“The Locator” uses SOAP interfaces to the different regional data sources and thus follows the so-called “data-at-the-source” principle. Therefore, “The Locator” is up to date. In case of the applications “business parks” and “real estates” synchronisation / update of data happens once a day. The applications “Company” and “Settlement” are adapted as required respectively when substantial changes occur.

Province of Limburg (Netherlands): Although, officially, only the south of Limburg (the part below Roermond) is part of the Euregion Meuse-Rhine, the Dutch information provided by 'The Locator' relates to the whole Province of Limburg (Netherlands).

Business parks

The sources of the information on business parks are listed below:

• AGIT mbH (Aachen Region)
• Province of Limburg (the Netherlands)
• Agentschap Ondernemen (Province of Limburg, Belgium)
• SPI (Province of Liège, Belgium)

In the Province of Liège, most business parks are marketed and managed by the development company SPI (economic development agency). In some cases, however, this is done by municipalities themselves. Because it works in close collaboration with these municipalities and with WFG Ostbelgien (development company of the German Speaking Community of Belgium), SPI can also provide information on business parks for which municipalities are responsible.

Commercial property

The sources of information on available commercial property in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine are listed below:

•  Immobilienscout 24 (Aachen Region)
•  Real Next (Province of Limburg, the Netherlands)
•  Immovlan (https://immo.vlan.be/en/Content/Legal ) – owned by CTR Media (Province of Limburg, Belgium)
•  SPI (Province of Liège, Belgium)

In the Aachen Region, the information on commercial property also contains details of retail premises, which is not the case for the other regions. In association with regional commercial property agents, SPI provides information on about 200 properties on ‘The Locator’. In addition, SPI offers businesses the option of buying or renting/leasing a new business location in ‘relay buildings’ and ‘business centres’.

Information on businesses

The sources of the information on businesses based in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine are listed below:

• BeDirect (Aachen Region)
• Vestigingenregister Limburg (Province of Limburg, the Netherlands)
• Agentschap Ondernemen (Province of Limburg, Belgium)
• SPI (Province of Liège, Belgium)

It is also possible to filter enterprises according to selected lead markets and to display companies interested in cooperation (according to "DIP").

The assignment of the companies to the lead markets is based on the deposited NACE codes.

Unlike the other regions in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine, in the Aachen Region information can also be provided on businesses not located in business parks. You can choose the company you want by selecting the following options: ‘Businesses in business parks’ or ‘All businesses in the Aachen Region’.

University & Research

The information on the university and research landscape in the EMR comes from the INTERREG VA project HYPEREGIO - Digital Innovation Platform "DIP". As is the case with companies, it is also possible to have the university institutes and research facilities represented according to lead markets.

Business location information

The organisations below have compiled the basic information which is relevant to businesses setting up in the region:

• AGIT mbH (Aachen Region)
• Province of Limburg (the Netherlands)
• Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (Province of Limburg, Belgium)
• SPI (Province of Liège, Belgium)

'The Locator' evolved from the INTERREG IVA – project 'Industrial Site Portal EMR' with the financial assistance of the following public bodies: The State of North Rhine-Westphalia (D), Province of Limburg (NL), Province of Limburg (B), Walloon region (B).

‘The Locator’ – that’s the name of the Europe’s first cross-border system for providing information on business locations. Companies setting up in business in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine (Germany-Netherlands-Belgium) for the first time or wishing to relocate or expand can use it to find up-to-date business location information and make cross-border comparisons.

Information on commercial sites and property is not only available online but can also be downloaded in the form of clear location reports. In addition, users receive a detailed summary of businesses and sectors already based in the region. Also provided is basic information which is essential for companies setting up in business in the region, e.g. information on the labour market and taxes or contact details of individual partners.

The main features of ‘The Locator’ are that it is user-friendly and the information is available in multiple languages, i.e. English, German, Dutch and French. A short demo film ensures that even inexperienced users soon get the hang of its main functions and operations. 

The closing conference of the project “The Locator” took place on Tuesday, June 17th 2014 in Aachen (D). Here you can find the press releases of the different regions regarding this event:

• Aachen region
• Dutch-Limburg region
• Liegean region

This location information system is provided by a cross-border syndicate consisting of the Aachener Gesellschaft für Innovation and Technologietransfer (AGIT) (D), Provincie Limburg (NL), Agentschap Ondernemen (B), Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (POM) (B), Agentschap Ondernemen (B) and spi (B).

AGIT is the regional development agency for the Technology Region Aachen. AGIT offer a comprehensive range of services and measures that make success possible under the motto 'Found, Locate, Promote'. Its main tasks include advising technology-oriented enterprises during their foundation and growth, advice and support for international investors, international marketing of the 'Technology Region Aachen' location, regional and cluster development for selected fields of technology as well as support for the structural promotion processes (Ziel 2, Interreg), (inter)national and (eu)regional monitoring of structures and innovations.

AGIT Aachener Gesellschaft für Innovation und Technologietransfer mbH
Geschäftsführung: Sven Pennings
Pauwelsstr. 17
D – 52074 Aachen
Fon +49 - (0)241 / 963 - 0
Fax +49 - (0)241 / 963 - 1005
E-mail: info@agit.de
www.agit.de, www.technologieregion-aachen.de

The Province of Limburg has set up a monitoring system for business premises (REBIS) in its Business Matters Department that can now be used as an acquisition and marketing tool by companies too. Moreover, companies can also use the system to obtain information on locations and the availability of properties. The Province of Limburg supports the growth of companies through this department by searching for solutions that allow access to vocational training and university education together with the working and learning world, by helping in questions of employment and export promotion and by stimulating innovation in the enterprises. Two funds have been provided for the latter: a general fund for smaller and medium-sized enterprises and a specific innovation fund.

Provincie Limburg
Economische Zaken
Drs. S.M. Verstappen
Postbus 5700
NL – 6202 MA Maastricht
Tel. +31 - (0)43 / 3899999
Fax +31 - (0)43 / 3618099
E-mail : postbus@prvlimburg.nl
www.limburg.nl

The regional development agency of the Province of Limburg (POM Limburg) is the public agency that implements the social and economic policy of the Province of Limburg: it defines the socio-economic strategy and both supports and realises (international) projects.
POM Limburg works hand in hand with the recognised regional cooperation association in Limburg (ERSV Limburg), the socio-economic concertation and advisory agency of the province, the municipalities, employer and employee associations.
POM-ERSV Limburg is generally concerned with regional planning and policy matters (planning, development and management of industrial properties), basic political questions (development of top sectors: logistics, eco-friendly technology, health care) and labour market policy.

Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Limburg – POM Limburg
Kunstlaan 18
3500 Hasselt
tel. 011 30 01 00
fax. 011 30 01 01
info@pomlimburg.be
www.pomlimburg.be

The SPI is the regional development agencyfor the Province of Liège. The main shareholders are the Province of Liège and its 84 municipalities.
SPI has been successful in its field of work for 50 years and employs roughly one hundred people that have made the Province of Liège a sustainable, attractive and universally accepted place to live. With its three complementary fields of activity – property policy, infrastructure and services – SPI offers its customers – private enterprises and government authorities – a range of comprehensive solutions.
Tasks of the SPI: to contribute to making the Province of Liège a strong, attractive, sustainable region of the future that is recognised as a top location.
Whether for specific questions or the management of larger joint projects, SPI always mobilises its experts and helps its customers achieve their goals, giving them valuable tips and providing optimum support.
SPI honours five basic values in the pursuit of its activities: ethics, open-mindedness, performance, transparency and coherence.
What's more, SPI also pledges to observe three important principles:

• the best location for every enterprise,
• upvaluation by partnerships and networks,
• sustainable development.

SPI uses its basic knowledge of the province to develop and implement an intelligent image of the future for the Province of Liège: For example, its helps protagonists on the ground, cooperating with them and swapping information so as to involve the economic, social, ecological and – why not – cultural agencies in every project, thus ensuring the good-will of the population and harmonious development of the Province of Liège.

SPI
Agence de développement pour la province de Liège

Atrium Vertbois
Rue du Vertbois, 11
4000 Liège
Belgique

Tél : +32 (0)4-230.11.22
Fax : +32(0)4-230.11.20
info@spi.be
www.spi.be