Rubicon Archaeology has had a busy autumn in Germany – not just in the field, but in the headlines. As part of a high-profile Irish trade and investment delegation to southern Germany, our 25th anniversary, European expansion and work on the SuedLink megaproject have been highlighted across German business, logistics and regional media.
From Munich to North Rhine-Westphalia, Rubicon has been featured in more than 50 articles, with an estimated reach of over 3.3 million readers, in titles including Frankfurter Neue Presse, tz München, Westfälische Anzeiger, Logistik inside, Startbase, wallstreet-online and SB-Finanz.
Part of an Irish Trade Mission to Germany
The recent wave of coverage grew out of a joint trade mission organised by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, Ireland’s export and inward-investment agencies. Led by Minister Niamh Smyth T.D., Minister for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, the delegation visited Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to deepen cooperation with German industry in key sectors including construction, agritech, automotive, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
Germany is a cornerstone partner for Ireland, with trade between the two countries more than doubling over the last decade and Irish companies employing tens of thousands of people across the German market. Against this backdrop, the delegation programme in Munich included meetings with political and business leaders, networking events with decision-makers, and site visits showcasing Irish innovation in sustainable construction, advanced manufacturing, medtech and more.
Rubicon Archaeology was selected as one of the featured Irish companies demonstrating how specialist expertise from Ireland is supporting major infrastructure and development programmes across Germany and continental Europe.
Showcasing Rubicon: 25 Years, a Rebrand and a Bigger European Footprint
German media coverage has underlined three big messages:
- We’re marking 25 years in business. Founded in Ireland, the Rubicon Archaeology Group has grown over a quarter of a century into one of Europe’s leading independent archaeology consultancies, supporting clients on roads, energy schemes, residential developments and large-scale infrastructure.
- We are rebranding and evolving as a European group. Our new group structure reflects our growth from a national consultancy into a pan-European service provider. This evolution supports our work with multinational clients who need consistent archaeological standards and delivery models across borders.
- We’re strengthening our on-the-ground presence in Germany and wider Europe. The trade mission emphasised our commitment to long-term engagement in Germany – not just as visiting experts, but as a partner embedded in local planning, permitting and infrastructure ecosystems.
These themes appear in coverage from outlets such as Logistik inside, business platforms like wallstreet-online, startup and innovation media including Startbase, and multiple regional newspapers that republished the official delegation release.
SuedLink: Archaeology at the Heart of a Megaproject
A key reason Rubicon stands out in the delegation is our work on SuedLink, one of Germany’s most important energy infrastructure projects. As archaeological consultants on sections of the route, our teams are helping ensure that the transition to a low-carbon energy system is delivered in a way that respects and records the past.
Our teams provide comprehensive archaeological consultancy for SuedLink – from survey and evaluation through to excavation and reporting – managing archaeological risk so that construction can proceed responsibly and efficiently. We bring international experience in linear infrastructure archaeology to one of Europe’s flagship energy corridors.
The story that has particularly caught media attention is the discovery of a 12,000-year-old mammoth tusk along the project corridor. Finds like this vividly demonstrate how major infrastructure does more than connect regions with cables or roads – it can reconnect communities with landscapes that were inhabited at the end of the last Ice Age.
For Rubicon, SuedLink showcases what we do best: combining scientific rigour, practical project management and clear communication so that archaeology supports, rather than hinders, strategic infrastructure delivery.
Wide-Ranging Media Coverage Across Sectors
The trade mission story – and Rubicon’s part in it – has travelled widely across German media. Highlights include:
- Over 50 articles in print and online
- An estimated 3.3 million people reached
- Coverage across several media categories:
- Regional and local daily press – including Frankfurter Neue Presse, tz München and Westfälische Anzeiger
- Sector and trade media – such as Logistik inside, focusing on logistics, construction and industrial supply chains
- Startup and tech platforms – for example Startbase, which framed Rubicon’s story within a broader roundup of innovation-driven Irish companies active in Germany
- Business and finance portals – including wallstreet-online and SB-Finanz, where the delegation was positioned in the context of investment, trade flows and corporate expansion
For readers in Germany who may not have encountered archaeological consultancy before, these articles provided an accessible entry point: why archaeology matters to infrastructure, what’s special about SuedLink, and how a specialist Irish company has become a go-to partner for complex European projects.
What This Means for Our Clients and Partners
For Rubicon Archaeology, this media moment is about more than name recognition:
- It signals confidence in archaeology as an enabler for major development – something we have been advocating for 25 years.
- It demonstrates that international collaboration works: an Irish-headquartered team working hand-in-hand with German authorities, planners and engineers on nationally significant schemes.
- It underlines our long-term commitment to Germany and continental Europe, as we continue to expand our footprint, invest in local partnerships and bring best-practice methods to every project.
Most of all, the coverage reinforces a simple message: when infrastructure, heritage and innovation are aligned from the outset, everyone benefits – from developers and regulators to communities, researchers and, yes, even long-extinct mammoths.
Get in Touch
If you’d like to know more about our work on SuedLink, our services in Germany, or how we can support your project elsewhere in Europe, the Rubicon Archaeology team would be delighted to talk.