Together with a delegation from Dortmund comprising representatives from business, science, sport, and culture, we held many discussions in London, opened doors, and, above all, established concrete contacts for collaborations.
For us, this wasn't a „duty visit,“ but a genuine work programme with a focus on new partnerships.
The TechnologieZentrumDortmund was dabei war, um das einzubringen, was uns ausmacht: Start-ups und technologieorientierte Unternehmen beim Wachstum zu unterstützen und Brücken zwischen Forschung und Industrie zu bauen.
The managing director of the TZDO Dirk Stürmer showed on-site how Dortmund functions as an innovation location: short distances between research and industry, a close network of companies and institutions, and an environment in which innovation is quickly put into practice.
A highlight was the business roundtable of the German Business Hub London under the motto „Dortmund invites you“. Together with the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany and Carsten Cramer (BVB). These are precisely the formats that are valuable because they don't end at business cards, but rather start conversations that can turn into projects.
Artificially intelligent remained noticeably in focus: visits to InstaDeep and at the London office of now as well as a start-up pitching session at London & Partners have shown how great the interest in cooperation is.
On board were, among others, the Lord Mayor of the City of Dortmund Alexander Kalouti and representatives from the Dortmund network (including. BVB, Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce, WILO, now, DSW21, Burnt, Conciso, ICN, Dortmund Airport, audalis, NRW.Global Business, Lamarr AI Institute, TU Dortmund, FH Dortmund, Dortmund Theatre, Dortmund Economic Development Agency and the International Relations Team).
For us, the main takeaway from this trip is this: Dortmund is perceived internationally as a location for innovation, and there is genuine interest in collaborating with companies and institutions from our region. We are taking many threads back to Dortmund and look forward to transforming them into concrete collaborations.
Photos: City of Dortmund
