In September, the NRW 2025 Innovation Congress took place at the EUREF-Campus, not far from Düsseldorf Airport.
The Innovation Congress is aimed at stakeholders in the NRW innovation ecosystem as well as those interested in the innovation location. These include representatives from business, science (universities and research institutions), intermediaries (e.g. innovation promotion agencies, clusters, networks, business development organizations, chambers) and politics. It serves as a platform for networking and offers the opportunity to discuss current issues relating to the innovation location.
The event was opened by Minister President Hendrik Wüst, who emphasized the importance of innovation and future technologies for the state. In a panel discussion, State Secretary for Economic Affairs Silke Krebs, ZEW President Prof. Achim Wambach, NRW.BANK Board Member Johanna Antonie Tjaden-Schulte and Evonik Board Member Lauren Schulte Kjeldsen discussed the innovative strength of NRW as a location. Topics included the effects of geopolitical tensions on regional innovation processes and improving the framework conditions for the development of new ideas.
The congress provided a platform for dialog with decision-makers and visionaries. Innovation is created through dialog, and the NRW 2025 Innovation Congress was once again a source of inspiration and a place where the innovation landscape of tomorrow can be shaped together. ProduktionNRW, the cluster of mechanical engineering and production technology in North Rhine-Westphalia organized by VDM NRW, was one of this year’s exhibitors
The highlight of the congress was the presentation of the NRW Innovation Award by Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy. Outstanding ideas and research achievements were honored in the categories innovation4transformation, innovation, innovation2business and innovation2market.
The 2025 award winners:
- innovation4transformation: Dr.-Ing. Andreas Bremen (founder and Managing Director of Co-reactive GmbH, Düsseldorf): Building with CO2
- innovation: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Holger Stark (University Professor of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry and Managing Director of the Pharmacy Research Institute at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf): New approach to the treatment of glaucoma
- innovation2business: Prof. Dr. Lutz Schmitt (holder of the Chair of Biochemistry I at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf) and Dr. Christian Schwarz (co-founder and managing partner of Numaferm GmbH): Revolutionary process for peptide and protein production
- innovation2market: Dr. Martin Schleef (founder, partner and managing director of PlasmidFactory GmbH, Bielefeld for 25 years): Promising tool in cancer therapy
Outlook: New application phase
The next round of applications for the NRW Innovation Award will start in November 2025.
For the latest information on participation and all relevant information, please contact: innovationspreis@mwike.nrw.de