The new „innoclub“ brings together start-ups and established companies. The grand opening took place on 24 January 2025 at TechnolgieZentrumDortmund (TZDO) with the NRW Minister of Science Ina Brandes instead.
For the opening event in the 300 square metre space – the „Clubhouse“ – in TZDO around 130 guests attended, including Minister Ina Brandes (photo from left): Prof. Tamara Appel Female principal University of Applied Sciences and Arts Dortmund), Sefa Yildiz Creative Director, Koala and Fox, Heike Marzen Managing Director Dortmund Economic Development Agency), Achim Dries Managing Director Paul Vahle GmbH & Co. KG in Kamen), Haris Yalcinkaya Managing Director Ziya GmbH), Prof. Manfred Bayer Rector TU Dortmund), Ina Brandes (Minister for Science for North Rhine-Westphalia), Dirk Stürmer Managing Director TechnologieZentrumDortmund), Ilirjan Bytyqi Managing Director Ziya GmbH), Dr Ronald Kriedel Managing Director CET Centre for Entrepreneurship and Transfer), Prof Audrey Mehn Vice-President for Teaching ISMand Stefan Schreiber Managing Director Dortmund Chamber of Industry and CommercePhoto: Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund / Andreas Buck.
Science and business are moving even closer together
„I am delighted that with the innoclub, science and business in Dortmund will grow even closer together. The networking efforts will help both universities and start-ups, as well as established companies, to develop new innovations and accelerate the transfer from research to application. I congratulate everyone involved and look forward to the positive results for our city and beyond,“ said Ina Brandes.
The innoclub, which was founded by the Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Dortmund Economic Development Agency, the Technical University of Dortmund, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the International School of Management (ISM), is pursuing precisely these ambitious goals. "We are very encouraged by the great response from the business community. With the innoclub, we are creating an exclusive network to strengthen innovation in Dortmund and the Westphalian Ruhr region," says IHK Managing Director Stefan Schreiber.
Accelerating innovation in and from Dortmund
Andrea Schubert (Photo 2.) and Dominik Stute re. from innoclub with the sponsors (centre from left) Prof. Tamara Appel (Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts), Stefan Schreiber (Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Heike Marzen (Dortmund Economic Development Agency), Prof. Manfred Bayer (TU Dortmund) and Prof. Audrey Mehn (ISM) on stage.
"With the innoclub, we are creating a new instrument that will further drive the transformation of Dortmund's economy and accelerate innovation in and from our city," says Heike Marzen, Managing Director of the Dortmund Economic Development Agency.
Established contact point in the TZDO for start-ups
Prof. Manfred Bayer adds: "The innoclub combines our proven start-up programmes at TU Dortmund University with a strong network of Dortmund partners. In this way, we are creating another important building block for the region's innovation landscape and continuing the established contact point at the TZDO for start-ups."
Enrichment of the Dortmund start-up ecosystem
"As a university of applied sciences, knowledge transfer and business start-ups from science are part of our FH Dortmund DNA. At the same time, we provide sustainable impetus for the city and the region. For us, the innoclub represents a significant enrichment of the Dortmund start-up ecosystem," explains Prof Tamara Appel.
Sustainable benefit for the region
"As a private university of applied sciences with international AACSB accreditation, ISM is impressed by the great interest shown in innoclub by Dortmund's start-up scene and local companies. We expect this to be a lasting benefit for the region and look forward to continuing to contribute our expertise, networks and project experience to the innoclub's start-up support," says Prof Audrey Mehn, Vice President for Teaching at ISM.
Partner company
Guests were able to get to know the partner companies that are already part of the innoclub: GREEN IT, Conciso, VAHLE, Murtfeldt Group, audalis, Diagram Halbach, Dortmund Savings Bank, Techniker Krankenkasse and TechnologieZentrumDortmund.
Start-up Time
At the Start-up Time, the first six start-ups that were selected for the innoclub Fellowship introduced themselves: SLAPStack, Valoon, CUNA, ANTmachines, Building Information Cloud and Cybersense. During the subsequent Pitch Time, the five start-ups battled Burnt, Dr Q, Luminous algorithms, NexusLab and ParticleART Solutions for another place in the programme. After an exciting pitch, finally Ziya selected. Photo: TZDO / Roland Kentrup.
How does the exchange work?
In the innoclub, SMEs and corporations meet a curated selection of excellent start-ups to inspire each other and share experience, knowledge, skills and resources. To this end, "Corporate Partners" on the one hand and "Start-up Partners" on the other are part of the club.
The rooms in the TZDO - the "Clubhouse" - benefit from the proximity to innovative companies and excellent research and science. The Clubhouse provides coworking, meeting rooms and office space for start-ups. All exclusive events also take place there.
Target group of mature start-ups
Start-up partners must apply for admission to the club. Only the best start-ups are accepted. The target group is mature start-ups that already have several employees and are active on the market.
In the first year, accepted start-ups receive a wide range of services to help them grow at the location, just like in a classic start-up accelerator. They have 10,000 euros at their disposal, which they can invest individually in consulting, office space or national/international travel and trade fair appearances, for example. They also receive mentoring and exclusive events via the innoclub.
Advantages for corporate partners
Corporate partners must pay an annual fee for their participation, which varies depending on the size of the company and the service package. The benefits for companies and reasons for getting involved are many and varied:
- Keeping abreast of the times: Companies gain direct access to current technological trends and innovations on their doorstep, broadening their horizons and transferring new ideas.
- Exclusive exchange: In various formats, you can get in touch with start-ups and the innovation managers of other companies and exchange ideas in a trusting manner.
- Visibility/Marketing: As an innoclub partner, you position yourself as an innovative, attractive company to other businesses and also to future employees.
- Supporting the region: By making their own contribution, companies explicitly help start-ups to grow, thereby supporting the region's start-up and innovation ecosystem.
Further information
