Duisburg strengthens its position as a startup location: Successful Demo Night at Garage DU 2023

Duisburg strengthens its position as a start-up hub at the successful Garage DU 2023 demo night. Focus on new business models and partnerships in the field of climate protection and the circular economy.

Duisburg, - Garage DU has established itself as a platform for networking established companies and up-and-coming start-ups in the Rhine and Ruhr region. The final event, Demo Night 2023 at Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, was organized by Wirtschaftsentwicklung Duisburg Business & Innovation (DBI) and demonstrates the positive developments of this initiative.

garage DU is an important project for our city because it brings established companies together with start-ups.

Sören Link, Lord Mayor of the City of Duisburg

The Demo Night attracted over 500 guests and was the highlight of Garage DU 2023. The event provided impetus for innovations in the areas of climate protection, the circular economy, AI and digitalization. Keynote speakers, including Diana zur Löwen, juror of "Die Höhle der Löwen" and experienced investor, emphasized the importance of locations like Duisburg for the startup scene. The event included keynotes, discussion panels and an innovation fair with around 40 exhibitors. Garage DU emphasized key topics such as AI, digitalization and climate protection in order to promote the start-up sector in Duisburg.

Garage DU-3D Awards

The presentation of the Garage DU-3D Awards, each endowed with 5,000 euros in prize money, was the focus of the evening. The winners and their innovative ideas and partners were selected by both a jury and the audience:

• "2Zero" was awarded in the "Impact Local" category (greatest added value for Duisburg). The company uses innovative technologies and initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions and create new jobs in the field of sustainability. Its partner is the Duisburg housing association GEBAG.
• "Concular" won in the "Impact Global" category (greatest added value for Duisburg and the world) because it positively influences the construction industry through efficient and resource-saving construction methods. They also cooperate with GEBAG.
• "Zolitron" received the award for the "Biggest Footprint" (greatest project progress over the last five months). They enable companies to gain real-time insights from their analyzed data on climate protection. Their partners are Wirtschaftsbetriebe Duisburg.

The focus of garage DU's project implementations is on impact and climate protection. New business models are used to tackle ecological and social challenges.

Rasmus C. Beck, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsentwicklung Duisburg Business & Innovation

Garage DU will continue to focus on cooperation between established companies and start-ups in order to promote innovation and strengthen the regional economic landscape. The successful Demo Night 2023 shows that these partnerships are already bearing fruit. Garage DU and Demo Night will therefore be continued in 2024. The initiative is supported by main sponsors such as DVV, duisport, WBD, GEBAG and Sparkasse Duisburg, as well as the City of Duisburg, Volksbank Rhein-Ruhr and the innovation hub startport.