Innovation in Action: Recap of KTUR’s Summer Highlights
This summer, KTUR proudly participated in and hosted a series of impactful events across the Upper Rhine region. From cutting-edge industrial visits to startup forums, investor bootcamps, and sustainability-focused congresses, each event was a testament to KTUR’s commitment to cross-border innovation, collaboration, and knowledge transfer.
Here’s a look back at six key moments that made this summer unforgettable.
• LabVisit: Discovering Industry of the Future 5.0
📍 ICAM Strasbourg-Europe | June 18, 2025
On June 18, KTUR and Science Pillar and Economy Pillar the Tri-national Metropolitan Region of the Upper Rhine, in partnership with KTUR, hosted an exclusive LabVisit of the “Industrie du Futur 5.0” R&D platform at ICAM Strasbourg-Europe, as part of the ICAM International Researcher Days.
More than a demonstration, the platform — the first of its kind in the Grand Est region — serves as a real-world lab where companies can explore how to integrate digital and smart technologies into their production systems.
Participants had the opportunity to:
– Tour a fully operational Industry 5.0 environment
– Discuss AI, ERP/MES, cybersecurity, and more with researchers and engineers
– Identify collaboration opportunities with ICAM’s expert teams
– Share best practices in adopting digital industrial tools
ICAM also offers custom workshops in French, German, and English for companies exploring Industry 5.0.
• Venture Dates
📍 SIAK, Kaiserslautern | June 25, 2025
Held at SIAK in Kaiserslautern, Venture Dates brought together over 90 participants for a high-energy matchmaking event connecting startups, investors, and aspiring co-founders.
The program featured:
– Speed-dating rounds between startups and investors
– Expert talks on funding and ecosystem-building
– Open networking zones for informal exchanges
Pitch Finale & Awards
Startups GenioGuide, Pigtie, and Inflabi (winner of the Public’s Choice Award) took the stage for the final pitch session.
Tapari received the 42kaiserslautern D2C Award, and REFACTUM, although not part of the speed-dating, was honored with the SIAK Transfer Prize.
The event successfully fostered new connections, energized the trinational startup ecosystem, and sparked numerous follow-up collaborations.
• Venture Capital Seminar
📍 Online (Zoom) | June 25–26, 2025
Running in parallel with Venture Dates, the Venture Capital Seminar offered a two-day online bootcamp tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs, researchers, and students. Over 250 participants joined to gain practical insights into startup funding and investor expectations.
The agenda included:
– VC fundamentals and impact investing
– Funding stages from pre-seed to scale-up
– Team-building and pitching strategies
– Public funding in the Upper Rhine region
– Practical workshops on pitch decks and business models
Featured speakers included:
Dr. Christin Eckerle (KIT), Julian Faber (D11Z. Ventures), Arnas Bräutigam (AddedVal.io), Jessica Matta (Bpifrance), Claire Weiss (Phitrust), Leon Huck (LBBW VC), and Emilia Neuwirt (EMUNO Therapeutics), among others.
“A successful pitch deck convinces not only with numbers but especially through trust in the team and the vision.” – Arnas Bräutigam
Beyond theory, the seminar emphasized networking and mentorship to better prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs.
• Panel Talk “From the Lab to the Startup: Tech Transfer as a Success Factor”
📍 Karlsruhe | July 3, 2025
How does excellent research become a scalable company? What makes tech transfer work in deep tech?
On July 3, KTUR brought these questions to the forefront during a panel discussion in Karlsruhe featuring experts from science, industry, and academia.
Among the speakers were:
Christoph Grün (CAVIGEN) and Dr. Iris Schwenk (HQS Quantum Simulations)
Topics explored:
– Transforming scientific discoveries into business ideas
– The role of universities and transfer offices
– Success factors and challenges in deep tech
– Building viable startups in hardware-focused fields
The event welcomed a diverse audience committed to turning research into real-world solutions. A heartfelt thank-you to all contributors for their valuable insights and engagement.
• KTUR at the “Economy and Sustainability” Congress
📍 Johanniskreuz | June 17, 2025
KTUR was present at the opening of the “Wissen³” event series, focused on sustainability and co-organized by Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, htw saar, and Trier University of Applied Sciences.
Held at the House of Sustainability in Johanniskreuz, the congress brought together participants from science, business, and civil society.
🎤 Representing KTUR:
Peter Starke, Vice President for Transfer at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, and PD Dr. Christian Joerg, KTUR² project coordinator.
Both emphasized the value of trinational cooperation in advancing sustainability efforts throughout the Upper Rhine region.
• KTUR at the Company Contact Fair
📍 Zweibrücken Campus | June 24, 2025
KTUR also took part in the Company Contact Fair hosted by Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences at its Zweibrücken campus.
With 40+ companies and numerous students in attendance, the fair offered a prime opportunity to showcase KTUR’s mission: connecting universities, industry, and society across borders to foster innovation and talent mobility.
The KTUR booth served as a hub for meaningful exchange and new collaborations between students, startups, and industry players.
In Summary
From digital transformation and startup growth to sustainability and venture funding, this summer’s events brought KTUR’s cross-border mission to life. Through workshops, panels, and fairs, hundreds of participants engaged with KTUR’s vision for a connected, innovative Upper Rhine region.
Want to be part of the next KTUR initiative?
Stay tuned — more knowledge-driven, innovation-focused events are coming soon!