Smart City Summit Lower Rhine held for the fifth time in Mönchengladbach
“It’s possible,” “Good groundwork, I can build on this,” “I’ll start tomorrow!” – thoughts like these were what visitors of this year’s Smart City Summit Lower Rhine in Mönchengladbach were meant to take away. With this goal in mind, the organizers opened the professional congress on digital urban development in the Lower Rhine on Thursday, which took place for the fifth time this year. The mix of lectures, workshops, networking, and a large exhibition area provided the perfect setting for this.
The fact that the event has established itself as a fixed institution for professionals and companies was evident from the packed rows and the lively activity of nearly 500 visitors in the NEW Box in Nordpark. “Data-driven decisions are the better decisions,” outlined Mönchengladbach’s Mayor Felix Heinrichs, describing the guiding principle of smart cities, in which data is collected, networked, and used for concrete applications. Kira Tillmanns, head of the city’s Smart City program, sees major development in recent years: “We started as a small innovation unit; now it’s about using the Smart City infrastructure and rolling out wide-reaching applications.”
From digital robots to the AI seahorse
The Smart City Summit combines strategic perspectives with illustrative practical examples. On the main stage, lectures covered topics such as digital robots (bots) that fully automate recurring, rule-based administrative tasks. But also addressed were the balancing act between innovation and financial limits, new forms of municipal governance, strategy and security aspects in the use of artificial intelligence, and case studies from the Netherlands. This year, the Netherlands participated as the official partner country, represented at the Summit by digital companies and the Dutch Consulate General.
In the workshop sessions, participants had the opportunity to dive deeper into topics. Questions on LoRaWAN – a wireless standard for sensors – were answered, sensors installed in Nordpark for traffic monitoring at large events were presented, best practices from digital urban development were discussed, and the “AI seahorse” was earned.
35 exhibitors across approximately 5,000 square meters
The heart of the annual “summit meeting” of the smart city world is the roughly 5,000-square-meter expo area. At numerous booths, exhibitors presented their projects and solution approaches for the digital city of tomorrow. Municipal professionals from Nettetal, Aachen, Rhein-Kreis Neuss, and Dormagen also had their own stands. Experts from Hamm, Krefeld, and Nettetal contributed keynote lectures on the main stage. The cross-city exchange, in which municipalities learn from and with each other, jointly develop solutions, or adopt successful approaches from one another, is a core idea behind the federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building’s Smart City funding, in which Mönchengladbach is financially supported as one of 73 model municipalities.
In the expo area, smart urban development is made visible, and exchange around concrete products, ideas, and approaches is enabled. Exhibitors presented, among other things, sensors for measuring visitor frequencies and tracking traffic flows in a data-protection-compliant manner, technology for smart parking management, or drones designed to transport urgent medical samples to laboratories. But it was not just hardware that shaped the picture. Many digital solutions and strategic approaches were also presented. From AI agents to the virtual 3D city model (“digital twin”), which Rhein-Kreis Neuss wants to integrate with the one from the Neuss city administration, to the city app for which Mönchengladbach plans to test a beta version this summer.
The constant hum and buzz in the exhibitor area reflected many lively conversations – and some animal participants. A beehive, for example, can become a measuring station with appropriate sensors to monitor biodiversity and predict heavy rainfall. Virtually represented was Bee Max, who, via a VR application, introduces children playfully to nature and waste separation. Not an animal, but equally endearing, is little Vitus – the chatbot that the city of Mönchengladbach will soon offer on its website. The AI chat application could be tested at the Summit – contributing in its own way to visitors leaving the Summit with new acquaintances, fresh impressions, and interesting information.
About the SmartCity-Summit.Lower Rhine
The first edition of the SmartCity-Summit.Lower Rhine in 2021 marked the start of an innovative series of events intended to put Mönchengladbach on the nationwide Smart City map. The SmartCity-Summit.Lower Rhine is organized by the city of Mönchengladbach with its Smart City program area, the Marketing Gesellschaft Mönchengladbach, the Economic Development department, NEW, and mags.
On January 15, 2026, NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul visited Hochschule Rhein-Waal in Kamp-Lintfort, where he gave a lecture on cybersecurity and cybercrime. In the packed lecture hall, the minister delivered a guest lecture at the invitation of Prof. Dr. Matthias Reintjes, Professor of Public Administration and Digital Transformation, to around 100 students of the Administrative Informatics – E-Government, B.Sc. program, and subsequently answered numerous questions from the students.
In his lecture at the Faculty of Communication and Environment at Hochschule Rhein-Waal, Reul highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity for government action, focusing in particular on the changing conditions for police and law enforcement authorities. The ongoing digitalization of governmental processes, the increasing interconnection of critical infrastructures, and the growing professionalism of cybercriminals present the state with new, complex challenges.
“Digitalization certainly has many positive aspects, but of course it also means that the bad guys and girls are increasingly shifting their criminal activities online. One must, of course, respond to that. That’s why we have police officers on the streets and have also been training cybercops in North Rhine-Westphalia for some time,” said Reul. At the same time, the Interior Minister emphasized that the impacts of digital threats extend far beyond internal security; they also threaten the economy and open society as a whole.
A central concern of the lecture was the necessity of integrating technological, organizational, and legal competencies more closely. Especially at the interface of administration, IT, and law, future professionals bear a special responsibility. The state relies on well-trained specialists, such as the administrative informatics students at Hochschule Rhein-Waal.
Following the lecture, Herbert Reul spent around 45 minutes answering students’ questions and engaging in discussion. In a lively debate, numerous topics were addressed, including the role of the state in defending against hybrid threats, the use of new technologies in policing, questions of data protection, and the balance between security and civil liberties. The intensive Q&A session highlighted the students’ strong interest in security and digital policy issues and provided an opportunity for direct exchange between policymakers and young academics.
The President of the University, Prof. Dr. Oliver Locker-Grütjen, thanked the Interior Minister for the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas. The visit made an important contribution to connecting science, practice, and political decision-making. At the same time, an exchange between political decision-makers and students strengthens the societal relevance of higher education.
The Administrative Informatics – E-Government, B.Sc. program is a dual study program in a block model. E-Government involves developing innovative IT solutions for administration and business. In addition to acquiring expertise in information and communication technologies, students also develop social, communication, and organizational skills. They learn the specific requirements of public administration, gain the necessary know-how to find economically viable solutions, and become familiar with the legal framework within which they will work. The interdisciplinary program trains experts who are qualified for almost all sectors. It enables graduates to apply new technologies in municipalities, at state and federal levels, in European institutions, and in the business sector.
Hochschule Rhein-Waal
Hochschule Rhein-Waal was founded in 2009 and stands for an innovative, interdisciplinary, and international education for young people. At its campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort, the university offers a total of 25 bachelor’s and eleven master’s degree programs across four faculties – “Technology and Bionics,” “Life Sciences,” “Society and Economics,” and “Communication and Environment.” The courses at Hochschule Rhein-Waal are scientific, application-oriented, and internationally focused. They are characterized by high quality and practical relevance in teaching and research. Approximately 75 percent of the programs are taught in English, and currently nearly 6,250 students from over 120 nations study together in an environment chosen by many specifically for its cultural diversity and internationality. This provides students with intercultural exchange opportunities and optimal preparation for the national and international job market.
Press Contact Hochschule Rhein-Waal
Dr. Petra Radtke
Head of the Presidential Staff Unit
Hochschule Rhein-Waal
Campus Kleve
Marie-Curie-Straße 1
D-47533 Kleve
Tel.: +49 (0) 2821 806 73-326
Email: presse@hochschule-rhein-waal.de
Website: www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de
Deymann Shipping is one of the established players in European inland shipping and is particularly active in the transport of liquid and dry goods on the German and Dutch waterways. As a modern logistics service provider, the company has for years relied on efficient, reliable, and increasingly low-emission transport solutions, thus making an important contribution to reducing road traffic congestion and cutting CO₂ emissions.
Andreas Stolte, Chairman of the EcoPort813 Association based in Wesel, emphasizes the strategic significance of Deymann Shipping’s membership for the association: “With Deymann Shipping, EcoPort813 gains a leading player in European inland shipping. In particular, the company’s long-standing expertise in liquid cargo and container transport perfectly complements the logistical competencies of our members in ports, logistics, and infrastructure, and strengthens the association’s ability to comprehensively develop robust transport solutions for hydrogen and its derivatives,” says Stolte.
Deymann Shipping joined the EcoPort813 Association for Hydrogen & Sustainable Energy at the beginning of the year. With this membership, the traditional family-owned company underscores its commitment to a sustainable transformation of inland shipping and logistics along the waterways.
Against the backdrop of energy and climate policy goals, the use of renewable energies, especially hydrogen and its derivatives, is becoming increasingly important. Deymann Shipping sees inland shipping as a central link for future hydrogen transport chains between ports and industrial or consumption regions along the Rhine corridor.
“With our membership in EcoPort813, we want to bring our practical experience from inland shipping into the network and work together with ports, shipping companies, and other logistics and industrial partners on viable solutions for the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy,” explains the management of Deymann Shipping. “Inland shipping, in particular, offers great potential to transport renewable energy sources safely, efficiently, and in large volumes.”
The goal of the membership is to jointly further develop interfaces between shipping, ports, industry, and the energy sector, and to advance concrete projects for climate-neutral logistics. EcoPort813 provides a platform to pool know-how, initiate pilot projects, and actively support the necessary market ramp-up of hydrogen as a central element of the energy transition.
Founded around two and a half years ago, the EcoPort813 Association brings together well-known international companies, research institutions, and municipalities, offering a wide range of cooperation and project opportunities for building hydrogen value chains—particularly in transport and logistics. The association’s thematic and geographical focus extends over an area ranging from the Dutch seaports through the metropolitan regions along the Rhine and Ruhr to the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The focus here is on building a supply chain for the transport of ammonia/hydrogen from import seaports in the Netherlands/Belgium via the Rhine corridor and its ports as hubs to central consumption centers. This is intended to create a hybrid and flexible supply, particularly for medium-sized industries that cannot be supplied via pipelines.
To initially concentrate H2 activities in the Lower Rhine region, DeltaPort Lower Rhine Ports already joined forces in 2021 with the Port of Rotterdam and other companies and institutions in the region to form the working group “EcoPort813 – H2UB DeltaPort.” With a view to hydrogen and CO2-free energy carriers, the association aims to network its members, initiate and implement joint projects, and promote synergies. The transition away from fossil fuels is not only an ecological but also an economic challenge for all economic regions. Green hydrogen (H2) will play a key role in the energy mix of the future.
ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION
The “EcoPort813 – Association for Hydrogen and Sustainable Energy e.V.,” or EcoPort813, promotes cross-sector national and international cooperation in the interest of its members and in the context of sustainable and climate-friendly national development. The association acts as a supporter, driver, and partner of projects to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and to initiate, develop, and implement hydrogen-based projects and collaborations among its member companies.
Contact:
EcoPort813 – Association for Hydrogen and Sustainable Energy e.V.
Moltkestraße 8
D-46483 Wesel
Phone: +49 (281) 300 230 3 – 0
Fax: +49 (281) 300 230 3 – 33
Website: www.ecoport813.de
Email: office@ecoport813.de
Pitch Competition, Keynotes, Expert Tables, and Networking: The „Gründungsmesse Niederrhein“ Showcases Regional Startup Talent
A pitch competition with prize money, inspiring founder talks, expert tables, and plenty of opportunities for networking: the joint “Gründungsmesse Niederrhein” impressively highlighted the diversity of the regional startup scene. Organized by Gründungsfabrik Mönchengladbach and HNX, the entrepreneurship advisory team of Hochschule Niederrhein, the event crowned a freshly founded Mönchengladbach startup as the pitch winner: CasenapzZz, which produces suitcases that can quickly transform into children’s travel beds.
The startups showcased at the event combine innovation with sustainability. They link regenerative forestry with their own furniture production, enhance children’s resilience in schools and daycare centers, recycle worn-out sneakers, develop sustainable toilet cleaners, or produce healthy office snacks. The entrepreneurship scene in the Lower Rhine region is marked by diversity, creativity, and courageous ideas from founders of all ages.
At the event, 20 startups and founding teams presented themselves in an exhibition, which also served as a hub for networking. At expert tables on topics such as financing, taxes, and legal matters, aspiring founders gained practical knowledge. The centerpiece of the event, however, was the Pitch Battle, a competition with a total prize of €1,000 sponsored by Stadtsparkasse Mönchengladbach and Sparkasse Krefeld. Eight pre-qualified teams and individuals pitched their ideas in front of around 150 attendees and a distinguished jury.
The first prize (€500) went to CasenapzZz, founded by Fabian and Jana Herzog. Their suitcase-to-child-bed combination, launching on November 15, impressed the jury members: Stephanie Efertz (Chamber of Industry and Commerce Mittlerer Niederrhein), Prof. Dr. Georg Oecking (Senate Chair and Professor of Business Administration at Hochschule Niederrhein), Dirk Peters (Stadtsparkasse Mönchengladbach), and Nicole Janßen (Sparkasse Krefeld). Second place (€300) was awarded to the student company MerClean from Viersen: the 17- and 18-year-old founders, Merlin Dolenec and Anton Palmer, demonstrated their sustainable—and theoretically even edible—cleaning products on stage. Third place (€200) went to Modulyte, a Berlin-based startup developing an innovative façade insulation system for fast and efficient building retrofits, which is increasingly collaborating with the Lower Rhine region.
Friedhelm Lange, CEO of WFMG – Wirtschaftsförderung Mönchengladbach GmbH, praised the founders’ courage and creativity, encouraging the audience to take advantage of the many support opportunities available for startups in the Lower Rhine. “Pioneering spirit has always been at home in and around Mönchengladbach, whether Hugo Junkers, Joseph Pilates, or Hans Jonas in philosophy,” Lange noted. Prof. Dr. Gudrun Stockmanns, Vice President for Teaching and Studies at Hochschule Niederrhein, emphasized the parallel between the entrepreneurial spirit on stage and the university’s mission: “Our graduates should be bold thinkers and creative minds, shaping solutions for future challenges.”
The event was expertly guided by Andy Sacherer (Project Manager, Gründungsfabrik) and HNX team members Stefanie Kutsch (Project Manager) and Vivian Sommer (Startup Coach). Two keynote presentations enriched the program: Artur Steffen, founder of Salino, demonstrated how luck, chance, and unpredictable factors can influence startup success, while Reiner Mantsch, co-founder of textile recycling startup Eeden, highlighted the importance of a strong team and a supportive network.
All participants agreed: after the successes in 2024 (at Hochschule Niederrhein’s Krefeld campus) and 2025, the Gründungsmesse Niederrhein will return in 2026. Meanwhile, numerous free events for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs will take place in the coming weeks, including the Gründungswoche Niederrhein from November 17 to 23.
About Gründungsfabrik Mönchengladbach:
Gründungsfabrik is a structural transformation project in the Rhineland region, funded by the federal and North Rhine-Westphalia state governments, and hosted by WFMG. It includes two components: “Gründungsfabrik Mönchengladbach” and “skillzUP.” Running from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027, the project is 90% funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, with the remaining 10% provided by NRW. The total budget is nearly €3 million. More information: https://gruendungsfabrik.mg/.
About HNX:
HNX is the entrepreneurship and startup advisory team at Hochschule Niederrhein, serving as a central contact point for all aspiring founders. Its mission is to foster a vibrant, open, and practical startup culture at the university. The program offers creative workshops, short talks, and support integrated into teaching, firmly embedding entrepreneurship education into the university’s transfer and development strategy. More information: www.hs-niederrhein.de/existenzgruendung/.
Press Contacts:
Andy Sacherer | sacherer@wfmg.de | +49 2161 82379-766
Stefanie Kutsch | stefanie.kutsch@hs-niederrhein.de | +49 2161 186-3564
The construction industry is at the heart of the climate transition: it consumes the most resources while also generating the largest amounts of waste—both in Krefeld and many other cities. This is where the new Circular Valley Construction Hub comes in, viewing buildings and infrastructure not as disposable objects but as material banks of the future.
“In Krefeld, the industrial heritage offers interesting buildings for implementing the circular approach,” explains Elmar Klein-Hessling, authorized signatory of GGK Grundstücksgesellschaft der Stadt Krefeld mbH & Co. KG, where the project is anchored. A new startup center is currently being developed in the city center in a former textile factory from the 1920s—and with it, the future site of the Circular Valley Construction Hub, which from 2027 will serve as a real-world laboratory, experience space, and communication hub. The setup has already begun: with initial pilot projects and a digital platform providing information on materials, inventories, and potential for reuse.
“We want to show that circular construction is not only possible but also economically viable,” explains Monika Zurnatzis, project manager of the Circular Valley Construction Hub Krefeld and part of KREFELD BUSINESS. “The greatest potential lies in existing buildings, where previously used resources can be redeployed. We are currently testing this in our revitalization project on Luisenstraße. The Hub will specifically support founders and users, promote sustainable business models, and strengthen interdisciplinary knowledge exchange from planning and deconstruction to material reuse.”
Circular Valley, headquartered in Wuppertal, is considered an international platform for innovations in the circular economy. With today’s contract signings, several regional hubs will become part of this network—each with its own thematic focus. In Krefeld, the focus is on circular construction and renovation of existing buildings—closely linked to the transformation processes of the city and region.
“This partnership connects local practice with international innovative strength,” emphasizes Eckart Preen, head of economic affairs for the city of Krefeld and director of KREFELD BUSINESS, adding: “With the Construction Hub, we are creating a place where innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability come together in the best sense—and thus a model that extends far beyond the city itself.”
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Your contact person:
KREFELD BUSINESS | Annegret Angerhausen-Reuter | Member of Management and Press Officer
+49 2151 82074-44 | annegret.angerhausen-reuter@krefeld-business.de
The Digital Award honors outstanding municipal digitalization projects. Felix Ebner, Deputy Chairman of the Federal Association Databund e.V., presented the award to Michael Fielenbach, Head of the Cadastre and Surveying Office of Rhein-Kreis Neuss, and Department Head Christoph Kany. Bavarian Digital Minister Dr. Fabian Mehring was also present at the award ceremony.
The “Digital Twin” project of Rhein-Kreis Neuss was nominated from a nationwide pool of 72 applications. The aim of the Digital Twin is to consolidate the geospatial data of municipal administrations in Rhein-Kreis Neuss to make the real world experienceable on-screen. Users gain access to high-resolution, three-dimensional 360-degree image data comparable to virtual reality. This enables the visualization of planning projects and simulation models in mobility, traffic, construction, climate, environment, and economic sectors. In addition, the project serves as a foundation for Smart City applications and new business models.
Since the project’s launch in 2023—funded by the NRW Ministry of Home, Municipal Affairs, Construction, and Digitalization—two complete 3D surveys of the road network have already been conducted using specialized vehicles, with a third planned for 2027. Additionally, standardized aerial imagery (orthophotos, oblique aerial images, 3D models) is being used throughout the district. The planned data hub will centrally consolidate municipal data pools and standardized state data and make them accessible. The project is led by the Cadastre and Surveying Office of Rhein-Kreis Neuss. IT Department Head Harald Vieten, Office Director Michael Fielenbach, geospatial expert Christoph Kany, and their team are driving the further development of the Digital Twin.
The award was presented during the “Kommunale” trade fair, a nationwide event organized by the Bavarian Association of Municipalities, which set a new record this year with around 8,000 visitors and more than 600 exhibitors. First place in the Digital Award 2025 for the category counties, ministries, and other authorities went to Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg with the AI-generated video news format “LaDaDi KOMPAKT.” Following Rhein-Kreis Neuss, Landkreis Augsburg took third place with the project “AI-supported Innovation for Youth Welfare.”
In the category of towns and municipalities with up to 20,000 inhabitants, Kloster Lehnin took first place with a digital application for seamless application processing. In the category of towns and municipalities with over 20,000 inhabitants, the city of Nuremberg ranked first with “Living Data Culture – Digitally Sovereign. Decentralized. Citizen-Oriented.” More information about the Digital Award can be found at https://www.kommunale.de/de-de/digital-events/digital-award.
A Further Step Toward Sustainable Aviation in Europe: Mönchengladbach Airport Launches Europe’s First Public Refueling Station for Swift 100R
Mönchengladbach Airport (MGL) has taken another step toward greener aviation in Europe by opening the continent’s first public refueling station for the new lead-free aviation fuel Swift 100R yesterday. The innovative fuel is now available for the general aviation sector at MGL as part of an initial testing phase. The first refueling was conducted in cooperation with MG Flyers Luftfahrerschule GmbH, the flight school based at the airport.
Swift 100R is a lead-free 100-octane aviation fuel that provides the same motor octane number (MON 100) as conventional Avgas 100LL. The fuel can be used in approved aircraft without technical modifications and is compatible with existing fuel types. Currently, Swift 100R is approved on an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) basis for all Cessna 172 S- and R-models. Approvals for many additional aircraft types and engines will follow soon.
Beyond eliminating lead, the fuel also sets new standards for sustainability. Dr. Thomas Albuzat, Managing Director of Swift Fuel GmbH, explains the forward-looking formulation: “The ‘R’ in 100R stands for Renewable. The fuel already contains a share of renewable components and has been designed so that this share can be significantly increased in the future. In this way, we are not only contributing to the phase-out of lead but also paving the way for a more sustainable future in aviation.”
“With Swift 100R, we are expanding our offering for customers with a forward-looking alternative that actively supports the transformation of aviation,” says Martin Bollinger, Managing Director of Bollinger Aviation, the European distribution partner for the fuel. “Opening Europe’s first public refueling station of this kind together with Mönchengladbach Airport sends a strong signal for innovation and progress.”
For Mönchengladbach Airport, introducing Swift 100R is part of its strategic focus on climate-friendly technologies. Andreas Ungar, Managing Director of the airport, emphasizes: “Our collaboration with Bollinger Aviation and Swift Fuel demonstrates how practically we are supporting the transformation of aviation. Projects like this strengthen MGL’s role as a hub for sustainable and innovative solutions.”
Mönchengladbach Airport has been committed for years to CO₂ reduction and the development of new propulsion technologies. In addition to research activities on electric and hydrogen-based aircraft, providing modern, resource-efficient fuels represents another consistent step toward a sustainable and climate-friendly airport operation.
Press Contact Bollinger Aviation:
Bollinger Aviation
Freiligrathstraße 10
61440 Oberursel, Germany
+49 6172 9959746
ops@bollinger-aviation.de
Press Contact MGL:
Sevde Katran
+49 (0) 2161 6898-91
sevde.katran@mgl.de
By hosting this year’s IDRF Members’ Meeting, Mönchengladbach Airport (MGL) once again served as the venue for a significant industry event in the aviation sector. On May 13 and 14, 2025, the Members’ Meeting of the Association of Regional Airfields (IDRF) took place in the Hugo Junkers Hangar. For the first time, the event was held jointly with the German Helicopter Association (DHV), which convened simultaneously. The two-day event focused on exchanging views on current challenges in air transport and new perspectives in air mobility.
Numerous representatives from regional airports across Germany used the meeting to discuss operational, infrastructural, and regulatory topics. The role of airports in the context of climate protection, digitalization, and innovative mobility was also a key topic of intensive discussion.
“Regional airports are an indispensable part of Germany’s air transport system. They ensure accessibility, create jobs, and are increasingly becoming hubs of innovation for new mobility solutions. The IDRF provides an important platform to jointly further develop this role,” said Andreas Ungar, Managing Director of Mönchengladbach Airport.
With the Hugo Junkers Hangar, MGL offers an exceptional event location that is increasingly establishing itself as a popular venue for specialist conferences and networking meetings. “Being able to host the IDRF meeting together with the DHV on site underscores the growing importance of the airport as a place for exchange, progress, and future topics in aviation,” added Dr. Ulrich Schückhaus, also Managing Director of Mönchengladbach Airport.
Press contact:
Sevde Katran
Phone: +49 (0) 2161 6898-91
Email: sevde.katran@mgl.de
Extreme weather events, water shortages, and rising temperatures demand global adaptation strategies. At the nationwide first Resilience Expo, innovative solutions and business models that mitigate the effects of climate change will be showcased for the first time on Monday, June 23, 2025, at the Zeughaus Neuss. Companies and investors will have the opportunity to present forward-looking developments, open up new markets, and network.
The Resilience Expo brings together companies, science, interest groups, specialist authorities, and politics — from the Rhenish mining area, North Rhine-Westphalia, across Germany, and internationally. The goal is to jointly establish a long-term cross-border networking platform for the climate adaptation economy.
Environment Minister Oliver Krischer emphasizes the importance of the new Resilience Expo:
“With the Resilience Expo, we are sending a strong signal in North Rhine-Westphalia for climate-just transformation. The Expo unites business, science, and politics in a versatile format and clearly demonstrates the opportunities inherent in resilient technologies and sustainable business models. We are creating a platform that pools forces, presents the growing range of effective solutions, and makes North Rhine-Westphalia internationally visible as a model region for resilient transformation.”
The Resilience Expo links regional innovations from North Rhine-Westphalia with international developments. Existing initiatives are to be bundled, synergies utilized, and international exchange strengthened.
In addition to the classic exhibition, the Resilience Expo offers a variety of opportunities for networking through workshops and discussion formats. The aim is not only to present concepts and products but also to actively discuss and further develop them in the long term.
The Expo will be funded by the federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia over the next three years. As an international exhibition, it strengthens the location of North Rhine-Westphalia and contributes to the economic and structural transformation of the Rhenish mining area.
To make participation as attractive as possible, the event is free of charge for companies and other interested parties from research, interest groups, administration, or politics. This is especially intended to facilitate access for small and medium-sized enterprises to present their ideas and establish contacts.
Companies interested in participating in this or future Resilience Expos can continuously register their interest at exhibit@resilience-expo.com. Further information about the Resilience Expo as well as registration and newsletter sign-up can be found at www.resilience-expo.com.
Background
The Resilience Expo is a flagship project of the state government within the framework of structural change in the Rhenish mining area. The federal government and the state are supporting the sustainable transformation of the Rhenish mining area in the course of the coal phase-out with more than 14.8 billion euros. The state complements the federal funding with its own budget funds. So far, 317 projects with a funding volume of around 2.2 billion euros have been approved.
Application Process for the Landscape Planning Competition for the 2029 State Garden Show Kleve Has Begun!
Since May 6th, the call for applications to participate in the Europe-wide competition has been publicly open. Landscape architects from all over Europe can submit their individual designs, creative ideas, and solution proposals for the park areas of the 2029 State Garden Show by August 14th.
“With the announcement of the competition, we have reached an important milestone. The focus is on planning and constructing the permanent facilities—that is, the areas of the State Garden Show that will continue to enrich Kleve even after the event ends. This marks a very exciting phase,” emphasized Mayor Wolfgang Gebing.
The competition area covers the western hillside along the watercourse flowing through the city at Kermisdahl, including the Prinz-Moritz-Park. On the eastern bank, the transition area near the settlement leading into the Galleien will be developed as a public green space. To the south, a graduated transition to the open landscape with natural riverbank areas of the Kermisdahl is planned. The goal is to connect, expand, and optimize the existing green spaces. Additionally, the water as a central element should become both tangible and visible. Besides designing the permanent park areas, the location and preparation of exhibition contributions also need to be addressed. The competition is announced as an open, one-stage, landscape planning ideas and implementation competition.
Klaus Keysers, managing director of the gGmbH, said: “The previous ideas and concepts will now be further developed and concretized within the framework of the competition. We look forward to the participation of numerous architectural firms and their diverse design ideas for our State Garden Show.”
The competition entries will be evaluated by a jury on September 11th at the Kleve Kolpinghaus. The jury includes six renowned landscape architects as professional judges. The jury is complemented by non-professional judges Wolfgang Gebing (Mayor of Kleve), Heinrich Sperling (Laga Kleve 2029 gGmbH), Andrea Schwiete (CDU faction), Petra Tekath (SPD faction), and Wiltrud Schnütgen (Alliance 90/The Greens).
Afterwards, all submissions, including the winning design, will be presented to the interested public and the press and exhibited publicly for at least 10 days. The location and opening time of the exhibition will be announced in due course.
Background: In 2029, the city of Kleve will host the twentieth North Rhine-Westphalian State Garden Show. Along the Kermisdahl, a former Rhine side arm, two areas covering around 23 hectares will be developed into public green spaces and extensive natural recreational landscapes as permanent facilities. Parallel to and following the competition, under the motto “City | Country | Water,” spaces and locations for the garden show event will be prepared and activated with the involvement of other stakeholders (university, citizens, clubs, associations).