Software-Cluster celebrating the award as „Selected Landmark 2011 in the Land of Ideas“ with Innovation Forum

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.

For its aim to develop the enterprise software of tomorrow the Software-Cluster around the cities of Darmstadt, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe and Saarbrücken was distinguished as one of the "Selected Landmarks 2011" within the scope of the initiative "Germany - Land of Ideas" on Monday, November 14th, 2011.On this occasion the Software-Cluster organized its first Innovation Forum with a following panel discussion under the slogan: "More Software World Market Leaders from Germany – Through Ideas Alone? From the Land of Ideas towards the Land of Innovations".

In the context of the Software-Cluster Innovation Forum entrepreneurs and researchers from the cluster presented their current projects and results in the following categories: ideas (research results), innovation (start-ups and new products) and growth (corporate successes). Presenters were, among others, from CAS Software AG (Karlsruhe), IMC AG (Saarbrücken) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology (Darmstadt). Innovation Angels in the audience – e.g. patent lawyers, headhunters, journalists and Business Angels, gave spontaneous feedback and also encouraged new partnerships. In addition, the audience made investments into the best ideas with fictitious "Software-Cluster Euros".

The evening event continued in this spirit by highlighting pathways of the Software-Cluster from ideas towards new software world market leaders in a moderated dialogue between Karl-Heinz Streibich (Software AG), Prof. Dr. Lutz Heuser (President of the Software-Cluster), Prof. Dr. Johannes Buchmann (TU Darmstadt) and Dr. Volker Zimmermann (IMC AG).

In the following, Jürgen Süßmann from Deutsche Bank, partner of the initiative "Germany – Land of Ideas", awarded the Software-Cluster as one of the "Selected Landmarks 2011". After passing on the prize he emphasized: "With the enterprise software of tomorrow, which is currently being developed in the Software-Cluster, companies will be able to modularly create software solutions that fit their requirements the best. This will enable all new services and provide added value for both vendors and customers."

From 2,600 entries submitted the one handed in by the Software-Cluster Coordination Office convinced the independent jury. With its viable idea it represents Germany as the "Land of Ideas". "To be a laureate in the competition '365 Landmarks in the Land of Ideas' is a hallmark for creativity and sustainability. With a large commitment and passion the Selected Landmarks make the innovative strength of Germany more visible and provide important impulses for today and tomorrow", argued Jürgen Süßmann as a reason for the commitment of Deutsche Bank.

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