24 hours, a real industrial challenge, and a highly motivated team of students: at the Industry Makerthon 2025 in Hagen, the team took first place with our task. A success that impressively demonstrates the innovative potential of collaboration between industry and universities.

Industry meets innovation at Hagen’s M12
Under the theme “Shaping the future – discovering new markets,” regional industrial companies and interdisciplinary teams of students came together at the M12 innovation space. Within just 24 hours, the participants developed viable and future-oriented concepts based on specific industrial issues – including an intensive night shift.

Digital solution for increasing energy efficiency
The winning team impressed with a specialized tool for calculating gas and CO₂ savings in thermal processing plants. The solution combines technical understanding with digital thinking and addresses a key future issue for industry: energy efficiency and sustainability.

Presentation at SCHLAGER and the Electrotherm Group
Following the Makerthon, the students presented their solution at our company to our engineering department, management, and our parent company, the Electrotherm Group. Together, we discussed how the concept could be further developed and translated into concrete industrial applications—with potential for international use. Technical and organizational conditions are currently being examined in order to further concretize the idea and develop it in a practical manner. The discussions have shown that the Makerthon result can lead to more than just a competition victory.

Strong talent meets a culture of innovation
As an internationally active company with regional roots based in Hagen, promoting innovation is a key concern for us. The Industry Makerthon has impressively demonstrated the potential that arises when committed young talents meet industrial experience and technological tradition. The students impressed with their high level of professionalism, creative thinking, and quick understanding of complex processes – a strong signal for the future viability of our region and the industry of tomorrow.

More than just a competition
In addition to prize money and non-cash prizes for the students, the focus was above all on direct dialogue between the university and industry. This cooperation is a decisive factor for the future viability of the region – and a valuable opportunity for us to get in touch with the skilled workers of tomorrow at an early stage.

We would like to congratulate the student teams that came in second and third place, who took on the challenges set by Althaus Gosch GmbH from Hemer and Stahlkontor GmbH & Co. KG from Hagen. Together, we have shown how much innovative power our region has to offer!

We would also like to express our sincere thanks to digiHealthStart.nrw and all the organizers for the successful implementation of this inspiring event.