FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH International Marketing of the Region (FRM GmbH) is currently in San Antonio (Texas, USA) as part of a delegation from the science city of Darmstadt. As part of the trip led by Darmstadt’s mayor and FRM GmbH supervisory board member, Hanno Benz, FRM GmbH organized the business event “Frankfurt RheinMain Meets San Antonio.” The event focused on fostering dialogue among representatives from business, research, and politics, as well as showcasing the scientific and technological expertise of the Frankfurt RheinMain region in fields such as cybersecurity, high technology, and energy technologies.
Hanno Benz, Mayor of Darmstadt, the City of Science, and member of the supervisory board of FRM GmbH: “For nine years, the sister city partnership between Darmstadt and San Antonio has demonstrated how international relations can grow through exchanges between people and institutions. This event creates new points of connection for science, business, and public institutions in both regions. Our two cities stand for innovation, research, and international cooperation. And so we also traveled to San Antonio to initiate new collaborations. Especially when it comes to future-oriented topics such as cybersecurity, energy technologies, or the development of new scientific applications, we can benefit from one another and drive innovation forward.”
Today’s research for tomorrow’s technologies
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones of San Antonio and Hanno Benz welcomed the more than 50 guests to the event.
The discussion then turned to the role of cutting-edge research and technology transfer in regional competitiveness, and current developments in the fields of cybersecurity, digital technologies, and fusion energy were presented. It became clear how the Frankfurt RheinMain region combines scientific excellence with entrepreneurial innovation to develop solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.
With institutions such as GSI and FAIR, the Fraunhofer IGD, CESAH GmbH (Center for Satellite Navigation in Hesse), and ATHENE, the Frankfurt RheinMain region is home to some of Europe’s most significant research and innovation hubs. In addition, a world-leading center for laser fusion is taking shape on the site of the former Biblis nuclear power plant, centered around the company Focused Energy. All of this exemplifies the close connection between basic research, technology transfer, and commercial application in the Frankfurt RheinMain region and contributes to the region’s international visibility. It is precisely this connection between research institutions, innovative startups, and industrial partners that makes the Frankfurt RheinMain region an attractive location for the development of new technologies and their transformation into marketable applications.
“The Frankfurt RheinMain region is one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs. It is here that scientific breakthroughs, technological innovations, and new business models are emerging, with an impact that extends far beyond Germany. With this event, we aim to highlight our strengths in research, cybersecurity, and energy technologies and to further expand our collaboration with a dynamic innovation region like San Antonio,” said Eric Menges, CEO of FRM GmbH.
Darmstadt is part of the Frankfurt RheinMain economic and scientific region, while San Antonio is one of Texas’s major economic hubs and is actively developing future-oriented industries such as cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and renewable energy.
Research and Soccer – Success as a Team
Among the event’s participants were representatives from the executive board of SV Darmstadt 98 (Lillien), the cities of Darmstadt and San Antonio, and business leaders from both regions. And so the day came to a sporty close: Guests were invited to attend the evening’s friendly match between SV Darmstadt 98 and San Antonio FC at Toyota Field, which the Lilies won 7–0.
For FRM GmbH, the “Frankfurt RheinMain meets San Antonio” event was the perfect opportunity to raise the profile of Frankfurt RheinMain as a leading hub for science, technology, and innovation, and to strengthen business partnerships and networks in the U.S. market.
