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In 2015, Dr. Oliver Grün, President of the German Association of IT SMEs (BITMi), and Prof. Dr. Malte Brettel, Vice-Rector at RWTH Aachen University, launched the regional digitization initiative “Aachen digitalisiert!” (“Aachen goes digital!”). In 2016, the initiative successfully applied to become one of six Digital Economy Hubs (DWNRW-Hubs) funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia through its “Digital Economy NRW” program. To secure the required co-financing, the association raised €1.5 million from committed SMEs and supporters within just six weeks. Today, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalization, and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia supports five such Digital Hubs across the state with a total of up to €12.5 million in funding.

digitalHUB Aachen e.V. is dedicated to driving digital transformation across both the private and public sectors in the Aachen region. Its members include SMEs, corporations, startups, and institutions that support the HUB’s mission. At the heart of its ecosystem is the digitalCHURCH, where startups and IT SMEs — the digital “Enablers” — collaborate with traditional businesses and industry players — the digital “Users” — to develop and implement innovative digital business models. This ecosystem is further supported by regional stakeholders and academic institutions — the “Supporters.” Together, they are creating a Euregio-wide “Aachen Area” as a hub of digital innovation. The digitalHUB Aachen is one of five innovation centers funded under the #DWNRW initiative, part of the state’s effort to strengthen the digital economy in North Rhine-Westphalia.