Ostwestfalen-Lippe , abbreviation
OWL, is a technology region in the
German state of
North Rhine-Westphalia, with a 2,000-year-old history and culture. Ostwestfalen-Lippe is the eastern part of the region of
Westphalia, joined with the
Lippe region. A literal translation of the region's name would be
East(ern) Westphalia-Lippe. The region is congruent with the area of the administrative
Detmold Region. A large number of major globally operating companies are headquartered in the region, including
Bertelsmann,
Miele,
Dr. Oetker,
Melitta, Gerry Weber,
Gildemeister AG, Schüco,
Wincor Nixdorf,
Phoenix Contact and
Claas. In 2012 OWL became germans
BMBF Leading Edge Technology Cluster for intelligent Technical Systems (it's OWL ), which is currently the largest public funded project in the context of the government initiative "Industry 4.0". Universities are located in Bielefeld, Paderborn and
Lemgo. The
Fraunhofer Society is engaged in OWL in
Lemgo and Paderborn.