New platform: TECH.LAND receives grant from EFRE programme
Münsterland/Emscher-Lippe region – Small and medium-sized enterprises in the Dutch-German border region will find it easier to find suitable partners in business and science in future. To this end, a digital platform is being created that will provide structured and multilingual business and science data.
The North Westphalia Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) has now been awarded the contract to set up the database, ‘which is intended to make our region on both sides of the border one of the most transparent business and science regions in Europe,’ explains Sebastian van Deel, head of the IHK's ‘Digitalisation, Industry and International’ division. The ‘Interactive Knowledge and Technology Spaces’ project is funded by the EU programme EFRE.NRW. The platform also supports the Dutch-German TECH.LAND programme.
New connections
Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are often looking for partners for research projects, supply chains or international cooperation. In future, the platform will automatically and specifically connect companies, universities and public institutions in the region. The focus will be on the energy, recycling, advanced manufacturing and robotics sectors, as well as health and medical technology. The platform will offer both a public area with economic and industry-specific information and a closed area for personalised partner suggestions.
Partners
In addition to the North Westphalia Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Dutch partners are also on board. These include the economic development agencies Twente Board and Oost NL. Furthermore, TAFH Münster at Münster University of Applied Sciences and the Centre for Dutch Studies at the University of Münster are also involved in the developments.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce is also involved in three other projects: the hydrogen and battery technology project ‘HyBat’ run by Technologieförderung Münster, the ‘Zukunft Unternehmensnachfolge Münsterland’ (Future Business Succession Münsterland) project and the ‘TOR@Münsterland’ transfer project run by Münsterland e.V. Van Deel particularly highlights “HyBat” because ‘it strengthens cooperation across sectors and regions.’ Hydrogen and battery research, the Münsterland region and the Emscher-Lippe region are working hand in hand here. For the IHK division manager, the award means ‘that we are building on our region's strengths in business and science, especially in future-oriented areas such as energy storage, digitalisation and international cooperation.’
EFRE.NRW
EFRE.NRW stands for ‘European Fund for Regional Development in North Rhine-Westphalia’. The EU funding programme supports projects that strengthen innovation, climate protection, digitalisation and sustainable growth in North Rhine-Westphalia. The aim is to reduce regional disparities and improve the competitiveness of the regions.
Source: IHK Nord Westfalen
Photo: Grundman/IHK