Darmstadt 20. February 2012 – With numerous exhibits, the German Software Cluster, winner of the German government's Leading-Edge Cluster Competition, will present itself for the first time at CeBIT from 6 to 10 March 2012 in Hanover, Germany. In Hall 9, Stand F30, visitors can experience the initial results of research projects dealing with the next generation of enterprise software – emergent software – as well as gain insight into the start-up activities and the economic dynamics of the cluster region.

AGT Group Germany and Scheer Management GmbH are new partners in the Software-Cluster research projects since October 31st, 2011. As examples of an international company locating in the Software-Cluster and a fast-growing start-up both enterprises also stand for the growth of the Cluster.

On 14 November 2011 the first Software-Cluster Innovation Forum took place in Darmstadt. On this occasion the Software-Cluster received its award as one of the “Selected Landmarks 2011” within the scope of the initiative “Germany – Land of Ideas”. Researchers and entrepreneurs from the cluster region in the south-west of Germany competed against each other with their current projects and results and also exchanged with “Innovation Angels” and leading personalities of the Software-Cluster.

The project "Peer Energy cloud" was granted the title "Project in the Software-Cluster" at the Kick-off Meeting on 19th of October, 2011. Peer Energy Cloud concentrates on the development of solutions for intelligent distribution and use of renewable energies and is set to run for three years (2011 – 2014). The project is one of twelve winners of the technology and promotional competition „Trusted Cloud "of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Numerous partners of the Software-Cluster cooperate in the partner consortium: German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH (DFKI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), AGT Germany, SEEBURGER AG. New partner is the project is Stadtwerke Saarlouis.

Darmstadt – In the context of the German-Russian year of science the Software-Cluster is invited to share its experience in promoting innovation in the software industry in southwest Germany. Cluster Manager Gino Brunetti takes part in the discussions with numerous experts from Germany, France and Russia at the "International Youth Innovation Forum" (INTERRA 2011) from 22-24 September, 2011 in Novosibirsk in Siberia/Russia.

Darmstadt – The Software-Cluster has begun work on innovative services in the future Internet: at the kick-off meeting of the project "Innovative Services in the Future Internet" a consortium of 17 partners from industry and academia came together in Darmstadt, Germany. Until 2014, a platform on which enterprises can create, offer and run services in the Internet of Services will be jointly developed. Such a platform will allow for completely new business models.

Darmstadt – A current study confirms the rising demand for specialists in the software industry in the region of the German Software-Cluster around the cities of Darmstadt, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe und Saarbrücken. The study recommends better coordination between course content and the requirements of practice and the development of dual study courses as a major solution steps.

Karlsruhe - The Software-Cluster, Europe's Silicon Valley, provides insights into the cloud activities of the partners at CLOUDZONE 2011 in Karlsruhe on 7 and 8 April 2011. The Cloud Computing fair presents the newest industry developments and provides an opportunity for workshops and discussions with experts. As an important location of the Software-Cluster, Karlsruhe offers ideal conditions for this fair.

Darmstadt/Dietzenbach - The Society for the Advancement of Technology Transfer (GFFT) honored two members of the Software-Cluster strategy board today, that had a professional career filled with outstanding contributions promoting the transfer of their research findings to commercial products and services: Professors Scheer and Wahlster. In the context of the 5th Annual Meeting on March 18, 2011 in Dietzenbach, the society presented an honorary membership to Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Wolfgang Wahlster, scientific director and CEO of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). Also presented with an honorary membership was the BITKOM President, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. August-Wilhelm Scheer.

Darmstadt/Karlsruhe/Saarbrücken–The German expertise in applied IT security research is concentrated in the Software-Cluster around Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe, Darmstadt and Walldorf – this was impressively confirmed by grants of more than 20 million Euro that were announced by the Federal Government during CeBIT fair. This includes on the one hand all three Cyber Security Centers, which were assigned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research to the Technical University of Darmstadt, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Saarland University. Furthermore, partners of the Software-Cluster achieved double success in the „Trusted Cloud Computing" competition organized by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

Hanover – The Software-Cluster is present with its topics and partners at CeBIT 2011, the most important international top event of the digital industry, in Hanover from 1-5 March 2011. A year after being awarded in the leading-edge cluster competition of the German federal government the visitors get an insight into the development of the enterprise software of tomorrow in numerous partner booths. A panel discussion on the Software-Cluster with renowned speakers will open the CeBIT lab talks on Tuesday, 1 March 2011 at 12:00 a.m.

Brussels and Darmstadt - Truffle Capital, the prominent European private equity firm, today published the second edition of its study "Truffle 100 European Clusters", a ranking list of the Top 40 regions of the European software industry. According to this evaluation list, enterprises of the German Software-Cluster obtained 40% of the world-wide profit of the 100 prominent European software providers. The study expressly emphasizes the role of the Software-Cluster region, which maintained its position as the European "Silicon Valley".

Berlin — Annette Schavan, the Federal Minister of Education and Research, announced the winners of the second round of the "Spitzencluster" competition on Tuesday. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will be supporting the five winners over a period of five years with funds of up to 200 million euros. Europe's largest software cluster, "Softwareinnovationen für das digitale Unternehmen", was one of the winners. This cluster is known as the Silicone Valley of Europe and includes the centers in Darmstadt, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe, Saarbrücken and Walldorf.