The "NEXT.IN.NRW" competition is open to all companies based or established in the European Union, provided that the project is primarily implemented and utilized in North Rhine-Westphalia.



Here is the essential information:

• Diversity of ideas: Creative and digital ideas strengthen NRW's innovation and competitiveness, especially in the fields of media, culture, creative industries, artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technologies (ICT).

• Fields of innovation: These areas are part of the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS) and promote the transfer of ideas from science and industry into market-ready, sustainable products and services.

• Broad understanding of innovation: The competition promotes both technical and non-technical innovations in culture, media, creative industries, AI and ICT.



Funding areas:

• Technical innovations: Development of new or improved products, processes or services through technical innovations.

• Process innovations: Application of new or improved methods for production or services, including changes in techniques, equipment or software.

• Organizational innovations: New organizational methods in business practices, work processes or business relationships with high potential for innovation and application.