Tech Compass creates orientation in the technology jungle

Enabling Networks supports companies with technology scouting measures

Information on technological developments, contacts to regional experts and start-ups, insights into best practice examples from the region: The Tech-Kompass Münsterland, now published in the Enabling Networks Münsterland project, provides orientation in the technology jungle and is specifically tailored to the region. At www.muensterland.com/tech-kompass it takes a look at the five regional fields of innovation that characterise Münsterland: Digital Solutions, Life Sciences, Engineering Pro, Materials and Surfaces and Sustainable Eco.

"The Tech Compass is an important component within the technology scouting measures of Enabling Networks Münsterland," emphasises Bernd Büdding, head of the Enabling Networks Münsterland project at Münsterland e.V. "With it, we support companies in technological developments and help them to recognise new technologies and their potential as quickly as possible before the competition does." This is done on the one hand through content such as the Tech-Kompass, and on the other hand through events, workshop offers and personal exchange.

The Tech-Kompass provides a good overview of contacts and experts in the region. The content of the information page is created by five technology scouts who are experts in their field and each represent an innovation competence area. They include Christopher Langner (Mechatronics Institute Bocholt of the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences), Lukas Rengbers (Transfer Agency of Münster University of Applied Sciences), Dr Kathleen Spring (bioanalytik Münster e.V.), Gotthard Walter (IWARU of Münster University of Applied Sciences) and Dr Wiebke Wesseling (Netzwerk Oberfläche NRW e.V.). They are available to companies as contact persons, advise them and help them network with relevant actors. Lukas Rengbers, for example, is an expert in the field of digital solutions and has compiled numerous contents for the compass in this regard. "Technological developments are taking place faster and faster. That's why we want to point out technology trends at a very early stage that could soon play a major role even in smaller and medium-sized companies," says the tech scout. "In the area of digitalisation, these are AI or extended reality applications, for example. We break these down further in the compass." The technology scouts have also compiled comprehensive information in the other technology fields.

In addition, the project draws attention to other offers within technology scouting. For example, the Get Started! workshops are held, which offer companies an introduction to the world of technology scouting in Münsterland. In addition, the first Techathon took place - an ideas competition in which companies present a technological challenge and students develop solutions. Business and science also exchange ideas within the technology tandems and develop projects together. "Thanks to our measures, companies get an overview of new technologies, learn about methods, can find partners and work out solutions together," says Bernd Büdding. "We're excited to see what special technology knowledge and networking emerges as a result."

More information on technology scouting in Münsterland and an overview of all measures can be found at www.muensterland.com/technologiescouting.

More about Enabling Networks Münsterland

As a regional network initiative and successor project to Enabling Innovation Münsterland, Enabling Networks Münsterland supports companies and universities in Münsterland in developing innovations, implementing them and finding the right partners for the project. The project consists of two packages of measures: The Münsterland think tanks and technology scouting. The five think tanks bring together representatives from companies, research and regional networks to develop ideas, initiatives and future models for specific topics. The second component is technology scouting. This creates special technology knowledge with which companies, research institutions and competence centres can be even better networked.

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.muensterland.com/enabling