PERSPECTIVES ON THE FUTURE TECH FEST
”FTF matters now because open exchange meets clear direction—turning ideas into action. For Düsseldorf, it sharpens its edge as a bold, collaborative tech hub. My highlight was seeing unexpected partnerships spark.“
Tanja Vogt
Group Lead Innovation Partnerships
Vodafone Germany
”FTF puts Düsseldorf and NRW on the map as a place where innovation and entrepreneurship come together. It shows that the region has a strong ecosystem and brings together people who actively shape it. For us at Solingen.Business, this visibility also creates new opportunities for startups and partners across the wider region.“
Phil Derichs
Managing Director, Solingen.Business –
Economic Development Agency
”What makes Future Tech Fest so valuable is the quality of exchange it creates. For WFMG, it has proven to be an important platform to connect Mönchengladbach’s growing startup and innovation community with partners from across the region. From established industry to emerging ventures, FTF helps make the city’s innovation potential visible.“
Dr. Ulrich Schückhaus
Chairman of WFMG‘s Board of Management
until mid-2026
”The Future Tech Fest has become one of the most important dates in NRW's innovation calendar. It brings together startups, companies and public institutions committed to making Düsseldorf a place where innovation can grow. As a city, we believe that economic development and technological progress are inseperably connected. FTF is where those connections become visible.“
Christian Zaum
Head of Economic Affairs
Düsseldorf
”Future Tech Fest is a powerful catalyst for our region: it connects startups, corporates, investors, academia & politics to jointly tackle key innovation needs – from AI
& automation to smart mobility, energy & health. This collaboration strengthens Düsseldorf as a tech hub & drives the indispensable digital transformation.“
Hanbing Ma
Head of Innovation & Digital Transformation
ERGO Group AG
"What impresses me most about Future Tech Fest is the energy that emerges when innovators from different back-grounds come together with a shared ambition: shaping the future. The festival is a powerful reminder that break-through innovation happens through collaboration, curiosity and the courage to think big.“
Mona Neubauer
Minister of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection
and Energy for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
”North Rhine-Westphalia is currently in a race to turn technological excellence into real economic impact. We already have world-class research institutions, strong industrial champions and highly innovative entrepreneurs. What we need is stronger connections between these worlds. The Future Tech Festival 2026 creates exactly that space, bringing together founders, investors, industry leaders, researchers and policymakers to turn innovation into tangible outcomes.“
Gregor Berghausen
Chief Executive Officer
Düsseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce
”The Future Tech Fest brings together the people who are actively shaping the future — founders, investors, corporates and public institutions. For Rhein-Kreis Neuss, being part of this ecosystem matters. As a region with strong industrial roots and a growing startup scene, FTF gives us the opportunity to showcase our strengths and connect with the wider NRW innovation landscape.“
Dominik Hintzen
Team Lead Innovarion
Economic Development Agency Rhein-Kreis Neuss
Picture: Daniel Rüsseler, Olaf Nickel,Leon Brauer, Michael Lübke, Julia Sellmann Photography, MWIKE NRW/Nils , Olaf Nickel
