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This year, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action will again be represented by numerous startups at the Web Summit, one of the leading tech conferences for IT and digital solutions, in Lisbon from 1-4 November 2022. Germany will present an innovative trade fair stand with a dynamic meeting space where high-ranking representatives from the political and business sectors including a large number of exhibitors will not only demonstrate Germany's strength as a base for IT businesses and tech startups, but also to seek to promote communication and interaction between policymakers, startups and the IT industry.

Dr Franziska Brantner, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, will open the joint stand together with the German Ambassador Dr Julia Monar. State Secretary Brantner said: "I am excited to see the innovative solutions and business models that our startups will present here in Lisbon. Through initiatives such as the Digital Hub Initiative, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action helps young companies to network with key players and investors, thus making an important contribution to the internationalisation of the German start-up ecosystem and strengthening Germany as a base for start-ups. I am pleased that we will be able to give foreign start-ups and other stakeholders a better overview of Germany’s diverse start-up scene here at the fair and strengthen the international networking of start-ups as a whole. It is therefore a great honour for me that Germany will be the first partner country of the Web Summit next year."

The Digital Hub Initiative will again be represented by a delegation this year. Eight digital hubs and 40 startups will present their innovations covering nearly all key sectors, such as mobility, smart city, circular economy, digital health, fintech and media tech under the umbrella of the Digital Hub Initiative in the German Pavilion. Founders will present their companies, ranging from AI, machine learning and sensor technology through to metaverse solutions. Presenting the Digital Hub Initiative will be a central pillar of Germany’s participation at the conference. A total of more than 75 exhibitors will present their products and services at the German Pavilion, which is funded by the Ministry’s Foreign Trade Fair Programme. The Web Summit takes place in Lisbon every year, with approx. 70.000 participants, and is one of the largest tech conferences in Europe. For the first time, next year's trade fair will have a partner country: Germany will be the first partner country of the Web Summit in 2023.

About the Digital Hub Initiative
By combining innovative start-up ideas with the know-how of established companies and scientific excellence, the Digital Hub Initiative promotes the development of a strong culture of innovation and new digital business models. The purpose of the Digital Hub Initiative is to strengthen Germany’s position as an attractive place for the digital economy and a globally leading digital ecosystem. Twelve digital hubs, which are spread right across Germany, form a strong network that enables technological and economic expertise, programmes and ideas to be shared.
The digital hubs include Berlin (IoT & FinTech), Cologne (InsurTech), Dortmund (Logistics), Dresden/Leipzig (Smart Systems & Smart Infrastructure), Frankfurt/Darmstadt (FinTech & Cybersecurity), Hamburg (Logistics), Karlsruhe (Artificial Intelligence), Mannheim/Ludwigshafen (Digital Chemistry & Digital Health), Munich (Mobility & InsurTech), Nuremberg/Erlangen (Digital Health), Potsdam (MediaTech) and Stuttgart (Future Industries). The Digital Hub Initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. You can find an overview of all the services and programmes offered by the digital hubs at www.de-hub.de.

About the Foreign Trade Fair Programme:
The participation of German businesses in trade fairs and exhibitions abroad is one of the most important and effective instruments of German industry’s export marketing. The Foreign Trade Fair Programme (AMP) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action offers companies the possibility to use Germany’s joint stands at favourable conditions to present their businesses under the ‘made in Germany’ brand at foreign trade fairs. This provides German companies with an excellent opportunity to showcase their high-quality products there. Foreign trade fairs offer a platform for buying and selling, making investments and boosting cooperation abroad, and are highly valued as forums for exchanging information and establishing contacts.

Through its official participation in selected trade fairs and exhibitions abroad, the Federal Republic of Germany paves the way for the successful use of this marketing tool by its export industry. Every year, around 300 trade fairs of supra-regional or international significance are included in the Foreign Trade Fair Programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.