The TechnoPark on the site of the former Monopol mine in Kamen is an impressive example of the transformation of industrial brownfield sites into innovative and future-oriented business locations. The Monopol mine, originally one of the largest mines in the northern district of Unna, began operations with shaft I in 1879. Over the years, the area developed into an important center for coal mining, which finally opened in 1983, exactly 110 years after it was founded. was shut down.
After the Monopol mine was closed, the approximately 34 hectare site near the city center of Kamen became a wasteland, but due to its location and optimal transport connections it offered the potential for a new commercial beginning. As part of the IBA (International Building Exhibition) project, the development of a residential and technology park on the site was promoted. The two former administration buildings of the Monopol mine became the core of a start-up and technology center, which today houses innovative start-ups and established companies. TECHNOPARK KAMEN GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of the city of Kamen, was founded in 1994 to realize and organize this innovative commercial location.
The TechnoPark Kamen not only symbolizes the structural change in the region from coal mining to technology and innovation, but also reminds us of the eventful history of mining in Kamen. To mark the anniversary of the Monopol mine, a photo exhibition was organized that was dedicated to the protests of the miners and mining technology, and made it clear how deeply the history of mining is anchored in the city's identity.
This place is therefore not only important for economists and those interested in technology, but also for visitors who are interested in local history and the changes in the industrial landscape in the Ruhr area. The Monopol mine and the TechnoPark Kamen tell a story of adaptation and renewal, of the preservation of industrial heritage and its transformation into new possibilities for the future.