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GIP area

Freiburg Green Industry Park

Successful business operations with reduced energy and resource consumption: that is what the Green Industry Park Freiburg project, known as GIP for short, stands for. Since 2014, companies in Freiburg’s Northern Industrial Estate have been involved in the Green Industry Park initiative. The Hochdorf industrial estate followed in 2021 as the second GIP site. 

Together with the City of Freiburg and the Economic Development Agency, the companies have achieved a great deal: in the Northern Industrial Estate, CO2 emissions have been reduced by a third over 10 years. At the same time, the number of jobs has increased by 37%. 

Climate-friendly business “made in Freiburg” is becoming a success story. The strategic, location-specific approach of the implementation-oriented GIP business network is proving effective. 

Gruppe von Fachleuten unter einer Solaranlage in Freiburg.

The GIP Story

It all began in 2012 with a visionary idea: to transform an established industrial site into one that is fit for the future and climate-friendly – something no one in Germany had dared to attempt before. No sooner said than done: the Green Industry Park Freiburg initiative, known as GIP for short, was founded. The aim: to work with local businesses to develop the city’s oldest and most important industrial area into an energy- and resource-efficient site. A sub-concept for climate protection was drawn up and serves as the basis for implementing numerous measures on the path to climate neutrality. Climate protection that is sustainably successful remains, to this day, a driving force that unites us all. 

“The Green Industry Park Freiburg has become a model not only for the city, but also for the state and beyond”

 

Thekla Walker, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Energy, Baden-Württemberg
 

Who is behind the Green Industry Park?

The initiators of the Green Industry Park Freiburg meet regularly within the GIP steering group. In addition to the City of Freiburg, these include the FWTM Economic Development Agency, the Fraunhofer ISE (Institute for Solar Energy Systems), the regional energy supplier badenova and, since 2022, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for the Southern Upper Rhine. 
These five partners see themselves as a network within a network. They identify new topics, further develop the GIP strategy and secure funding.
The City of Freiburg’s Environmental Protection Office acts as the GIP’s management and thus takes on the role of project leader. A climate protection manager from the city and a site manager from FWTM regularly visit the companies on site as points of contact and also support them with administrative matters. 

Our partners

What does the Green Industry Park aim to achieve?

  • Gradually decarbonising an existing industrial or commercial estate is considered the ultimate challenge of the transition. 
  • For businesses, this means identifying and implementing specific measures that reduce energy and resource consumption and associated costs, whilst minimising risks 
  • Examples: investing in on-site electricity generation using renewable energy, refurbishing existing buildings, designing new buildings to ecological standards, or using energy-efficient cooling or heating systems with innovative technologies.
  • Whilst the focus in the early years was on efficiency, the goal for many companies today is climate neutrality. 
  • The gradual transition from fossil fuels to renewable, resilient and less crisis-prone processes is the goal of an increasing number of companies, which are thereby also contributing to the City of Freiburg’s climate targets.
  • The city manages and funds the initiative and provides resources for specialist and implementation consultancy
  • To promote environmentally friendly mobility, it has invested in the expansion of public transport services and cycle path infrastructure
  • With the city’s support, GIP partner Badenova has been able to establish a local heating network using industrial waste heat from Cerdia
  • The aim of the initiative and the local businesses is to create a location with a promising future for business, where the economy and the environment are strong partners.

Who’s coming?

The Green Industry Park network thrives on the interest and commitment of its member companies. The door is open to everyone: we have deliberately chosen not to require formal membership.
 

The network includes companies that have set themselves the goal of achieving climate neutrality, as well as those just taking their first steps in this direction.
 

As the GIP initiative, we are in regular contact with around 20% of the companies at both sites. These account for around 80% of the jobs.
  

What are the benefits for my business if I take part?

The Green Industry Park Freiburg business network is a platform for ideas, solutions and networking. 

  • You’ll get exclusive access to our AI-powered collaboration tool, the dashboard for direct contacts and exchanges
  • We’ll keep you informed in good time about our regular specialist workshops and other events 
  • You are a special guest at the annual GIP Summit, when the entire GIP community comes together
  • Our funding advisory service helps you navigate the maze of state and federal funding schemes
  • We facilitate participation in cross-company projects and innovations 
  • Our free expert advice provides practical support in finding solutions and implementing concrete measures 
  • We’ll find the right support for you. Whether it’s heating, air conditioning, buildings, cross-cutting technologies, renewable energy supply, resource efficiency, staff training or workplace mobility: just get in touch. 
  • Would you like to share your success story? On this website or in a video profile of your company, we’ll showcase what you’ve already achieved and what you’re planning next.
  • Our shared success story: almost two-thirds of the specialist consultancy services funded in 2024/2025 were budgeted for, planned or implemented within the companies within 15 months. In short: the experts working on our behalf are doing a great job.

Commitment to sustainability and corporate climate action pays off. It strengthens your values, your image, staff retention and your ability to attract apprentices. You contribute to reducing your carbon footprint and, at the same time, to the city’s climate targets. You improve your prospects in future markets and your personal sense of doing the right thing. And: banks often offer better credit terms to companies with a sustainable profile. Join our network and take the next step.

 

What we offer:
 

Beim Nachbarn zu Gast.

Unser Klassiker. 
Wir besuchen Nachbarunternehmen. Schauen uns deren Schlüsselmaßnahmen an. Und erhalten einen exklusiven Einblick in die Produktion.

GIP on Tour

Mehr als ein Ausflug. Gemeinsam per Bus auf Innovationstour. Unsere Haltepunkte: inspirierende Unternehmerpersönlichkeiten und nachhaltige Geschäftsmodelle in der Region.

GIPfeltreffen

Überraschende Location, Impulse, die zünden und eine gute Gelegenheit, Erfolge gemeinsam zu feiern. Einmal im Jahr trifft sich die GIP-Community beim GIPfeltreffen. 

GIP.Roundtable

Eine Runde Sache: dreimal im Jahr kommen Unternehmen aus dem Gewerbegebiet Hochdorf für zwei Stunden zusammen, um Standortfragen gemeinsam zu lösen.

GIP.kompakt

Unser neuestes Format: 30 minütige Online-Meetings um die Mittagszeit. Kurzer Austausch zu aktuellen Anliegen. Anlassbezogen mit aus dem Netzwerk für das Netzwerk.

Our advisory and networking services

No one has to go it alone on the path to becoming a sustainable business. At the Green Industry Park, you can benefit from a strong network of experts and free advisory services tailored precisely to your needs:

  • Funding & Strategy: We guide you through the maze of funding options and support you with strategic transformation planning (e.g. through the Zielgerade 2030 programme).
  • Energy & resource efficiency: Take advantage of vendor-neutral introductory and implementation consultations, for example on plant technology, energy management or process heat.
  • Self-generated electricity & photovoltaics: Under the motto ‘Your roof can do more’, we’ll work with you to find the most economically viable solution for your crisis-proof self-generated electricity.
  • Strong networks: Join the Freiburg Climate Pact and benefit from exchanging experiences with representatives from business, society and the voluntary sector. 
  • Collaboration tool: You’ll gain access to our AI-powered network dashboard. The perfect place to post questions, ideas and marketplace offers for the network and engage in direct dialogue with other businesses. 

Find out more

Worthy of an award

The Green Industry Park Freiburg has been recognised for its approach, which is unique in Germany.
In 2018, Freiburg won the ‘Climate-Active Municipality’ competition for the Green Industry Park project. The jury was impressed by the gradual transformation of the Nord industrial estate into a resource-efficient, climate-neutral business park through close cooperation between the city and local businesses.
The GIP is regarded as a model for the energy-efficient, phased conversion of existing industrial estates in Germany. It is a key component in the economic sector for achieving Freiburg’s goal of climate neutrality.

 

An overview of the industrial estates

Freiburg’s Green Industry Park now comprises two industrial sites. Whilst the Nord industrial estate is characterised by manufacturing, specialist retail and research, the Hochdorf industrial estate is dominated by logistics and services.

 

Grafik mit „Standort GIP“ als Darstellung des Green Industry Park Freiburg und seines Fokus auf nachhaltige Industrie, Energieeffizienz und Vernetzung.

Hochdorf Industrial Estate

  • 120 hectares
  • 200 farms
  • 4,000 employees
  • Logistics, production
  • Specialist retail, services
     

About the Hochdorf Industrial Estate

Grafik mit „Standort GIP“ als Darstellung des Green Industry Park Freiburg und seines Fokus auf nachhaltige Industrie, Energieeffizienz und Vernetzung.

Northern Industrial Estate

  • 300 hectares
  • 550 companies
  • 15,000 employees
  • Manufacturing, specialist retail, services
  • 3 Fraunhofer Institutes
  • 1 Max Planck Institute

To the Northern Industrial Estate

“The GIP approach in the Hochdorf industrial estate is helping us to progress both as a location and as a business.
It has now become part of our DNA.”

Peter Meißner
Management, KOCH Freiburg

Video gallery

We showcase companies that are actively involved in the GIP network. We see our short, three-minute video profiles as a way of saying thank you. They form part of our culture of recognition. Do have a look.

Watch the videos

 

A mid-term review: 10 years on

A study by the Baden Campus takes stock of the first 10 years of the GIP. You can find details of achievements, areas for improvement and future challenges here:

Interim Review 2025

Brochure

Examples of how companies in both GIPs have implemented these measures can be found in an accessible brochure, which can be downloaded here:

Download the brochure

Events

Over the past few years, we have organised more than 100 events in a variety of formats. You can find the latest dates and event highlights here:

View events

Contact details for Green Industry Park

If you have any questions about the Green Industry Park Freiburg, please contact:

Dirk Kron

Managing Director, Green Industry Park
City of Freiburg, Environmental Protection Agency

dirk.kron@freiburg.de
+49 761 201-6104

 

Your contact at FWTM Economic Development is:

Tina Wegener

Business Services, Investor Relations & Commercial Land FWTM

tina.wegener@fwtm.de
+49 761 3881-1218