FRIENDSHIP WITH A FUTURE
When he visited the city in 1811, the French emperor Napoleon is said to have called Düsseldorf ‘Le Petit Paris’. This marked the beginning of a wonderful friendship that continues to this day — including on an economic level.
Maya Lechner, Country Manager Germany, Fonroche Lightning
Evidence of the friendship between Düsseldorf and France can be seen everywhere in the state capital. There is a French school, the Institut Français, which promotes the French language, culture and intercultural exchange. Once a year, the France Festival takes place, attracting 100,000 visitors last summer. There is also an innovation partnership between Düsseldorf and France, which is fostering a vibrant corporate and startup culture in both countries. Examples include Air Liquide, a global market leader in gases, technologies, and services for industry and healthcare, which has its German headquarters in Düsseldorf; and SPIE, a French company offering technical services related to the energy transition and digital transformation, which has been a tenant at the EUREF Campus since last year.
Fonroche Lightning also located to Düsseldorf in April of last year. Starting out as a producer of photovoltaic modules, the company has become a manufacturer, designer and planner of solar lighting, and is now the global market leader in this field. Solar lighting from France is fundamentally sustainable, and has already been utilised by Bayreuth's municipal utilities, as well as major international cities such as Los Angeles and Alicante.
Düsseldorf was chosen as the first location in Germany because it is an ideal business location, with many international companies already established there. ‘The proximity to the Benelux countries and thus to our branch in Rotterdam is another advantage,’ explains Maya Lechner, Country Manager for Germany. Just a few weeks after Fonroche Lighting launched in Düsseldorf, she was in contact with the economic development agency and NRW.Global Business, both of which she found to be very competent and committed. ‘Exchanging ideas with people who face similar challenges is valuable on both a business and political level,’ says Maya Lechner.
Every year, Fonroche Lighting welcomes a thousand new towns and municipalities to its customer base. They particularly appreciate the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of solar lighting.
La French Tech Düsseldorf is part of the La French Tech network, which has 114 locations in 52 countries and was initiated by the French government 12 years ago. It is a professional networking organisation. ‘The registered association operates on a voluntary basis and brings together French startups and scale-ups, German companies, investors, and political figures to promote innovation and entrepreneurial collaboration,’ explains Cyril Catel, La French Tech Düsseldorf's board member and secretary general. To this end, he and his team organise various events, networking formats and programmes that support startups entering the German market, such as the French Tech in Germany Awards. This event brought together over 280 guests from startups, industry and politics in Düsseldorf in September 2025.
Mr Catel considers the conditions for French startups to establish themselves in Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia to be excellent. La French Tech Düsseldorf collaborates with the economic development, the tax consulting and auditing firm Forvis Mazars, and initiatives such as NRW.Global Business and Business France. This makes it easier for startups to access networks, customers and pilot projects quickly. There are also good conditions in France for young entrepreneurs from Düsseldorf. ‘The exchange works in both directions,’ says Cyril Catel happily. France offers programmes such as Choose France, and there is a strong appetite for investment and attractive conditions for startups. ‘Greentech and sustainability are becoming increasingly important in our network,’ adds Cyril Catel.
ABOUT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
Schneider Electric's German headquarters are located on the EUREF Campus, a completely CO2- neutral site that uses solar power, geothermal heat and smart building technology. The French company has been recognised several times as one of the most sustainable in the world, aiming to combine economic efficiency with a commitment to the climate. ‘The German-French friendship is an important pillar of economic and technological cooperation in Europe. As a global company with French roots and a strong presence in Germany, we are actively committed to this exchange,’ says Mike Hughes, Schneider Electric's DACH CEO.
Stefan Ferber, Head of the Office for Environmental, and Consumer Protection
key meeting point for the community is VivaTech, one of Europe's largest innovation fairs and a springboard for young entrepreneurs, including those from Düsseldorf and North Rhine- Westphalia. Next year, Germany will be VivaTech's partner country. ‘Together with our partners, such as the City of Düsseldorf's Economic Development Agency and NRW.Global Business, we will ensure that startups from our region are well represented,’ says Cyril Catel. Düsseldorf and Toulouse, which have been twinned since 2003, have entered into a municipal partnership. This is reflected in joint projects. One such project is the cities' collaboration as climate twins since 2017. According to projections by the German Weather Service, temperatures in Düsseldorf will approach those in Toulouse, in southern France, by the end of the century. Therefore, the cities aim to share knowledge and learn from each other regarding climate adaptation measures. Düsseldorf has been a project partner in Toulouse's EU climate adaptation project, LIFE Green Heart, since 2019. This includes the restoration of urban green spaces in the centre of Toulouse, which should help to cool the city in summer. Düsseldorf wants to benefit not only from the results of this project, but also from other climate adaptation activities beyond LIFE Green Heart. ‘The cooperation between the climate twins Toulouse and Düsseldorf has provided valuable impetus for both cities and beyond,’ says Stefan Ferber, Head of the Office for Environmental and Consumer Protection. It is also a good example of how important innovation partnerships and exchange between Düsseldorf and France will continue to be in the future. •
Words: Katja Vaders
Pictures: pexels/ Elina Sazonova, fonroche lighting and Xboymond, Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf