Inspiring Study Visit for Green Start-ups from Crete in the Ruhr Region

The Ruhr region has long been confronted with the challenges of structural change. At the same time, the region has many universities and numerous young people who are driving the region’s transformation with innovative ideas. They are systematically supported in this by various actors in the region.

With the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the GreenTecLab project organised a study trip (15-18.11) for the 5 winning teams of the Crete pitch to introduce them to the creative and start-up scene in the Ruhr region.

Variety of support infrastructure for start-ups

During the study visit, the founding teams but also two supporters/lecturers who actively accompany and support the process of the start-ups in Crete had the opportunity to experience the variety of the support infrastructure for start-ups.
The participants used the opportunity to present their business ideas, to develop ideas and strategies for the further development of the ideas in exchange with suitable enterprises and start-ups and to expand their network. In addition to visiting enterprises, the programme also included visits to innovation centres and hubs (including Wissenschaftspark Gelsenkirchen, Impact Hub Ruhr, Ruhr Hub, Triple Z at Zeche Zollverein) in the Ruhr region.

The study visit was a great success and the participants take home many new ideas on how to further develop their business ideas, how they can also network and possibly cooperate with each other and thus contribute to a sustainable economy in Crete.