The event was supported by the host Wilo and the Economic Development Agency Dortmund.
“We are delighted to be able to host the HIGH-TECH.NRW Demo Day at the Wilopark. The opportunity for representatives from politics, business and science to engage in discussions with ambitious entrepreneurs makes this event particularly exciting”, explains Georg Weber, Member of the Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Wilo Group. “The innovative spirit of this event suits Wilo as a technology company. We are the pioneers of our industry – and are therefore fully committed to promoting a vibrant start-up culture.”
During the Demo Day, the start-up entrepreneurs pitched their innovations and business ideas for five minutes each to the guests and a panel of experts, who then selected three winning teams:
- OSPHIM was awarded first place, taking home 20,000 euros in prize money. The team uses AI to optimise the process of setting up injection-moulding machines in the plastics-processing industry.
- Second place and 6,000 euros in prize money went to mechIC. This start-up develops micromechanical components that are interconnected in a network similar to electronic components and implemented on a silicon chip.
- Third place and 4,000 euros in prize money went to Hydrogenea. This company develops and produces innovative membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for the next generation of fuel cells and electrolysers.
HIGH-TECH.NRW is a network which promotes high-tech and deep-tech business in North Rhine-Westphalia. This early-stage start-up accelerator is commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and is implemented and orchestrated by the think tank NMWP Management.
