Industrial companies are key drivers of services, logistics, resource efficiency and trade in the Ruhr metropolis. Interdisciplinary cooperation with product and interface designers is key in creating innovative solutions and ideas for the new and further development of products that help businesses increase their market share and boost their economic success. With its "Innovationsraum Ruhr" initiative, Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH has provided a platform that offers product design and software/games companies from this region the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and raise their profile at this year's HANNOVER MESSE with an innovative, marketable product.

The nine companies represented include Projekter Industrial Design from Duisburg. Its e-ram drive is probably the world’s smallest and by far the lightest pedelec drive right now. This drive consists of a motor unit that can be attached to a standard bottom bracket – and thus to virtually any bike – and a smart rechargeable battery unit housed in a back protector so as not to impair the mountain bike's agility. This device can also be integrated in a rucksack if required.

Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH/Innovationsraum Ruhr (45128 Essen, Germany), Hall 2, Stand B30, co-exhibitor with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWEIMH NRW)