About THE AREA
THE AREA is an exclusive business community event for the Ruhr Area and South Westphalia, initiated by THE ARC & EDIH-DO. It brings together industry leaders, innovators, and product creators to connect bold ideas with real action—through inspiring talks, knowledge sharing, and hands-on experiences.
A THE AREA event takes place in the Ruhr Area every three months. As part of the community, you’ll receive an exclusive invitation to an evening full of exchange, inspiration, and innovation projects. The agenda includes keynote talks, DIY innovation stations, networking & more.
Recap
From AI projects with Borussia Dortmund to smart solutions in parcel logistics, cobots in manufacturing, New Work in large enterprises and sustainable product design – at THE AREA, Mittelstand, tech and industry meet real innovation drivers.
In interactive sessions, pitches & live demos, companies like ABUS, ROSE Bikes, bace, Materna & many more offer exclusive insights into how the future is built today.
Together with EDIH-DO by Digital Hub Logistics Dortmund and other partners, we’ve been celebrating true innovators from the Ruhr region & South Westphalia since day one. The best part? THE AREA#4 is just around the corner.
Join the Community
Apply, attend events & stay informed.
Apply as a Speaker
Submit a talk idea or recommend someone who should share their expertise at THE AREA.
Become a (showcase) partner
Collaborate with us to shape the future.
Host an event
Think your venue would be a great fit for the next THE AREA event? Let us know!

