About this Event
Thinking about Germany as your next market?
Start in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Germany is the UK’s largest European market, and North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is its industrial heartland: Germany’s largest state economy, home to more than 1,700 UK companies, and the destination for almost two thirds of British direct investment in Germany.
Straight after the first day of Advanced Engineering, join NRW.Global Business for an evening of practical insights, first-hand experience and networking over a light dinner.
📅 Wednesday 4 November 2026, 17:15 to 20:30
📍 Hilton Birmingham Metropole, NEC, a short walk from the show halls
🎟️ Free to attend, places are limited
Who should attend
Founders, CEOs, COOs and heads of international expansion at UK engineering and manufacturing companies, as well as clusters, research centres and innovation organisations.
What you will take away
✔ NRW as a business location: advantages, grants and support for UK companies
✔ Smart manufacturing and R&D funding: NRW’s ecosystem and UK-German funding opportunities
✔ First-hand experience: UK companies that have already expanded into NRW
✔ Networking: meet the NRW delegation and UK peers over a light dinner
Programme
17:15 Registration and welcome drinks
17:45 Welcome and opening remarks
17:55 NRW as a business location: advantages, grants and support
David Schneider, UK Representative, NRW.Global Business
18:10 Market entry in practice: support for companies setting up in NRW
18:20 Panel: the NRW smart manufacturing ecosystem, support and UK-German R&D funding
Moderated by Lilou Elisabeth Mazzilli, Smart Manufacturing Lead, NRW.Global Business, with Dr Peter Ploth, CEO, Kumo Cloud Solutions, and further panellists
18:50 The UK view: helping UK engineering and manufacturing companies grow internationally
19:00 Panel: UK companies on their route into NRW, with questions from the floor
19:30 Light dinner, drinks and networking
20:30 Close
Further speakers will be announced shortly. Timings are indicative.
About NRW.Global Business
NRW.Global Business is the trade and investment agency of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. We offer free, confidential support to UK companies expanding into Germany, from market information and site searches to introductions to networks, clusters and professional advisers.
👉 Register now to secure your place.
Event venue & nearby stays
Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.