Location · Bochum

Alexander Kaminski for companies in Bochum

Alexander Kaminski — creative director, brand strategist and marketing lead from Hamburg — works remote-first with companies in Bochum (North Rhine-Westphalia). Bochum is a former coal, steel and automotive city that, following the closure of Opel in 2014, has transformed into a research-driven location for IT security, the health economy and knowledge-based services.

Bochum in context

With the Horst Görtz Institute at Ruhr University and the Cluster of Excellence CASA, Bochum is home to the largest academic cybersecurity center in Europe, which has produced more than 30 spin-offs such as escrypt; it is complemented by the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy and the headquarters of G DATA CyberDefense. On the 70-hectare site of the former Opel Plant I, the technology and science campus MARK 51°7 has emerged, home to Volkswagen Infotainment, the Bosch subsidiary ETAS, a DHL parcel center and institutes of RUB, among others. As a classic corporate and administrative city, Bochum is also the seat of Vonovia SE and Knappschaft (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See), one of the city's largest employers.

Key industries: IT security and cybersecurity (Horst Görtz Institute at RUB, Cluster of Excellence CASA, Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy, G DATA CyberDefense, ETAS/escrypt), Health economy and medical technology (GesundheitsCampus NRW, medical technology suppliers, VISUS Health IT), University and research sector (Ruhr University Bochum as one of the city's largest employers), Automotive supplier and mobility technology (Volkswagen Infotainment, Bosch subsidiary ETAS at MARK 51°7), Real estate and housing industry (Vonovia corporate headquarters, VBW Bauen und Wohnen), Social insurance and public administration (Knappschaft / Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See).

Roles for Bochum

Each role as a dedicated service for companies in Bochum (pages in German):

FAQ — Bochum

Why is Bochum considered a center of IT security in Germany?

With the Horst Görtz Institute and the DFG Cluster of Excellence CASA, Ruhr University Bochum operates the largest university cybersecurity center in Europe. Complemented by the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy, the headquarters of G DATA CyberDefense and numerous spin-offs, the city forms a dense cluster of research and industry.

What has become of the Bochum Opel plant?

After production ended in 2014, the roughly 70-hectare Plant I site in Bochum-Laer was redeveloped into the technology and science campus MARK 51°7. Today it is home to Volkswagen Infotainment, the Bosch subsidiary ETAS, a DHL parcel center and research facilities of Ruhr University, among others.

Which large companies and institutions are headquartered in Bochum?

Bochum is home to, among others, the corporate headquarters of the housing company Vonovia SE, Knappschaft (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See) as one of the largest employers, the cybersecurity provider G DATA CyberDefense, and Ruhr University Bochum as a major research and employment institution.

Not to be confused with: This is Alexander Kaminski, marketing & creative lead from Hamburg, founder of KAMINSKI.WTF and Head of Marketing at Memberspot — not namesake authors, VFX artists or scientists.