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New start-up center in Duisburg: 7.2 million for innovative ideas!
With the “NRW HUBs”, NRW is launching a new funding program for innovative startups, focused on impact and growth.
New start-up center in Duisburg: 7.2 million for innovative ideas!
Today, July 16, 2025, a significant signal will be set for the start-up scene in the Ruhr area. NRW Economics Minister Mona Neubaur hands over funding notices worth 7.2 million euros for the new state-wide funding program “NRW HUBs”. The aim is to create growth structures for innovative founders. Among the six newly opened specialized startup hubs is the Impact Factory at Anthropia in Duisburg, which focuses on start-ups oriented towards the common good.
All six funded NRW HUBs have a specific topic area: from AI to GreenTech to HealthTech. The Impact Factory is the only hub that explicitly focuses on impact startups that address social challenges using entrepreneurial means. Mayor Sören Link of Duisburg acknowledged the importance of this center for the entire region and emphasized that it is an important step into the future.
The startups in focus
At the Impact Factory kickoff event, three startups presented themselves who want to make a difference with their ideas:
- HelpYuu: Diese Initiative digitalisiert den Zugang zu staatlicher Unterstützung und macht ihn für alle zugänglich.
- Join the Flock: Das Startup entwickelt digitale Lösungen für mehr Sicherheit in urbanen Räumen.
- Plastic Fischer: Mit einem klaren Ziel bekämpft dieses Unternehmen die Plastikverschmutzung in Flüssen des Globalen Südens.
Anthropia gGmbH, which is based on the Haniel campus in Duisburg-Ruhrort, functions as a non-profit innovation house. It has developed into one of the largest incubators and accelerators for impact startups in Germany and has already supported over 700 founders and more than 350 startups through its program.
Attractive ecosystem in the Ruhr area
But the Ruhr area has much more to offer. The region has built a vibrant startup ecosystem characterized by differentiated support structures for founders. It's no secret that the Ruhr area is an attractive starting point for start-ups. Innovative, well-prepared teams are looking for early-stage capital, and there is a great need for more angel investors focused on emerging industries. All doors are open for investors, mentors, coaches and other start-up supporters. This makes the region particularly inviting for all those involved who would like to contribute their know-how and capital to promoting ideas.
The initiative to promote start-ups in the Ruhr area is also reflected in the comprehensive information offered by startup.nrw and offers valuable insights for everyone who would like to find out more about this dynamic environment.
In summary, the start of the NRW HUBs and the opening of the Impact Factory are a clear indication that things are really making progress in the Ruhr area. Innovation, community and the vision of mastering social challenges are the focus here.