Inauguration of the new ETAS cybersecurity location in Bochum

During a construction period of just under three years, an office and floor area of over 10,000 square meters was created on the 8,200 square meter site. Each of the four office floors can accommodate up to 125 associates. The building is equipped with a photovoltaic system and therefore makes a significant contribution to reducing the company’s carbon footprint. In January of this year, 120 cybersecurity experts from ETAS moved into new offices, together with associates from other Bosch divisions.

“This new facility marks a clear commitment to the city of Bochum,” says Nicolet Eglseder, Member of the ETAS Board of Management. “Known for its innovative power and pioneering spirit, Bochum offers the perfect environment for ETAS to spearhead the development of cybersecurity solutions for the software-defined vehicle.” 

ETAS’ close ties to Bochum date from 2012 with the acquisition of Bochum-based ESCRYPT GmbH, a spin-off from the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security at Ruhr University Bochum and leading provider of security solutions for embedded systems. ESCRYPT GmbH was fully integrated into ETAS in 2022, enabling an enhanced portfolio to be offered under one strong brand.

“Bochum stands for progress and has become a vibrant center for IT security,” says Christopher Pohl, site manager at the new ETAS location in Bochum. “Synergies with the Ruhr University Bochum, with the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security, and with the local start-up community all create an ideal ecosystem for the development of cutting-edge IT security solutions.”

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, which was led by the ETAS Board of Management and the site management, City of Bochum Mayor Thomas Eiskirch emphasized the city’s commitment to technological innovation and welcomed the expansion of the local cybersecurity cluster through the addition of ETAS. “We are very pleased that with ETAS we have gained a pioneer for cybersecurity in the automotive sector for our city. From ESCRYPT as a RUB spin-off to ETAS moving into MARK 51°7 – this success story will help to further establish Bochum as a cybersecurity hotspot and create future-proof jobs,” says Eiskirch.

Located on the former Opel site, the new ETAS facility provides ideal conditions for interdisciplinary R&D and encourages collaboration with academic partners with a view to further increasing technology transfer.

ETAS GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, represented in twelve countries in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. ETAS' portfolio includes software development tools, software testing solutions, automotive middleware, data acquisition & processing tools, authoring & diagnostic solutions, automotive cybersecurity solutions, and end-to-end engineering and consulting services for the realization of software-defined vehicles. Our product solutions and services enable vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to develop, operate, and secure differentiating vehicle software with increased efficiency.