Innovative success stories from the Münsterland

Enabling Networks Münsterland project presents innovation stories

Ever heard of a smart walking stick with an integrated alarm button? Or a cotton yarn recycling system that not only conserves resources but also integrates people with disabilities? These are just a few examples of particularly innovative ideas from Münsterland. And they are all successful because they were launched as cooperative projects. Because when different companies, institutions or scientific facilities put their heads together, everyone benefits - in the region and beyond. The joint project Enabling Networks Münsterland has identified these and other innovations and recently started presenting them at muensterland.com/innovation-stories.

"Münsterland is a region of doers. Don't talk much, just do - that's what we're particularly good at. But of course we want Münsterland to be perceived beyond its borders as a strong economic region with impressive innovations. To achieve this, we also have to make the region's achievements visible. That is the goal of our Innovation Stories," emphasises Klaus Ehling, board member of Münsterland e.V.
The collected stories are not only proof of the region's innovative strength, but also of the diversity of industries and the team spirit in Münsterland.

Velener Textil GmbH, for example, has developed a recycling system that saves high-quality yarn from the dustbin. In doing so, it has not only brought companies on board, but also a workshop for people with disabilities. cibX GmbH in Greven is active in a completely different field, having initiated the development of an intelligent walking aid with an integrated tracking function. And EMSA from Emsdetten went on a mission of freshness together with the Münster University of Applied Sciences and developed the CLIP & CLOSE fresh-keeping can: a can that fights germs and keeps food fresh up to two times longer. Around ten such success stories are currently presented on the website, which is continuously updated and supplemented with stories. In addition, Münsterland e.V. publicises the stories via its other media channels and plans to professionally film a selection of the innovation stories.

"It's really exciting to find out what the companies and institutions in the region are developing and who they are working with. Topics such as sustainability, digital solutions and the circular economy often play an essential role. This shows how promising the Münsterland region is in these areas," emphasises Sonja Raiber from the Enabling Networks Münsterland project, who has compiled the innovation stories over the past months. And project manager Bernd Büdding adds: "Of course we are happy about every other exciting story that we can present on our media channels - tips are always welcome!"

All innovation stories can be found at muensterland.com/innovation-stories.

The project team is happy to receive tips by email to raiber@muensterland.com.

More about Enabling Networks Münsterland

As a regional network initiative, Enabling Networks Münsterland has been supporting companies and universities in the Münsterland region since the start of the project in September 2019 in developing innovations, implementing them and finding the right partners for the project. The project consists of two packages of measures: The establishment and implementation of the Münsterland think tanks and technology scouting. The Münsterland think tanks bring together members from business, science and networks who work together to come up with ideas that can be used to further develop the region's innovation competences. In technology scouting, five technology scouts are created to support companies in the development of new innovations. In order to show how innovative and at the same time cooperative the Münsterland region already is, the project has also gone in search of innovative cooperation projects from the region under the keyword "Innovation Stories", which it is now presenting to the public.

The project network with Münsterland e.V. as lead partner consists of the business development agencies of the Münsterland districts and the Münster Technology Promotion Agency as well as the transfer offices of the regional universities and five specialised institutions that drive innovation in their sectors. The project is funded by the European Union and the NRW Ministry of Economics as part of the ERDF call "Regio.NRW".

www.enabling-networks.de