HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY: ALIVE AND KICKING

The health industry is one of Düsseldorf's most important sectors – with a great capacity for innovation. In order to exploit this potential in the future, digital solutions are particularly in demand. And an efficient and fast transfer of science and business.

After more than a year in a state of emergency: How has the work of the health department changed? What insights have been gained - and what have been the challenges? Head of Department Dr Klaus Göbels talks about this in an interview.

The University Hospital Düsseldorf is one of the best hospitals in the world – not only in terms of patient care, but also in terms of its innovative research projects. A look behind the scenes. 

At a time during which many employees work from home, corporate health management (CHM) has to be revisited. VIVID asked three corporations based in Düsseldorf, Henkel, ARAG and apoBank, how they are doing it. 

The greater Düsseldorf region is a popular business location for international corporations in the field of healthcare. And increasingly, Asian companies choose NRW’s capital for their European headquarters. VIVID introduces three of them:

The digitalisation is presenting a lot of opportunities for new business models – also in healthcare: a digital dermatologist, AI for intensive care or fighting phantom pains with your tablet – we present to you three cool start-ups in the healthcare sector.

Surgery by the river Rhine: Düsseldorf counts as one of the top-destinations amongst international healthcare tourists. This is big business. A large number of clinics, doctors and agencies have specialised in catering for this economic sector.

Düsseldorf's Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller (CDU) has been in office for about nine months. On a joint racing bike tour, VIVID editor Rainer Kunst spoke with him about a very special start in office, future transport and economic policy, the importance of table tennis for Düsseldorf's health and the need for a 700-million-euro opera house.

Since 2003 he has topped the world rankings four times, at the European Championships he won seven titles in singles and five in doubles, at the World Championships he came third in singles and was runner-up in doubles: Timo Boll is the most successful German table tennis player of all time so far - and a star in China, the country of the table tennis world champions. The 40-year-old is not only popular for his fair play in sport, but also for his great social commitment to people in need. He has been under contract with the top German League team Borussia Düsseldorf since 2006.

Every year, about 200,000 people in Germany develop Alzheimer's disease, a condition that is as of yet incurable. Scientists from all over the world are searching for the causes in order to decipher the disease and develop effective drugs. One of them is Annette Limke. She has a doctorate in biology and is investigating the effects of ultra-fine particulate on the risk of Alzheimer's disease. An interview with the 32-year-old about exhaust fumes, the goal of her research project and her love of nature. 

What encourages the developments in healthcare in the Rhineland region? Well, for example, there are the activities of the industry association BioRiver and the Deutsche Diabetes-Zentrum