The Innovationspartner.Niederrhein alliance, a consortium comprising chambers of commerce and industry, business development agencies and universities in the region, has commenced its work.
“This is particularly good news for small and medium-sized enterprises,” says Jürgen Steinmetz, Chief Executive of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for the Middle Lower Rhine. “The aim of the innovation partnership is to support these companies in turning new technologies into market-ready products.”
To strengthen the innovative capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises in North Rhine-Westphalia in particular, the state government launched the “NRW.Innovationspartner” funding scheme. Under the project coordination of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for the Middle Lower Rhine, the Lower Rhine economic region – together with the economic development agencies of the cities of Krefeld and Mönchengladbach, the Rhine District of Neuss, and the districts of Viersen and Kleve – the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and the Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Duisburg. Carina Klebe is the project coordinator of the newly established Innovationspartner.Niederrhein. At an initial working meeting, the partners discussed the partnership’s structures as well as potential services and events. Initially, the Innovation Partners will conduct a survey of companies in the region regarding their innovation management practices and their need for external support, with a view to developing bespoke services. An online platform is also planned. This platform will bring together all relevant contacts in one place and provide basic information, for example on funding opportunities.
“The aim is to improve innovation consultancy, with a focus on innovation management, funding advice and technology transfer,” explains Klebe. The project coordinator is convinced that, given the ever-accelerating pace of technological change – particularly with regard to the digitalisation of the economy – making use of every available channel for accessing external technological expertise is of vital importance, especially for smaller businesses.
