Karlsruhe goes Europe: This is where the innovations of tomorrow are born
The EU-funded URBAN TECH project aims to promote innovation and to increase the competitive success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. The “go-cluster” member CyberForum e. V. is a project partner and thus actively promotes innovations from the region of Karlsruhe and makes them visible throughout Europe.
Assuming that 68 percent of the population will live in urban areas by 2050, urban systems must adapt to this growth in order to create a sustainable environment. This is exactly where the URBAN TECH project comes in.
SMEs and start-ups are encouraged to develop innovative solutions for existing challenges in the fields of HealthTech, Smart City and GreenTech. For this purpose, the project partners cooperate with organisations from business, science and politics to identify so-called challenges in these areas. To work on these, the project will provide almost two million euros in direct funding to start-ups and SMEs. The project runs until August 2024 and involves eleven partners from nine countries.
[EMBEDDED] Kerstin Goos, Project manager at CyberForum:
„With URBAN TECH, we support the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and do not leave them alone in their transformation. We have the competition in Europe and also worldwide in mind and are already looking forward to advancing innovative ideas in our region as part of the project!“
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Step by step to innovation
Currently, the CyberForum project team – just like the other European partners – is identifying challenges in urban living areas together with partners from the region that can be incorporated into the project. In this way, the cluster members are actively involved, both in the role of challenge givers and solution providers. The innovative potential of the region and the cluster will be utilised optimally and the close cooperation of eleven European partners will bundle competences and support innovation systems in the best possible way. Overall, 300 challenges are to be identified across Europe in the areas of HealthTech, Smart City and GreenTech. Three calls will then be launched in which SMEs and start-ups will be invited to submit solutions for the challenges. The most innovative 320 projects will be selected and invited to hackathons. Of these, 80 winners will be selected to take part in an incubation programme. As a result, 20 pilot products will be demonstrated and presented to the challengers and investors.
Solving regional challenges internationally: It is worth taking part!
Participation in URBAN TECH is worthwhile both for those who challenge and for those who find solutions: The companies receive an innovative solution to a specific problem and can network with SMEs and start-ups and cooperate in the future. Start-ups and SMEs that submit their proposed solutions are supported with incubatorspaces and EU funding until implementation. Direct financial support of up to 60,000 euros is possible! The best 20 innovation projects will also be supported in identifying relevant global markets.
Sounds exciting? Then get in touch with Kerstin Goos from the CyberForum project team: goos@cyberforum.de.
CyberForum e.V.
With over 1,200 members, CyberForum e. V. is the largest regionally active Hightech.Business.Network. in Europe. From start-ups and software companies to experienced enterprises and international information technology providers to research institutions and universities – CyberForum connects them all. A platform for networking as a direct link between competence, business contacts and career prospects.
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