Strong competencies
The core competencies of the city of Hof
While the textile industry used to be the mainstay of Hof's economy, today around 70 percent of the population works in the service sector and the city has a broad economic base. Hof is systematically expanding the skills it has. These are three major areas of expertise: water and environmental technology, the city as a logistics and IT logistics location and as a materials location.
Hof plays a leading role within Bavaria in these three areas of expertise - not least due to the partnership-based cooperation that the city on the Saale relies on: schools and universities, companies, research institutions, service providers and the city work hand in hand in Hof, benefiting from each other and creating a network with added value on all sides.
The economic expertise is embedded in an outstanding infrastructure in all areas: Culture, enjoyment and quality of life achieve an unusually high value in relation to the size of the city.
Innovative Logistics & IT Logistics
Hof's central geographic location has always served it well in terms of trade: As the interface between Eastern Europe and Southern Germany or the Central European market, integrated into the Nuremberg metropolitan region, the city can look back on a tradition as long as it is successful as a trading location, which it is continuing in a forward-looking manner in the field of logistics and IT logistics. Already now, at the road-rail junction at the container terminal and at the new freight traffic center, nighttime journeys are taking place from Hof to Hamburg and Bremen: Hof is part of the major distribution axes Hamburg hinterland - Leipzig - Adriatic; container exchange takes place directly via the major container quays at the Port of Hamburg. Already now, the loading of the containers offers an impressive picture when looking from the air bridge - now it is even more impressive after the erection of the new crane system. On the one hand, strong logistics companies that have been established in Hof for years are responsible for the functioning of the logistics structures, providing a large pool of highly trained logistics experts. Back offices and call centers, which are also located in the city on the Saale, provide a perfect network and guarantee smooth processes.
Secondly, the logistics industry today is based on IT-driven processes. Hof is also a leader in this field, as the location can rely on training, research and knowledge transfer by Hof University of Applied Sciences in projects with companies and the iisys Institute for Information Systems: Most of the chairs at Hof University of Applied Sciences and also at iisys are occupied by the information technology branch.
Location & know-how as a prerequisite
Hof is a nationally and internationally recognized competence location for logistics, IT and back offices. The location of the city of Hof to important sales markets and as a seam between the Central European market and Eastern Europe creates the basis for this.
The traffic infrastructure (freeways A 9, A 93 and A 72), the regional airport and the proximity to the Czech Republic with important regional border crossings are further prerequisites for this. Due to this geographic-logistical location, it has been possible over the years to build up a great deal of East-West and, above all, logistics know-how among companies and employees. Today, the numerous efficient logistics companies and distribution centers initiate innovative logistics chains and networks from Hof. Well-trained logistics experts are also available.
Expansion of logistics strength
Competent partners
Decades of experience thus go hand in hand with the targeted expansion of existing logistics competencies, including the expansion of Hof University of Applied Sciences with new logistics courses. The electrification of the railroad lines via Hof to Nuremberg and Regensburg are in the planning stage. The container terminal is also so successful because of this competence focus and will be further expanded. Work has already begun on this expansion and on the establishment of a freight traffic center at the Hof freight station.
In recent years, numerous logistics companies have invested in Hof and the region. Independent studies also confirm this: Hof is among the top ten German logistics locations of the future.
The Hof Logistics Competence Center, which has been operating for several years, is also an important building block. Logistik Agentur Oberfranken e.V. is a joint initiative of business, science and the public sector with the aim of further developing Hof's and Upper Franconia's excellent logistics know-how and unique position as an east-west and north-south hub.
Hof, with its experts and companies, is thus already the logistics location in the north of Bavaria. At the same time, logistics is also the key to industrial production of the future. Both areas find an ideal location in Hof.
GVZ Freight Village
The new logistics center at Hof's main train station
All information about the Güterverkehrszentrum (GVZ) can be found under this link:
Hof is a sought-after IT & back-office location
Back offices are also an important part of modern logistics. With call centers, they network customers, companies and value chains; in the classic back-office area, they guarantee smooth handling and optimization of important business processes.
In this area in particular, Hof has increasingly developed as an attractive location in recent years and made a name for itself in the industry.
Optimized IT processes support logistics today, and Hof University of Applied Sciences has greatly expanded this area in teaching and research, with numerous chairs that cooperate with industry in projects. Hof University of Applied Sciences is now a leader in northern Bavaria in the field of IT. In addition, there is the new Institute for Information Systems IISYS.
All the players involved are currently focusing on digitization. This applies to the area of start-ups, which are supported by the new digital start-up center Einstein1 in Hof. This also applies to the digitization of Hof's retail trade under the heading of digital shopping city. Here, Hof is leading the way throughout Germany with new strategies.
Materials
Automotive supply in particular
The city of Hof has always been a location for traditional industrial production. The textile industry in particular can look back on a long tradition. As textile production in the region has always developed and changed, companies from Hof and the surrounding area are currently among the world market leaders with a focus on technical textiles.
Thanks to the centuries-old manufacturing industry in Hof - in addition to the textile industry, the plastics industry and mechanical engineering are also highly modern and innovative economic pillars of the city on the Saale - the city naturally also has experienced specialists, a good infrastructure and industry-related services and technology offerings in this area. This area of Hof's economy is also particularly forward-looking thanks to the cooperation with Hof University of Applied Sciences. The engineering courses and the Research Institute for Materials Science are constantly conducting research projects on new fibers, which are highly sought-after materials on the international market.
The automotive supplier and technology park with the Automobiltechnikum Bayern on the outskirts of the city, which is a joint project of the Free State of Bavaria and the Hof region, provides the industry with a facility that carries out research and development work for third parties and has a significant influence on technical progress in conjunction with medium-sized businesses.
Industrial production is welcome in Hof
Hof has always been an attractive location for classic industrial production away from overpriced urban centers. The history of the city of Hof reflects this industrial connection and strength. Industrial production and materials expertise developed over many years. The companies in Hof and in the region have developed into state-of-the-art producers, in some cases global market leaders in their respective production sectors. Different materials are combined with each other. As an example, the textile industry (technical textiles) and the plastics industry are particularly worth mentioning.
Ideal conditions
Existing companies as well as new investors rely on specific advantages in Hof:
- industrially experienced skilled worker potential
- favorable prices for commercial space
- good transport infrastructure and logistic location
- state support
- presence of efficient partners in the field of logistics and industry-related services
- traditionally cultivated design and material competence
- technology and development partner for new materials and composites
On this basis, the area of new innovative materials/composite materials is being continuously expanded. Networks have been created, Hof University of Applied Sciences with its engineering courses and laboratories is expanding, the Kekutex Project Innovation Center with its materials know-how in the fields of ceramics, plastics and textiles or the Automotive Technology Center Bavaria with its test and inspection stands offer many opportunities for companies.
Many good reasons for "automotive" in Hof
Hof is located at the geographic center of the most important major southern and central German and Czech final assembly plants of automotive companies. The core competencies of logistics and industrial production and the existing transport infrastructure make Hof the ideal investment location for automotive supplier companies. Highways and railroads connect Hof directly to these final assembly plants, supported by efficient regional logistics companies. For automotive suppliers Hof is a good alternative due to additional advantages:
- favorable commercial space prices and state subsidies
- numerous facilities in the field of science, research and development
- competence in industrial production/material competence
A large number of suppliers to the Hof region in the fields of textiles, plastics and electrical engineering are already taking advantage of these regional location benefits and have formed interesting networks.
Automotive supply park & technical center
The existing potential in this sector prompted the Free State of Bavaria and the Hochfranken region to launch the Pole-Position automotive supplier park project with Automobiltechnikum Bayern on the outskirts of Hof in 2003.
In the next decade, the automotive industry will continue to be regarded as the pacemaker industry in Germany. In this context, the increasing demands of the automotive manufacturers in the supplier industry will lead to more in-house and/or joint developments and thus to closer cooperation.
In cooperation with the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, the idea was born to support these cooperations and technology requirements, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. A unique automotive competence center for the medium-sized automotive supply industry consisting of the components supplier park and technical center in Franconia was created.
The additional 'add-on' and actual unique selling proposition is brought in by the Automotive Technical Center Bavaria. The supplier park and the technical center see themselves as a single unit.
In the Automobiltechnikum Bayern as the core of the supplier park, testing facilities are made available to the companies of the automotive supplier industry. This and the connection to the leading Bavarian research institutes and universities in the field of automotive technology not only make it easier for the companies to carry out their own research and development work, but also to advance the R&D network by forming cooperative ventures. This creates a basis on which medium-sized supplier companies can independently drive technical progress in the automotive industry.
The automotive supplier and technology park was conceived at the beginning as a pure automotive supplier park. Despite all the current restructuring, the automotive industry is still considered to be an important pacemaker industry in the future. In the meantime, it has become clear that the offer also attracts other innovative industries. The automotive supplier and technology park now also offers space to technologically oriented companies and innovative logistics companies.
You can find more information here.
Water & Environment
In the field of water and environmental technology, the city of Hof is focusing primarily on expanding existing expertise in projects run by companies and universities. For years now, the city on the Saale has been home to globally active medium-sized companies in the field of water and environmental technology, which are excellently positioned and technical leaders. This existing expertise will be further expanded with future projects, in harmony with Hof University of Applied Sciences, which is driving this field forward as a "Greentech University" with corresponding engineering courses, research projects, the new Institute for Sustainable Water Systems and the Institute for Hydrogen and Energy Technology.
"In the triad of company - university - business development, we are always in the process of strengthening networks and further expanding expertise." The Water Management Office and the State Office for the Environment, which was relocated from Munich to Hof in 2006 with 240 employees, are also key players. All relevant players work together in the Kompetenznetzwerk Wasser und Energie e.V. (Water and Energy Competence Network). In addition, there are partners such as environmental engineering schools and universities, the State Office for the Environment, bfz international, the Hof Water Management Office, companies and local authorities.
The exchange of knowledge within the framework of this cooperation benefits everyone involved and provides a basis for innovative projects. Delegations from all over the world regularly come to Hof to benefit from the expertise of the competence network or to attend specialist congresses. The environmental engineering course at Hof University of Applied Sciences, which is currently being strengthened by the construction of the new Institute for Water and Energy Management, also attracts international interest time and again.
Another focus of this field of expertise is renewable energies. Hof not only has the largest biogas plant in Upper Franconia, but the region also has the highest density of wind turbines. Hof is also part of the large-scale Bavarian research project Smart Grid Solar, the main aim of which is to develop methods and technologies to increase the proportion of renewable electricity in the Bavarian generation mix and sustainably transition to a full supply.
"Bavarian competence location water"
This is Hof
The establishment of the Bavarian State Office for the Environment in Hof has created new opportunities for Hof as a business location. It provides know-how and expertise for companies, especially in the fields of water, wastewater, geology and geothermal energy.
In addition to the State Office for the Environment with the project Technology Transfer Water (TTW), there are numerous renowned companies and service providers in the Hof region that are internationally active in the field of water and environmental technology. Other important partners in the field of education are the Hof University of Applied Sciences with its environmental engineering course and the Hof School of Environmental Engineering. The Hof Water Management Office has specialized knowledge in the field of water. The bfz international in Hof also has the topic of water in its range of work and supervises numerous projects throughout the world from Hof.
Further expansion
The coming decades will be characterized worldwide by the demand for pure water. These developments also hold opportunities for companies in this sector. In Hof, scientific know-how is combined with business practice. For some years now, the existing expertise in Hof has been pooled, networked and further developed with suitable projects.
Hof is currently a recognized and leading official Bavarian competence location for water. With its concentrated expertise, Hof has become a sought-after partner for companies in this sector. Hof offers an ideal environment for this as a top location with international appeal.
Numerous congresses and events on this topic take place in Hof. Almost every month, Hof welcomes groups of visitors from abroad who want to get to know Hof's technology and know-how.
A leading specialist congress and trade fair on the subject of water has been held in Hof since 2007. Its predecessor was geofora - the trade fair and congress for drilling technology, water extraction and geothermal energy.
Since 2017, the DVGW Wassertreff Hof has successfully established itself as the leading event for southern and central Germany in the field of water and is held every two years. It brings together experts from the drinking water sector in particular in Hof.
Since 2010, the Kompetenznetzwerk Wasser und Energie e.V. has consisted of numerous companies in this sector and the relevant institutions. Numerous projects have been realized. The network changed its name to Kompetenznetzwerk Wasser und Energie e.V. in 2015.
Together with the Hochfranken economic region, the competence network has published a new competence atlas. It shows at a glance the research capacities and business partners in the water/environment sector in the region.
Hof is also an active member of the Bavarian Environmental Cluster.
At the end of November 2010, the Bavarian Minister of the Environment, Dr. Söder, took these developments into account and officially designated Hof as a Bavarian competence location for water.
The area of water/wastewater is increasingly being combined with the topic of energy (renewable energies) at the competence location Hof, which has the largest biogas plant in Upper Franconia. The Hof region has the highest density of wind turbines in Bavaria.
