Conference in Solingen Encourages Networking and Sparks Innovation among Startups

Wednesdays saw the assembly of North Rhine-Westphalia's startup community at the Gründer- und Technologiezentrum for an (Un)Conference, where entrepreneurs exchanged ideas and insights.

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2025 September 11 . 12:12 PM

1 min read

Networking and innovation are at the forefront of the (Un) Conference for Solingen's startups,... — Networking and innovation are at the forefront of the (Un) Conference for Solingen's startups, fostering connections and fresh ideas.

Conference in Solingen Encourages Networking and Sparks Innovation among Startups

The NRW Startup Ecosystem (Un-)Conference, a dynamic event promoting exchange within the statewide innovation ecosystem, recently concluded a successful gathering in Solingen. This marked the third time the conference has taken place, with previous events held in Dortmund and Duisburg.

The event, organised by Solingen.Business in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE), provided a platform for the exchange of ideas, development of cooperations, and joint development of solutions.

Phil Derichs, a member of the management of Solingen.Business, expressed his delight at welcoming the representatives of the startup ecosystem from across NRW in Solingen. He emphasised the importance of targeted cooperation among actors for sustainable innovations in North Rhine-Westphalia.

A highlight of the conference was a lecture by State Secretary Paul Höller, who presented findings from the "Startup Report NRW" and emphasised the significance of exchange and cooperation for supporting founders.

The conference demonstrated that the Bergisches Land and Solingen are already firmly anchored in the growing ecosystem. Over 100 participants worked out initial solution approaches and future action steps in more than 30 discussion rounds.

David Stephenson from MWIKE also stressed the ministry's role in networking and promoting the startup scene. The next steps towards the Startup (Un-)Conference 2025 in Aachen have already been taken, with the aim of further strengthening the ecosystem and setting new impulses.

The next NRW Startup (Un-)Conference is scheduled for 2025 in Aachen, marking the conference's return after a four-year hiatus. The exact location for future conferences beyond 2025 has not been disclosed at this time.

The conference aims to foster exchange among various actors, institutions, and regions to strengthen the startup ecosystem, encouraging collaboration and innovation for the future of North Rhine-Westphalia.