Duisburg “startport” innovation fair successful for the second time
Innovation fair FUTURE logistics 2023:
300 trade fair visitors experienced logistics flair at the Inland Shipping Museum
Duisburg, 2023-05-04
FUTURE logistics took place for the second time on May 4, 2023, and, with 30 exhibitors, presented innovative logistics solutions for around 300 visitors in a cool atmosphere. The parallel stage program on site at the Duisburg Inland Shipping Museum was in particularly high demand, and of course the food market introduced this year, with live music and frozen yogurt for networking afterwards. The aim of the fair is to connect startups with companies and investors from the logistics and supply chain sectors and to drive innovation into industry applications. The FUTURE logistics innovation fair was organized by startport GmbH, a subsidiary of the Port of Duisburg.
To remain competitive, the logistics industry must become more digital and more sustainable—innovation is a key to success here. Among other things, startups from the startport innovation platform help with their disruptive ideas. The startups supported and promoted by the startport innovation platform are also drivers of innovation. To make these innovations known and bring them into logistics, the FUTURE logistics innovation fair provided a platform for networking. For this purpose, there was an exhibition area for startups and logistics innovators at the Inland Shipping Museum, as well as a stage program with 7 content sessions, consisting of two panel discussions and five keynote talks. Logistics challenges and solutions were discussed here, for example on sustainability in truck transport, as well as current innovative trends in logistics, e.g., in the field of AI startups.
Networking between startups and corporates over frozen yogurt
Among the 30 exhibitors were partner companies from the startport network, but primarily startups from the current startport program as well as alumni startups. The thematic focus of the exhibiting startups was as diverse as the current challenges in logistics. Among other things, visitors learned about solutions for tire management, truck route optimization, and reusable load carrier management, and were able to exchange directly with the founders about practical applications.
In addition to software solutions, the startups also showcased hardware solutions, such as 3D printers for the rapid production of small parts and materials for the industrial sector, or cleaning robots for truck loading areas. “The goal was, as in last year, to make the startups’ innovations tangible and bring them to market. However, this year we increased our focus on networking and exchange between corporates and startups. To this end, we organized a food market with two food trucks and a frozen yogurt stand, accompanied by relaxed live music. It is great to hear afterwards that many startups were able to take home successful, high-quality leads. One of the main reasons for this: At FUTURE Logistics, almost exclusively interested contacts from the logistics and industrial sectors come together, and there are direct points of connection between corporates and startups,” says Johannes Franke, startport Managing Director and event manager, describing the event’s achieved goal.
FUTURE logistics at the Duisburg Inland Shipping Museum
Surrounded by exhibits representing inland shipping of the past, visitors were able to discover FUTURE logistics here on May 4. The FUTURE logistics innovation fair was supported by the event sponsors: myleo / dsc, TRAILER DYNAMICS, A.P. Moller – Maersk, Kuehne+Nagel, Fraunhofer IML together with the Digital Hub Logistics, Loogisch GmbH, DSV –Global Transport and Logistics, NRW.BANK, Sinalco International BrandsGmbH & Co. KG.