The small sensor has a footprint of 1 sq mm, and is in use in the agriculture and food processing industries. Used in real-time production, the sensor can detect defects as soon as they happen, and on the spot quality control on the production line means cost savings.
The award is judged by a jury, chaired by Prof. Dr. Reimund Neugebauer, president of the Fraunhofer Society. Annually, event organizer Deutsche Messe recognizes a company that is younger than five years old with a technologically innovative product or solution.
More than 300 startups are showcasing their innovations at Hannover Messe this year. The central Startup Area in Hall 17 has exhibition and stage areas for product presentations and one-on-one meetings. The Startup Area also features many partnerships with industry, such as Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), the Netherlands Innovation Square and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia's Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport.
“The Digital Hub Initiative (de:hub) and its 12 digital hubs unite startups and SMEs via industry-specific programs where they work together on digital solutions,” explains Karolin Hewelt, Hub agency lead of the Digital Hub Initiative and co-founder of RCKT. "Hannover Messe brings together potential cooperation partners and ecommnables them to exchange innovative ideas,” she continues. “Our matchmaking format facilitates targeted networking, provides impulses for collaboration and thus lays the foundation for innovative partnerships between startups and SMEs. We are delighted that Hannover Messe provides the starting point for this.”
The Startup Area also includes the Innovation World Cup, honoring outstanding tech entrepreneurs in industry, energy, mobility and security. The top 15 present their solutions at the finale on April 19 in the Industrie 4.0 Stage in Hall 8. The HACK4INDUSTRY networking event in Hall 17 on April 20 also brings startups together with other exhibitors and potential partners and investors.