Metrex

What Metrex does

METREX is a Brussels-registered non-profit international association (AISBL) operating as a pan-European network of more than 50 metropolitan regions and areas, with its secretariat in Lyon, France. Founded in 1994, it serves local and regional governmental authorities across Europe by convening biennial conferences, operating thematic Expert Groups (e.g. Metropolitan Climate Challenge, From Roads to Streets, Productive City) and Network Groups, and hosting the Bernd Steinacher Fellowship. Its core activities are policy advocacy at EU level — including the November 2023 Manifesto for Metropolitan Partnerships launched at the European Parliament — knowledge exchange among metropolitan authorities, and participation as a stakeholder or dissemination partner in EU-funded projects such as Interreg North-West Europe programmes (ASSET, MECOG-CE, FOODGaP) and ESPON research.

The organisation does not develop or sell commercial products or technology. Its digital infrastructure is standard association tooling — a WordPress-based member portal, Zoho CRM and Campaigns for email outreach, Google Analytics for web metrics, and Cloudflare for performance and security — with no proprietary AI, data, or software assets disclosed. Its go-to-market is membership-based: European metropolitan regions join to access peer-learning, advocacy representation, and EU project opportunities, with the network additionally financed through EU project grants and dissemination fees. Leadership is member-elected biennially via a Managing Committee, currently chaired by President Jakub Mazur (First Deputy Mayor of Wrocław) with Secretary General Henk Bouwman leading the secretariat.

METREX collaborates with a wide institutional ecosystem including the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions, the URBAN Intergroup of the European Parliament, Eurocities, the global Metropolis network, UN-Habitat, and parallel networks such as the European Metropolitan Authorities (EMA). Strategic positioning centres on securing formal recognition of metropolitan regions within EU institutional and funding frameworks, an objective codified in the Metropolitan Vision for Europe 2050 initiative developed in cooperation with Commissioner Elisa Ferreira.

Name

Metrex

Legal name

METREX - The Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas (Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif)

Website

https://eurometrex.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

METREX is a Brussels-registered non-profit network of over 50 European metropolitan regions and areas, providing policy advocacy, knowledge exchange, Expert Groups, and biennial conferences to local and regional authorities across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

La Chaise

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

METREX is a non-profit association (AISBL) that operates as a network of over 50 European metropolitan regions and areas. It provides a platform for the exchange of expertise, joint action, and policy advocacy on metropolitan affairs, delivered through expert groups, network groups, biennial conferences, European project participation, the Bernd Steinacher Fellowship, and policy manifestos aimed at EU-level recognition of metropolitan regions.

Product overview

METREX is a network organization, not a product company. It offers a platform for exchange of expertise and joint action on metropolitan affairs across European metropolitan regions and areas. The organization's service offerings include Expert Groups, Network Groups, the Bernd Steinacher Fellowship, biannual conferences, European projects, policy manifestos, and research portals. These are organizational services and programs rather than commercial products or software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• METREX Network Membership Annual membership in the pan-European network of over 50 metropolitan regions and areas, providing members with access to expert groups, network groups, biennial conferences, policy advocacy at EU level, and knowledge exchange opportunities. Designed for European metropolitan regional and local governmental authorities.
• METREX Expert Groups and Network Groups Topic-specific working groups including the Metropolitan Climate Challenge, From Roads to Streets, Productive City, Metropolitan Landscapes, and SURE Eurodelta. These provide structured collaboration frameworks for members to address specific metropolitan challenges through peer learning and joint initiatives.
• METREX Biennial Conferences Spring and Autumn conferences hosted by member regions across Europe, providing in-person knowledge exchange, networking, and joint action on metropolitan challenges. Recent editions include the METREX Spring Conference 2026 in Helsinki metropolitan area and the METREX Autumn 2024 Conference.
• Bernd Steinacher Fellowship Two-year fellowship established in honor of the late Bernd Steinacher (former METREX President 2004-2008 and Director of Verband Region Stuttgart), supporting projects on topics relevant to metropolitan regions. Co-funded by Verband Region Stuttgart and METREX. The 2024-25 fellow Ioana Ivanov is undertaking a two-year project on funding mechanisms available to metropolitan regions.
• METREX European Project Participation METREX participates as a stakeholder or dissemination partner in EU-funded European projects including ASSET (circular built environment for the Eurodelta), MECOG-CE (metropolitan cooperation in Central Europe), and FOODGaP (food systems), enabling members to access EU funding mechanisms and share project outcomes through the network.
• Manifesto for Metropolitan Partnerships Policy advocacy initiative launched at the European Parliament calling for formal recognition and funding for metropolitan regions and areas in EU policy. Developed jointly by METREX and European Metropolitan Authorities (EMA) and other partner networks.
• METREXmonthly Virtual Events Regular online webinar series covering specific metropolitan topics such as the Green Deal Going Local, health, and metropolitan vision, enabling members to engage in knowledge exchange regardless of geography.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Metropolitan Authorities (EMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX and EMA are partner networks advocating for metropolitan-level recognition at EU level. Both organizations work together on policy initiatives including the Manifesto for Metropolitan Partnerships and support for Ukraine reconstruction.
• ESPON (European Observation Network for Territorial Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX participates as an observer in ESPON research projects, contributing metropolitan perspective to territorial development research and using findings to support member regions.
• Interreg North-West EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX participates as stakeholder/dissemination partner in Interreg projects including ASSET (circular built environment), MECOG-CE (metropolitan cooperation), and FOODGaP (food systems), helping share project outcomes through its network.
• EurocitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX collaborates with Eurocities on joint responses to policy consultations, metropolitan advocacy, and knowledge exchange activities.
• Association of Polish Towns and Cities (ZMP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Ukraine-oriented network for reconstruction support, connecting METREX and EMA networks with Central European municipal associations.
• Ukrainian Association of Towns and Cities (AMU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Ukraine reconstruction support network, providing technical expertise and reconstruction assistance.
• European Committee of the Regions (CoR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX engages with the CoR on metropolitan policy issues, responding to opinion papers and advocating for metropolitan dimension in EU cohesion policy.
• URBAN Intergroup (European Parliament)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX works with the EP URBAN Intergroup to promote metropolitan interests in European legislation and policy.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX engages with the European Commission on metropolitan policy, including invitation from Commissioner Elisa Ferreira to develop Metropolitan Vision for Europe 2050.
• Verband Region StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of the Bernd Steinacher Fellowship, established in honor of the late Bernd Steinacher who was Director of Verband Region Stuttgart and METREX President 2004-2008.
• UN HabitatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX participates in UN Habitat initiatives, including the resolution adopted in June 2023 recognizing metropolitan regions as indispensable to sustainable development goals.
• Metropolis (World Metropolitan Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMETREX collaborates with Metropolis (global metropolitan network) in developing the Metropolitan Vision for Europe 2050, bringing together European and global metropolitan perspectives.
• International Urban Cooperation (IUC) ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in US-European exchange on climate change approaches, connecting METREX members with US metropolitan regions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• European Committee of the Regions (CoR): The EU's political assembly of regional and local representatives. METREX engages CoR on metropolitan policy and responds to CoR opinion papers; CoR is an institutional counterpart and policy interlocutor rather than a competing membership organization.

Direct peers

• Eurocities: The leading network of major European cities, directly overlapping with METREX's metropolitan membership base and EU policy advocacy remit. They collaborate on joint consultations and have overlapping member cities, making them METREX's most direct peer in the urban governance space.
• Assembly of European Regions (AER): An independent network of European regions advocating for regional interests at EU level. AER overlaps with METREX's regional/metro membership base and EU advocacy mission, though it covers all regions rather than only metropolitan ones.
• Metropolis (World Metropolitan Network): The global counterpart to METREX for metropolitan regions worldwide. Metropolis collaborates with METREX on the Metropolitan Vision for Europe 2050 and shares the metropolitan focus but operates globally rather than Europe-only.
• EUROCITIES Working Groups & EUROCITIES Knowledge Forum: Topic-specific working groups within Eurocities (mobility, culture, environment, economic development) that functionally compete with METREX's Expert Groups and Network Groups for member engagement and EU funding partnership.
• European Metropolitan Authorities (EMA): A peer network specifically focused on metropolitan-level governance in Europe and a formal partner of METREX. EMA shares the metropolitan advocacy mandate and jointly co-developed the Manifesto for Metropolitan Partnerships, making it the closest functional peer.

Broad incumbents

• Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR): The broader pan-European association representing local and regional governments at EU level. CEMR is a more established incumbent with wider scope (all municipalities, not just metros) and competes for EU policy influence and member attention.
• United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG): The global umbrella organization for cities and local governments, affiliated with UN Habitat. UCLG provides a broader international governance counterpart to METREX's metropolitan focus and intersects via UN-Habitat initiatives.
• C40 Cities: A global network of major cities focused on climate action leadership. C40 overlaps with METREX's climate and sustainability agenda via member cities but operates at a larger scale with bigger budgets and a different governance model.
• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: A global network of local and regional governments focused on sustainability. ICLEI overlaps with METREX's climate and circular economy expert group work (e.g., Metropolitan Climate Challenge) but has a much wider global mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/METREXnow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eurometrex

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metrex