HEALTHCARE INDUSTRIES: FULL OF LIVE

The healthcare industry accounts for 10 percent of NRW's economic output. It is one of the most important sectors in Düsseldorf - with enormous innovative power. A key success factor is the excellent networking of the relevant players. 

Occupational health and safety, reintegration management, health promotion: corporate health management (CHM) covers many areas - and is becoming even more important in times of skills shortages and an ageing society. 

Ageing and care are issues that affect us all, but are often still taboo in the world of work. The state of NRW has launched a special programme to raise awareness and support companies and employees. 

The EU has set itself the ambitious target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. To achieve this, many measures will be needed in the coming years. One of them is to speed up the expansion of renewable energies.

According to Bitkom, the annual damage caused by cyber attacks on German companies will amount to €148 billion by 2023. Phishing emails account for a large proportion of this. Cyber security companies such as SoSafe are working to change this by making companies and their employees aware of the digital threat. This also applies to the healthcare sector, as patient data is particularly attractive to cyber criminals.

When a university hospital offers its own start-up support, it says a lot about the esteem in which start-ups are held. This is the case in Düsseldorf: with Startup4med, the University Hospital Düsseldorf supports those interested in setting up a company, from the initial idea to applying for funding and setting up the company. This is a great example of how vibrant and diverse the start-up ecosystem is in the state capital. The three 'fresh ideas' that thrive in this environment and will be showcased in this VIVID are not just from the health sector: Weltenmacher, Your Showdown and Teresa.AI.

With his food growth fund ZINTINUS, nutrition expert Fabio Ziemßen helps finance start-ups in the clean food, alternative protein and functional food sectors and heads the German Association for Alternative Protein Sources. The investor and lobbyist spoke to VIVID about how we will eat in the future.

One tiny slip can set things in motion and turn your life upside down overnight. When Philipp Lange stumbled and hit his foot on a door frame, he had no idea how much this injury would throw him off his stride. Despite lengthy treatment and operations, he was only able to stand for a limited time – and in pain. This was particularly brutal for him as an experienced professional chef who usually spends hours a day on his feet in the kitchen. He took a year off, shouldering the agonising uncertainty of what would happen in the future and whether he might have to change jobs. In the end, the man who grew up on Maui managed to make a new start as head chef at The Court on Mühlenstraße in the Old Town. 

Sonja Oberem is a three-time junior world champion in the short distance triathlon and a two-time Olympian in the women’s marathon. At the Uniper Düsseldorf Marathon 2025, she is the race director for running. She spoke to VIVID editor Rainer Kunst about her athletic and professional career, what makes Düsseldorf so special as a marathon venue, and her experiences as a top athlete that help her in her job. 

Dermatologist Dr Alice Martin is the co-founder of dermatology app dermanostic, one of Düsseldorf's most dynamic healthcare startups. At dermanostic, she provides digital care for people with skin conditions - from diagnosis and treatment recommendations to prescription of medication. As a passionate communicator of dermatology issues, she shares the story and benefits of telemedicine with the outside world - via social media as well as on stage and at events. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key technology in the healthcare industry. Not only does it help medical professionals with early detection and diagnosis, it can also ease the burden of caring for patients.