Ruhr Region Special

The Ruhr region stands for structural, social, cultural, ecological, demographic and technological change like hardly any other region. In order to strengthen the region and provide sustainable impetus for the people of the Ruhr region, the Krupp foundation, which is based in Essen, regularly supports projects in the Ruhr region. In 2023, to mark the 150th anniversary of Villa Hügel, it launched “150 Years of Villa Hügel – 150 Projects for the Ruhr region”. The latest initiative is the “ImPulsRuhr” programme, which is dedicated to change in the region.

“150 years of Villa Hügel – 150 projects for the Ruhr region” funding programme

This project was put out to tender in 2023.

Brave not perfect, “Bude inklusiv”, “Kleiner Bahnhof”, Requiem for a Car, “Experiment Glück”, “Uni trifft Gesellschaft”, Kick it like friends…. These are seven of the “150 projects for the Ruhr region” – a unique funding programme of the Krupp Foundation.

To express its solidarity with the city of Essen, the Ruhr region and its population, the Foundation launched the “150 projects for the Ruhr region” funding programme, endowed with EUR 1.5 million, to mark the 150th anniversary of Villa Hügel in 2023. The goal: To strengthen the Ruhr region and to support the diversity of topics within the region.

“ImPulsRuhr – Projects for a Region in Transition” funding programme

This project will be put out to tender on 15 September 2025.

With its new funding programme ‘ImPulsRuhr – Projects for a Region in Transition’, the Krupp Foundation supports projects that drive change in the region. Funding is provided for new projects in all areas covered by the foundation’s statutes – science, education, art and culture, sport, health – that address specific needs for change and aim to shape the future.
The Krupp Foundation is providing a total of €1.5 million for this purpose in two rounds of funding. The aim of the programme is to create space for new ideas, strengthen local potential and provide sustainable impetus for the people of the Ruhr region.