Blog

The committee meeting in Enschede served to further consolidate economic relations between the Eastern Netherlands and the North-Westphalia region. “The aim is to increase the competitiveness of the border region by creating close business connections between the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland as well as the Münsterland and the Emscher-Lippe region,” explained van Deel.

The successful transformation to a sustainable energy supply requires the use of green hydrogen. In addition to importing the gas, however, large production capacities must also be built up nationally. 

A significant step forward in the strategic cross-border collaboration of the TECH.LAND initiative, as the regions of Oost NL, Emscher-Lippe, and Münsterland (North Westphalia) come together in Rotterdam at the leading international trade fair World Hydrogen Summit to introduce a newly-formed joint hydrogen cluster. This cluster is part of a wider effort to foster innovation and cross-border collaboration, transcending national boundaries to address pressing global challenges.

Bright Renewables and HyGear, both part of the HoST Group with the University of Twente, are set to construct Benelux's first E-Methanol system. Their joint project, "Towards Acceleration and Demonstration of E-Methanol" (TANDEM), received a total of nearly €4 million subsidy, covering half of the total €8 million investment. The project targets the development of technology for producing E-Methanol, a sustainable fuel alternative to conventional fuels for heavy-duty transport, including ships and aviation. Spanning a total of four years, the project is set to produce its initial batch of renewable methanol by the third quarter of 2025.

If nothing else, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that public health does not stop at the border.  That's why, with a grant of around 1.5 million euros from the European Interreg funding program, a team of Dutch and German experts, including those from medicine, are working on improving cross-border cooperation in the healthcare system and thus creating a robust, resilient healthcare system in the region. This is the German clinical partner of the Euregio project BRIDGE, which will have started in spring 2024.

A significant milestone for the research and production of sustainable and resource-saving battery cells was reached in Münster today: Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst and the President of the Fraunhofer Society Prof. Holger Hanselka jointly completed the first construction phase of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the battery cell research production site FFB, often referred to as “FFB PreFab”.

In 2024 the Manufacturing NextMaterials (MNM) project was launched, an ambitious European initiative aimed at scaling up from prototypes to test production of parts and components with smart and sustainable properties. Think lightweight car parts and battery materials: The aim is to give some 120 SMEs the necessary competences to bridge the gap between prototype and market. Initiator and lead partner Oost NL is working with several German and Dutch partners on this project over a four-year period.

TECH.LAND  presented its program and x-border cooperation ambitions during the Hannover Messe at the booth from partner Handswerkskammer (HWK) Münster. Circular economy is one of the 4 core themes within TECH.LAND program. 

The Westfälische Hochschule (Westphalian University of Applied Science) is expanding its range of courses and is starting the new bachelor's degree program "Hydrogen Systems and Renewable Energies" in Gelsenkirchen in the coming winter semester 2024/2025.

The 'small project fund' INDUSTR_I4.0 will accelerate the digital transition within the manufacturing industry in the entire Dutch-German border area. The project does not focus on the frontrunners, but rather on the group of SMEs that follow: the peloton. The focus is on the adoption and implementation of digital technology to accelerate innovations in SMEs. 

Münster. - WasteAnt GmbH from Bremen won the start-up competition at the 4th Digital Summit Euregio in Münster this evening (April 17). With its business idea and presentation, the company impressed the jury and the audience at the German-Dutch technology conference at the IHK Nord Westfalen training center. In the final, WasteAnt came out on top against Nature Robots GmbH from Osnabrück.

None other than the godfather of the German-Dutch Innovation Pact took part in the launch of the TECH.LAND program. “The motto of making the border between our two states a connection is fulfilled in this region in an exemplary manner with life, ideas and concrete measures,” said Peter Altmaier (retired Federal Minister of Economics).

The successful transformation to a sustainable energy supply requires the use of green hydrogen. In addition to importing the gas, however, large production capacities must also be built up nationally. 

Presentation of the cross-border activities in the area of circular economy at the plenary session of Transform to Zero in the Prosperkolleg in Gelsenkirchen.

On the 28 February we had the chance to present and discuss our cross border activities with our visitors from the Assen, Emmen, Groningen and Leeuwarden regions.

Enschede and Münster have a strong startup ecosystem. The REACH Euregio Startup Center and Novel-T have been connecting these ecosystems for a few years now.

We can achieve more together – this also applies when it comes to cybersecurity. At least that is the conclusion of the participants in the German-Dutch business dialogue on AI & cybersecurity in Enschede.

Joint technology and innovation projects were the focus of the Triple Helix meeting on November 23rd in Enschede. Representatives of the twin cities of Münster and Enschede, the universities of Münster and Twente, as well as the IHK Nord Westfalen and the Twente Board met to talk about joint technology and innovation activities and potential in the border region.

Cooperation and innovation with North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany - The Dutch Battery Days took place in Enschede and Münster on 9 and 10 November 2023!

Today we had the great honor to participate in the opening event of the new Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Twente in Enschede. 

The German delegation from the North Westphalia was the first time at The Future of Us in Arnhem to dive deep in the topics of CircularEconomy, Hydrogen and Batteries and other important developments in the Netherlands.

On September 6, 2023, a high level delegation met with the head of the NRW State Chancellery, Nathanael Liminski, in the House of the Dutch Provinces in Brussels, to present the Cross-border Strategy of North Westphalia and the East Netherlands. 

The Eastern Netherlands and North Westphalia regions are intensifying their collaboration to accelerate innovation for a sustainable future. The focus is on advanced manufacturing & robotics, energy, medtech and circular economy. The numerous institutions that are committed to stronger German-Dutch cooperation decided on a corresponding cross-border strategy yesterday evening (23 May) in Münster.

The circular economy is at the top of Europe’s political agenda. With the European Green Deal all member states strive for a CO2-neutral, environmentally friendly, pollution-free and complete circular economy. 

Companies in our border region benefit from the open research and development work of the Smart Solution Labs.

Visit at the HET TWENTE EVENT 2022 in Hengelo! 

Als Grenzlandkammer für die Niederlande organisiert die IHK Nord Westfalen in Kooperation mit der Wirtschaftsförderung Oost NL eine Delegationsreise in die östlichen Niederlande vom 22. bis 23. Juni 2022.

Wow! 48 hours!⏱ What a unique and inspiring time, bringing together engaged and open minded leaders from the US, the Netherlands and Germany!

Münster/Münsterland. - North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands are among the most closely interconnected economic regions in the world. Both regions should also benefit even more from their collaboration digitally.

The economic relations between the East Netherlands and North Westphalia are to be systematically strengthened in the next few years. The regional development agency Oost-NL, the Twente Board and the IHK Nord Westfalen signed an official declaration of intent with this goal on May 18th at the IHK in Münster.