HIGH-TECH.NRW is the first NRW-wide venture platform and acceleration program with a specific focus on hardware-based high-tech and deep-tech startups. HIGH-TECH.NRW is powered by NMWP Management GmbH acting on behalf of the NRW state government and will organize six accelerator batches in the time period from September 2022 to June 2025. The accelerator offers intensive mentoring & coaching, tailored matchings with industrial partners and capital investors as well as trainings and expert workshops on demand. The program was successfully piloted within the framework of the Interreg Europe project NMP-REG from September until November 2020.

Project management, Cluster management, Innovation management, International projectsNMWP Management GmbH is the managing body of the Cluster NanoMicroMaterialsPhotonics.NRW of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia.Project cooordination of the Interreg Europe projects NMP-REG and STEPHANIE.

Coaching/mentoring of tech startups primarily engaging in key enabling technologies, such as nano/micro, photonics, manufacturing, new materials as well as green technologies, sustainable and circular economy business models; Engagement as coach/mentor in various startup networks, such as start2grow/Dortmund on a voluntary basis; Broad expertise in incubation & acceleration programs, cluster development, innovation networks; EU program specialist (Interreg, Erasmus+).

The Interreg Europe project NMP-REG (Delivering Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials and Production to Regional Manufacturing) aims at strengthening technology transfer from NMP research & development to innovative products by drafting policy recommendations and implementing regional action plans.The project focuses on policy actions facilitating technology valorisation in the manufacturing sector using coordinated action from key players - to promote interregional learning and subsequent capacity building on regional challenges and good practices related to policy instruments in the field of NMP,- to foster networking at European level, including sharing of NMP-REG action plan guidelines and building a highly active network for sustainable exchange of knowledge within public authorities, institutions and companies in the European Union,- in the medium to long term, to create regional systems than can support the manufacturing sector in applying NMP research, create jobs and promote a market for new products.NMP-REG groups 7 partners from 5 European regions: Tuscany (IT), North Rhine-Westphalia (DE), Flanders (BE), Norte (PT) and Bucharest (RO). Lead Partner is the Regional Development Agency of Valdelse (ASEV), Empoli (IT). The project started in April 2016 and has a duration of 5 years. NMP-REG is co-financed by means of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

HIGH-TECH.NRW was the first NRW-wide acceleration programme with a specific focus on hardware-based high-tech and deep-tech startups. It represented a joint initiative of the cluster NMWP.NRW and leading universities of the region, hosting more than a quarter million students. The programme concept was developed within the framework of the Interreg Europe project NMP-REG and successfully piloted from September until November 2020.

Circular Valley is a worldwide unique hotspot for the establishment of a future-oriented Circular Economy (CE). In Circular Valley, international startups, companies, science and politics meet to work together on closing material cycles along existing value chains across industries and technologies, to develop policy recommendations and political frameworks, and to inform the public about CE trends, progress and activities. Circular Valley is supported by the Circular Valley Foundation.Based in Wuppertal, in the heart of NRW and the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, Circular Valley is located in the centre of Europe's most dynamic business location with more than 20,000 international companies, over 70 universities and more than 10 million inhabitants within a radius of 100 km.Circular Valley runs the world's first CE Accelerator that turns inventions into innovations, provides assistance in business modelling and planning, scales up the ideas and takes them back to the areas where they are needed.

The Interreg Europe project STEPHANIE (Space Technologies with Photonics for Market and Societal Challenges) aims to improve regional innovation policies towards a more effective use of research & innovation in space technologies based on photonics to develop products with market potential and addressing socio-environmental challenges.The project consortium consists of 8 partners from 7 European regions: Tuscany (IT), Bretagne (FR), North Rhine-Westphalia (DE), Durham County (UK), Andalusia (ES), Wallonia (BE) and Prague (CZ). Lead Partner is the Nello Carrara Institute of Applied Physics of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IFAC), Sesto Fiorentino (IT).STEPHANIE started in January 2017 and has a duration of 5 years. The project is co-financed by means of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Coordination of the ERASMUS+ project ENEX - Expert in Nanotechnology ExploitationENEX targets the development of advanced training modules for graduate and postgraduate students as well as professionals in industry, research and the service sector in the fields of nanotechnology and innovation management.The final product will be an interdisciplinary open licence e-learning course merging both technology and management content into one novel qualification concept.The Project consortium consists of 6 partners out of 5 European regions: Twente (NL), Tuscany (IT), Lodz (PL), Bucharest (RO) and North Rhine-Westphalia (DE), among them 3 universities, 1 research centre, 1 regional development agency and 1 private-sector consulting firm. Lead partner is INTAMT GmbH, Duesseldorf.The ENEX Project is funded by the European Commission under the ERASMUS+ Programme. The Project started on 01 September 2014 and has a duration of three years.

International projects, Transfer of knowledge and technologies, Project management Coordination of the ERASMUS+ project ENEX (Expert in Nanotechnology Exploitation)

Competence center for micro and nanotechnology, Business incubator, Center management, International projects, Project management, Innovation management, Cluster management, Consulting services for start-upsMST.factory dortmund, the Dortmund-based regional competence centre for micro and nanotechnologies (MNT), offers start-ups and technology-oriented companies the necessary infrastructure including offices, labs, clean rooms and cutting-edge equipment along with soft business support (coaching, consulting, networking). MST.factory dortmund has been a catalyst in the development of the internationally renowned Dortmund MNT cluster.

The Interreg IV C project nano4m (Nanotechnology for Market) had the following objectives:- To further improve regions’ capacity to shorten the gap between R&D and market through testing new Research-to-Market processes (R2M) or innovation processes led by interdisciplinary experts teams.- To strengthen the interregional collaboration by identifying and developing specific research and business opportunities of common interest in the emerging field of nano/microtechnology.- To increase competitiveness of innovation infrastructure at regional, national and European level (research and technology facilities).- To improve the efficiency of regional innovation policies by drawing recommendations and implementing best practices.The project grouped together four European regions (Asturias/Spain, Tuscany/Italy, Lorraine/France and North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany) and twelve partners from regional/local governments as well as research and technology centres/incubators.The project started in October 2008 and had a duration of 39 months. Its total budget was EUR 1,845,892 with an ERDF contribution of EUR 1,384,419.

Competence center for micro and nanotechnology, Business incubator, Center management, International projects, Project management, Innovation management, Cluster management, Consulting services for start-upsProduct developments in micro and nano technologies (MNT) require complex production facilities and high initial investments in technological equipment and infrastructure. Established in 2002, MST.factory dortmund, the Dortmund-based regional competence centre in MNT, therefore offers start-ups and technology-oriented companies engaging in MNT the necessary infrastructure including offices, labs, clean rooms and cutting-edge equipment along with soft business support (coaching, consulting, networking). MST.factory dortmund has been a catalyst in the development of the internationally renowned Dortmund MNT cluster.

International technology transfer, International cooperation projects, Coordination of publicly funded projects

Technology brokerage, Licensing, Consulting services for industry, Co-Initiator of the TechnologieAllianz. TechnologieAllianz (since 2019 TransferAllianz) is the German association for knowledge and technology transfer and brings together universities, non-university R&D institutions, patent exploitation agencies and other transfer service providers in a nationwide network with currently 75 members..

International technology transfer, Market intelligence, International cooperation projects, International policy studiesCSIRIS Bonn used to be one of 3 overseas missions of the South African CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), the largest contract research organization of the African continent. CSIRIS Bonn had a steering function of all overseas missions. The other missions were located in London and Washington DC.

Project management, Product development, International cooperation