At the panel discussion held in Dortmund, experts explored the parallels between two of the world’s most emblematic post-industrial regions: Germany’s Ruhr region and the U.S. Rust Belt. Despite geographic distance, both have faced similar challenges—declining industry, community disruption, and a widespread loss of future prospects.

John Austin (AIA NRW Fellow), Emily Adams (Chancellor Fellow at DGAP), and Jörg Kemna (CEO, Business Metropole Ruhr) discussed the structural transformations in their respective regions, moderated by Dr. des. Juliane Borosch (University of Duisburg-Essen). They emphasised that rebuilding post-industrial communities requires more than just economic tools—it demands a renewed social contract rooted in identity, innovation, and inclusion.
Emily Adams highlighted critical issues such as brain drain, particularly in smaller urban and rural areas, where a lack of economic opportunity and reliable local information—the so-called “news desert”—push people to leave. She cited Chemnitz as a positive example of reversing this trend: as a European Capital of Culture, it is using universities and cultural investment as levers for transformation.
The panel identified several key takeaways:

Local leadership and a sense of ownership are essential for navigating change.
Education and skill-building are fundamental to empower future generations.
Cross-border exchange allows regions to learn from each other’s successes and failures.
“Homecomers”—returning residents—can play a vital role by bringing energy, leadership, and investment back to their communities.
Access to venture capital and flexible funding is crucial to support local innovation.

The event ended with an engaged audience discussion, reinforcing the need for locally driven, globally informed strategies for a just transition.

In cooperation with Auslandsgesellschaft.de, AmerikaHaus NRW, DGAP and supported by Land NRW.