Aachener Tech-Vernissage

Painting the Picture of future high-tech innovations

Prof. Malte Brettel in front of the Graphic Recording by Christoph Illigens. © Patrick Markut

What happens if you access the creative, inspired and entrepreneurial minds of 55 stakeholders and players from the Aachen entrepreneurship scene, while networking, checking out high-tech innovations and having a blast?

Well, this is exactly what we did during our first Aachener Tech-Vernissage which took place on September 24, 2019 at the INC Invention Center on the RWTH Aachen Campus. Together with our fellow-tech-vernissage-initiators from Fraunhofer Venture (the high-tech company builder of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) we had a go at this new format, set up as a hybrid between a vernissage and a workshop.

At first, four tech-teams had the chance to present their technologies, founding ideas and start-ups in 3-minute-pitches: The EXIST-team AProPo presented 3D-printing for polymers. The team from KonSenT, participants in the Fraunhofer-AHEAD programme, pitched their sensor technology for the digitalisation of supply chains. A team of researchers from Fraunhofer IPT presented the 5G-Industry Campus Europe. They are setting up a testbed here on the RWTH Campus and would like to collaborate with start-ups. Oculavis GmbH with its already 35 employees presented their new service platform, an innovative and flexible software enabling remote services and maintenance processes with the help of augmented reality.

Together with the tech-teams, our guests discussed key questions on the current state of entrepreneurship at the interface between the Fraunhofer institutes and RWTH Aachen. This way, we had the chance to identify different motivational aspects, goals, network connections and uncertainties with regards to entrepreneurship.

The results were manifested via graphic recording, as you can see in the pictures below. We’re looking forward to taking the findings into account when working on our new offers for the Excellence Start-up Center here in Aachen. This in one of many steps on our journey of building Europe’s biggest tech-incubator.

Malte Brettel, RWTH Vice President for Industry & Business Relations summed up the outcome: We should seize the unique opportunities our strong connection to the Fraunhofer institutes here in Aachen offers and work together to further strengthen our entrepreneurs.

Many thanks to our honourable guests Prof. Ulrich Rüdiger, RWTH Rector, Manfred Nettekoven, RWTH Chancellor and our friends from Fraunhofer Venture: Thomas Doppelberger & Thorsten Lambertus as well as our motivated and inspiring tech-teams and guests!