since 1358 to be precise. Its location between the Weser and the North Sea makes Bremen a maritime success story both nationally and internationally. And the cultural identity of the state of Bremen is also completely permeated and co-determined by maritime flair. The maritime economy features:around 1 300 companies
more than 40 000 employees
more than 74 000 employees involved in transport, processing, etc.
Bremerhaven:
second largest port in Germany and fourth largest container port in Northern Europe
Bremen:
largest heavy cargo port in Germany and second largest heavy cargo port in Europe
In the course of Breakbulk Europe, the world’s largest exhibition and conference for breakbulk transport, more than 9,500 visitors found their way to Bremen in 2018.
Automotive
In the whole world, the automotive industry is considered one of the most important branches of economy – and Bremen has historically grown as an automotive location. What began in 1906 with the founding of the Norddeutsche Automobil- und Motoren-AG (North German Automotive- and Motor-Club) and became the talk of the town just a few years later with Borgward, has developed over time into an established centre of excellence. Today, Bremen is therefore a first-class contact point and trade fair location in the automotive sector: rich in tradition, efficient, fit for the future. With events such as the Bremen Classic Motorshow (BCM), the automotive industry has long since arrived on our premises – and feels right at home there. A glance at the figures also shows that automotive is at home in Bremen:around 40 supplier companies in the region
around 17 000 employees in and around Bremen
more than 9 institutes and research centres
The Hansalinie industrial park as the hub of the industry
The Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen as the city’s largest private employer
Today, Bremen is therefore a first-class contact point and trade fair location in the automotive sector: rich in tradition, efficient, fit for the future. With events such as the Bremen Classic Motorshow, the automotive industry has long since arrived on our premises – and feels right at home there.
Aerospace
Airbus Group, Rheinmetall Defence Electronics, OHB: the world’s leading industrial companies in the aerospace industry are at home in Bremen. There is no other place in Germany where the employment density in this sector in relation to the number of inhabitants is so high.
more than 140 companies
around 12 000 employees
more than 20 institutes
more than 4 billion euros turnover per year
Numerous study and training places secure the next generation, the quality and the future viability of the sector. At the same time, Space Tech Expo Europe convenes the international aerospace industry once a year in the heart of Bremen.
While AVIASPACE BREMEN e. V. ensures strategically ideal networking of the aerospace sector with other economic clusters such as automotive, maritime economy and logistics or wind energy, the Faserinstitut Bremen e. V. (FIBRE) conducts cross-industry research. Here, renowned scientists develop high-performance composites, fibres and materials and work out production technologies and strategies for quality assurance.
In the course of the International Conference and Exhibition on Thermoplastic Composites, ITHEC, exhibitors from all over the world present the latest trends in the field of thermoplastic composites: from materials and processes to lightweight construction concepts and innovative manufacturing technologies. The ITHEC, which we bring to life year after year in close cooperation with the Faserinstitut Bremen, thus links two central economic clusters: aerospace and automotive.
Medical technology and biotechnology
Even without its own medical faculty, Bremen is extremely attractive for congresses, trade fairs and other events in the medical field. This is due to the medical- and biotechnology companies based in Bremen, which develop new treatment methods, products and pioneering technologies.
While companies in medical technology work on new methods for treatment and diagnostics or design and sell medical products as well as hardware and software, biotechnology firms conduct research with cells and proteins among other things. The latter can thus also be assigned to the food and environmental industries in addition to medicine. Corresponding biotechnological degree courses in Bremen and Bremerhaven secure the local future of the industry.
The Symposium Intensivmedizin + Intensivpflege (Symposium Intensive Medicine + Intensive Care) as well as the DEWU Deutscher Wundkongress & Bremer Pflegekongress (German Wound Congress & Bremen Nursing Congress) have been an integral part of MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN for many years and, with 4,800 participants each, show how well Bremen functions as a trade fair and congress location for medicine and more.
Digitalisation and artificial intelligence
You want to keep your finger on the pulse of time? So do we. That’s why digitalisation is of special significance for us in Bremen. While we at MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN have been able to build up the necessary know-how to create unforgettable experiences even with hybrid formats, Bremen is considered a pioneer in Europe when it comes to artificial intelligence and 3D printing. Renowned research institutes such as the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence, the Technology Centre for Computer Science and Information Technology or the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine create a solid foundation of IT and AI to train qualified specialists in the long term and enable companies from a wide range of sectors to compete in the age of Industry 4.0. With events such as the annual congress of the Deutschsprachige SAP-Anwendergruppe DSAG (German-speaking SAP user group) and the most important conference for science journalists in Germany, WISSENSWERTE, we also regularly bring innovation and research in the fields of digitalisation and AI into our halls.(Luxury) food industry
Coffee, beer and fish – these are the export hits of the (luxury) food industry on the Weser. Global brands such as Melitta, Beck’s, Nordsee and Mondelēz International have their headquarters or important production sites in the Hanseatic city and employ a total of around 10,000 people from the region.
With FISCH&FEINES (Fish & Delicacies), fish international and the BOTTLE MARKET, the luxury food industry has been finding its way into our halls for many years – where international giants meet locals and family-run businesses, a unique mix is created that literally bears fruit.
At MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN, we rely on cooperations with local partners for catering and co. – so you, too, can enjoy Bremen’s traditional industry and benefit from quality and experience.
Good to know: The innovative spirit of the North is also evident here – decaffeinated coffee, for example, originated in Bremen.
Wind energy
Another traditional branch of the local economy is wind energy. Turbines and entire wind farms have been designed and produced in Bremen since the 1990s. Today, more than 80 companies form a successfully cooperating network that is significantly advancing the energy transition with wind turbines in the onshore and offshore sectors. From research and development to production and maintenance, the companies based in Bremen and Bremerhaven cover the entire wind energy value chain – the University of Bremen and the Wind Energy Agency Bremerhaven are also involved in this.Cultural and creative industries
Thanks to the strongly developed cultural scene, there is always something going on in Bremen – and since we at MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN are located in the heart of the city, you are always right in the middle of Bremen’s creative and cultural world – even during just a short visit to a convention.
Nearly 12,000 employees in more than 3,300 companies clearly show: creative and innovative processes play a major role in Bremen’s economy and contribute to the modernisation of the region.
Creative hotspots such as the Viertel, the Neustadt or the hip Überseestadt with the new Kaffeequartier particularly attract young artists and cultural workers. Start-ups, co-working spaces and other innovative modes of work offer lots of room for ideas. A new spirit is emerging that is already having a significant impact on the cityscape.
Numerous publishing houses and agencies, film, music and television studios as well as design and architecture offices offer an inspiring home to the many creative people in Bremen. Year after year, trade fairs such as jazzahead! bring the protagonists of the international cultural scene to the Hanseatic city, attract a colourful audience of music enthusiasts and creative people and are by now deep-seated in Bremen.
Start-ups
A sprouting start-up scene ensures that new ideas and forms of enterprise in Bremen are offered fertile ground on which they can operate and grow. STARTHAUS, for example, accompanies founders through the first phase and actively supports start-ups in networking, establishing contacts and gaining a foothold.
In this way, a unique ecosystem of events, pitches, funding and advisory programmes develops that permeates Bremen across all sectors.
It was only in November 2021 that Bremen opened a start-up centre for the food and luxury food industry: the innovative food hub “HANSE KITCHEN”, which incidentally has its state-of-the-art test kitchen in the premises of the ÖVB Arena. Among other things, it offers start-ups space for product and recipe development, production, storage and analysis of their food products.
Versatile and flexible: on the road to success with MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN
The diverse economic clusters and close networking between business and science in Bremen and Bremerhaven not only ensure professional competence, but also a constant breath of fresh air.
We at MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN are naturally sailing along! With our spacious, versatile premises, we offer an ideal setting that fully meets the standards of the industry and fulfils your individual wishes as an organiser.
Seven halls, total exhibition area of more than 40,000 square metres and a multitude of rooms and halls that are variable in size, design and equipment create endless possibilities.
With the Congress Centrum Bremen and the ÖVB-Arena directly on the exhibition grounds, unmistakable flexibility is created: decide for yourself how many exhibitors and guests you would like to receive and which halls and rooms you would like to combine for the perfect trade fair and congress experience. We support you and turn visions into events.
Interest? Our competent service team at MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN will be happy to advise you.
At MESSE BREMEN and CONGRESS BREMEN, we rely on technology, sustainability and trusted partners from the region and accompany you with our full-service support from the first to the last step. Simply get in touch.
What we are proud of.
More than 100 international events
Breakbulk Europe – exhibition and conference
for breakbulk transport
9,500 participants, 400 exhibitors
IAC – International Astronautical Congress
4,500 participants, 36 countries
EWMA European Wound Management Association
6,100 participants, 84 countries
Cospar – International Scientific Assembly
4,000 participants, 58 countries
Space Tech Expo Europe
4,500 participants, 386 exhibitors
More than 90 national association congresses
Annual German Biogas Association
6,300 participants, 347 exhibitors
Annual Congress of the German-speaking SAP user group DSAG
4,600 participants, 175 exhibitors
Librarians’ Day
4,200 participants; 142 exhibitors
German Archive Day
1,000 participants, 48 exhibitors
German Road and Transportation Congress
1,000 participants, 40 exhibitors
More than 80 major events
Churches’ Day
100,000 participants
ffn children’s day
50,000 participants
HanseLife
80,000 visitors, 800 exhibitors
Chorolympiade
40,000 participants
Bremen Classic Motorshow
44,700 visitors, 648 exhibitors
More than 70 scientific congresses
DEWU Deutscher Wundkongress & Bremer Pflegekongress (chronic wound and care congress)
4,800 participants, 114 exhibitors
Symposium Intensivmedizin + Intensivpflege
4,800 participants, 198 exhibitors
Congress of the German Respiratory Society (DGP)
3,800 visitors, 140 exhibitors
Congress of the German Psychology Society
2,800 visitors, 40 exhibitors
Annual Congress of the Rheumatology Further Training Academy (DGRh)
2,600 participants, 80 exhibitors
Memberships
We have aroused your interest? Contact us now for your individual event planning!