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

Duisburg strengthens itself as a startup hub at successful Garage DU 2023 Demo Night. Focus on new business models and partnerships in climate protection and circular economy.

Duisburg, - Garage DU has established itself as a platform for networking established companies and emerging startups 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.

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

Sören Link, Mayor of the City of Duisburg

The Demo Night attracted more than 500 guests and was the highlight of garage DU 2023. The event set impulses for innovations in the fields of climate protection, 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 to promote the startup sector in Duisburg.

Garage DU-3D Awards

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

• In the category "Impact Local" (greatest added value for Duisburg), "2Zero" was awarded. The company saves CO2 emissions through innovative technologies and initiatives and creates 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 they positively influence the construction industry through efficient and resource-saving construction methods. They also cooperate with GEBAG.
• "Zolitron" received the award for "Biggest Footprint" (biggest project progress during the last five months). They enable companies to gain real-time insights from their analyzed data in 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 thus used to address ecological and social challenges.

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

Garage DU will continue to focus on collaboration 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. Therefore, there will be a continuation of Garage DU and Demo Night in 2024. The initiative is supported by main sponsors such as DVV, duisport, WBD, GEBAG and Sparkasse Duisburg, as well as by the City of Duisburg, Volksbank Rhein-Ruhr and the innovation hub startport.