Swedish Cleantech Innovators Explore Market Opportunities in North Rhine-Westphalia

In early October, Swedish cleantech innovators from the Swedish-German Cleantech Platform travelled to North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to explore market opportunities and initiate collaborations in one of Germany’s most dynamic regions for innovation and energy transition. The study trip had a clear Swedish-German collaboration approach to the areas of energy system transformation, digital optimization and climate-neutral mobility.

Kick-Off: Policy Insights from NRW’s Energy Stakeholders

The program started with an expert seminar hosted by NRW.Energy4Climate, with insights from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia. Participants gained a deeper understanding of regional priorities in climate action, renewable expansion, and energy system transformation.

This created an important foundation ahead of B2B meetings and company pitches.

Exploring Local Energy Systems & Joint Innovation

A central highlight of the trip was the Swedish-German Innovation Summit in Düsseldorf, where public and private stakeholders explored how local energy systems can accelerate the transition to climate neutrality.

A strong example of Swedish-German collaboration was presented by Swedish-German Cleantech Platform alumni company Grundels and LEG-Immobilien-Gruppe, demonstrating the potential of joint innovation in practice. The delegates also had the possibility to pitch their solutions, contributing fresh approaches to challenges in electrification, storage, building efficiency, and mobility.

With group discussions and structured networking, the summit became a launchpad for new collaboration opportunities.

On the Road Across NRW: From Düsseldorf to Dortmund

Over three days, the delegation travelled across NRW, engaging with utilities, corporates, municipalities and research organizations. Each visit provided sector-specific insights and exposed participants to diverse local needs, from industrial decarbonization through grid optimization to mobility infrastructure.

While joint sessions offered shared learning, the primary focus of the trip was the tailored B2B meetings that connected companies directly with potential partners. These dialogues laid promising groundwork for future collaborations across Germany’s largest industrial state NRW.

Looking Ahead

The delegation highlighted the strong potential for collaboration between Swedish innovators and German actors committed to energy system transformation. With concrete discussions already underway, this trip marks an important step toward scaling solutions across borders.

A warm thank you to all partners, speakers, and participating companies for their engagement and contribution to the program.

We look forward to seeing the partnerships take shape.

Do you have any questions about our delegation or anything else? Reach out!