Innovation consulting

Climate change, digitalization, and demographic shifts – the major challenges of our time require entrepreneurs to come up with new ideas and approaches for their businesses. But breaking new ground isn’t easy amid the hustle and bustle of day-to-day operations. As an economic development agency, we’re here to help you with our innovation consulting services.

Both the federal and state governments have set ambitious goals for transforming our economic structure toward climate neutrality, new productivity, and digitalization. Numerous funding programs for innovation and product development are available – especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Are you having trouble navigating the maze of funding options? We at WFMG are happy to help!

You can find an initial overview of potential funding opportunities on our funding advisory page. In addition, we’re actively involved in various projects aimed at boosting our city’s innovation potential:

Innovation Valley Garzweiler (IVG)

Innovation Valley Garzweiler (IVG) is an intermunicipal structural transformation project that is developing the area surrounding the Garzweiler open-pit mine into an innovation platform for business, science, and enterprises. The project brings together SMEs, universities, and research institutions to jointly implement new ideas, agile methods, and innovation processes, and to strengthen regional value creation. In addition, demonstration sites and events such as innovation rallies serve to initiate new collaborations and facilitate access to suitable funding opportunities.

Textilfabrik 7.0 (T7)

“Textilfabrik 7.0” is a large-scale industry and structural transformation project aimed at preparing the textile and apparel industry in Mönchengladbach for the future. In several phases, the project will first establish a technology and development center, followed by a zero-emission, digitized industrial park where sustainable production, digitization, and innovative processes will be implemented. This collaborative project combines research, training, and industrial practice to create new jobs and strengthen the industry’s competitiveness.

CollecTS – Collect Textiles Smart

The CollecTS – Collect Textiles Smart project is transforming conventional used textile collection containers into smart collection systems. The smart “CollecTS containers” enable pre-sorting close to the consumer and, thanks to digital support technologies, offer a wider range of drop-off options, which increases the efficiency of the collection process. The goal is to increase both user-friendliness and recycling rates in textile collection.

skillzUP

skillzUP is an initiative to promote digital skills among adolescents and young adults in Mönchengladbach and the surrounding area. Through workshops, courses, and hands-on formats, the program teaches digital fundamentals, future-oriented skills, and career paths in the digital age to prepare young people for the demands of the job market. The project helps actively shape the region’s digital structural transformation.

Founders’ Factory including SME Future Forge

Founders’ Factory Mönchengladbach offers founders a completely free range of resources, workshops, and coaching sessions for all phases of starting a business. In addition, the SME Future Forge combines practical online courses and in-person workshops that impart knowledge, innovation skills, and practical expertise. Together, these programs create a strong network for exchange, the development of new business models, and successful business launches.

Smart City Summit

The Smart City Summit.Niederrhein is an annual series of events that highlights innovative digital solutions, smart city projects, and future-oriented topics. Stakeholders from government, small and medium-sized businesses, academia, and startups gather here for discussions, expert panel talks, and inspiring presentations, thereby contributing to networking and providing impetus for digital urban development. The event is part of the City of Mönchengladbach’s smart city strategy process and promotes the joint development of projects and ideas for the region.

Partners and research

Companies must use new products, processes, or services to solve problems within their own operations or for their customers. Finding and developing the right solution often requires outside expertise.

We open doors to a strong regional network of universities, research institutions, and industry networks. Examples of successful networks include Log4MG for the logistics industry and the nextMG initiative for digitalization in Mönchengladbach. Through these network structures, competent partners from the local business community and research sector can be found quickly.

In addition, WFMG maintains numerous collaborations with innovation partners. These include research institutions, state-affiliated organizations, and associations. Many of these partners are experts in innovation development and promotion. To enable us to work with you to develop new business models, products, and service innovations, we draw on our consulting network on your behalf. Our most important network partners are listed below with brief descriptions.

The WFMG serves as the networking hub for businesses in Mönchengladbach. Are you looking to join an existing network or do you have ideas for starting your own? Are you looking for a research or development partner? Then don’t hesitate to contact us!