Cooperation partners present new euregio startup center: REACH

Representatives of the University of Münster, the University of Applied Sciences Münster, the University of Twente, and the Digital Hub münsterLAND discussed with company representatives from the region and entrepreneurs how can innovations from universities become start-ups and therefore increase the region’s economy by creating jobs. “The University of Münster, the University of Applied Sciences Münster and the University of Twente complement each other with their excellent research,” emphasized the Rector of the University of Münster, Prof. Dr. Johannes Wessels. “With this transnational cooperation for science-based spin-offs, we are creating a joint platform for universities to better transfer research results into companies in the future”.

The company representatives praised the fact that the educational institutions in cooperation with the Digital Hub münsterLAND can now map all phases of a start-up from the idea to the development of a business model. “At REACH you can sense a strong doer mentality and the will to change things. Access to scientific knowledge as well as innovative thinkers are the key to the necessary innovation in companies”, emphasized Felix Fiege, CEO of the logistics company FIEGE. The Mayor of Münster Markus Lewe described the cooperation as “a new milestone in further deepening the already intensive city partnership”. Onno van Veldhuizen, Mayor of Enschede, emphasized: “This project is important for the innovative strength of the EUREGIO. We are pleased about the close cooperation between the universities of Münster and Enschede as well as between the start-up centers Novel-T and REACH. This is how we secure innovations for the region and establish new business models,”.

Background information: In January 2019, the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that it was funding the establishment and operation of a start-up center under the leadership of the University of Münster (WWU) with a total of around 20 million euros until 2024 – this is where REACH was developed. The start-up center provides the necessary infrastructure and resources to support those interested in setting up their own start-ups in the universities.

Picture by: Thomas Mohn. On the picture: Prof. Thom Palstra (University Enschede), Jaap Bernink, Prof. Thorsten Wiesel (REACH), Hans Brouwers (Oost NL), Prof. Johannes Wessels (WWU).