At FUTURE logistics on May 5, 2022, 27 exhibitors presented their innovative logistics solutions and made these ideas tangible for 261 visitors. The parallel supporting program was in high demand—not only on site at the Duisburg Inland Shipping Museum, but 86 people from all over Germany also took part via livestream. The aim of the trade fair was to connect international startport startups with companies and investors from the logistics and supply chain sectors, thereby driving innovations into practical application. The FUTURE logistics innovation fair was organized by startport GmbH.
Whether Covid-19, international conflicts, or high diesel prices, disruptions to global supply chains and logistics processes are steadily increasing. The industry risks falling behind on topics such as digitalization and sustainability. To make logistics more resilient and, above all, future-proof, innovation is a key success factor. Startups are also drivers of innovation—startport supports and promotes them as an innovation platform. To make these innovations known and bring them into logistics, the FUTURE logistics innovation fair provided a platform for networking. For this purpose, the Inland Shipping Museum hosted an exhibition area for startups and logistics innovators, as well as a stage program with 10 content sessions. Logistics challenges and solutions were discussed here, for example on sustainability, supply chain transparency, innovation scouting, or the shortage of skilled workers in logistics. “The exchange of new ideas is what logistics needs to become more sustainable and more digital. And logistics managers in particular learn from founders in logistics and supply chain whom we support at startport. We know these solutions well. And with FUTURE logistics, we have now also managed to ensure that other logistics professionals engaged in dialogue with the startups,” says Alexander Garbar, Managing Director of startport. Among the 261 participants were 98 startups, more than 122 corporates, and the remaining 41 participants were split between investors and ecosystem representatives.
Hardware and software solutions at FUTURE logistics
Among the 27 exhibitors were partner companies from the startport network, but primarily startups from the current startport program as well as alumni startups. The thematic focus areas of the exhibiting startups were as diverse as the current challenges in logistics. Visitors learned about solutions for supply chain transparency and around transport management or supply chain management software, and were able to speak directly with the founders about practical application.
In addition to software solutions, the startups also showcased hardware solutions and explained how, for example, sensors for parking space management or drones can be used in logistics. “The goal was to make the startups’ innovations tangible and bring them to market. The stage program also presented practical examples in which successful collaboration between a startport startup and a company had taken place. We were able to share the valuable experience gained from this today,” says Johannes Franke, startport Managing Director and event manager, describing the event’s achieved objective.
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 5. The FUTURE logistics innovation fair was supported by startport’s exclusive partners—Knauf Interfer, Bohnen Logistik, duisport, Wirtschaftsbetriebe Duisburg and DIT—as well as the event sponsors: DBI, duisport, COCUS AG, TIMETOACT GROUP, IBM, Taylor Wessing, NRW.BANK and Smart City Duisburg.