Digital Hub Ruhr
A place for innovation

Experience innovation, make digitization tangible, and think ahead about implementations. Designing future projects for networks, sensor technology, applications, and digital ecosystems.

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  • [Translate to Englisch:]

    As a network partner, the Digital Campus Zollverein e.V. with its 70 members makes a significant contribution as a driving force and network platform for companies and institutions to jointly develop forward-looking initiatives in the Ruhr metropolis. As a driver of innovation, the Digital Campus Zollverein strengthens digital and sustainable, innovative competitiveness and promotes cooperation and active exchange between companies, institutions, universities and start-ups. The common goals unite the two partners Digital Hub Ruhr and Digital Campus Zollverein.

  • [Translate to Englisch:] Digital Hub Ruhr Eröffnung

    The 18th Digital Hub of the second largest telecommunications company in the world, Verizon Business, was opened today in the Ruhr area in Gelsenkirchen in co-operation with GELSENWASSER AG, K-TEL Communications GmbH and GELSEN-NET GmbH. This is also the first digital hub in continental Europe and in Germany. The project sponsor is the City of Gelsenkirchen and the research sponsor is the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences. We are very proud that the Digital Hub Ruhr is located in the centre of the Ruhr region and is connected to 17 innovation hubs worldwide. Over 1,000 use cases from the IT and IoT environment are finding their way across the pond to the Ruhr region and - of course - vice versa - from the Ruhr region to the global, digital eco-network!

  • [Translate to Englisch:] Kooperationspartner von Digital Hub Ruhr

    The Digital Hub Ruhr is a cooperation of four companies: Verizon Communications as one of the world leading telecommunication provider. K-TEL Communications which stands for secure and optimal business solutions in the field of IT and telecommunications with over 20 years of experience as well as GELSEN-NET, a regional fiber specialist and provider of IT and telecommunication solutions and one of the future-oriented companies from Gelsenkirchen with 40 years of experience. GELSENWASSER is a listed German infrastructure and supply company with approx. 6,500 employees.

    Verizon Communications Inc. is a leading global telecommunications provider in the areas of mobile communications, internet, and fixed networks. The company is one of the largest U.S. mobile communications providers, with around 100 million customers in the U.S. mobile market alone. K-Tel has been working with Verizon for years. The partnership developed an unrivaled portfolio of leading and groundbreaking products and managed services to simplify the management of an IT infrastructure. From fiber optic internet to 5G to edge computing with customized solutions and expert support offerings. In the partnership for the Digital Hub Ruhr, GELSEN-NET operates the premises, provides the personnel, and builds the entire project. As a founding partner of the showroom, GELSENWASSER is creating new opportunities to strengthen the ICT sector, realise sustainable projects and make a contribution to a sustainable future with current research projects.

  • [Translate to Englisch:] Verizon

    Verizon displays new showcases for the Digital Hub Ruhr. The applicable use cases are diverse.

    From remote working to control center technology - everything is available. As a founding partner of the Digital Hub Ruhr, Verizon is setting up its second digital lab in Europe. Alongside London and hubs in the USA, Gelsenkirchen is one of its flagship projects.

  • The Digital Hub Ruhr moves and expands: 160 square metres of construction site. 90 floor tiles, 1000 vinyl tiles, 300 metres of LED strip lighting - Lüke Design from Marl is building its masterpiece. According to the specifications of GELSEN-NET, an extraordinary showroom with various applications is created.

    Starting with networks, through sensor technology and different applications, an impressive space for digital solutions is created here.

Digital Hub Ruhr
A place for innovation

Experience innovation, make digitization tangible, and think ahead. Shape future projects for the whole digital ecosystems: networks, sensor technology and applications.

Our multifunctional showroom of 160 square metres in the heart of the Ruhr-area offers the perfect space for digital innovation processes. From product development and product marketing to the sales or purchases of digital solutions – at the Digital Hub Ruhr everything is possible. The Digital Hub Ruhr represents the entire digital ecosystem. Whether you are a municipality, an established company or a start up – everyone can become part of our dynamic network. Because those who network, become more successful. Together.

Partners & Participants

  • As a regional fiber optic specialist and provider of IT and telecommunication solutions, GELSEN-NET is one of the future-oriented companies from Gelsenkirchen with 40 years of experience.

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  • As a listed German infrastructure and supply company with 6,500 GELSENWASSER Group employees, GELSENWASSER is one of the most important German employers in the water industry.

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  • K-TEL Communications GmbH is a Berlin-based communications provider that stands for secure and reliable business solutions in the field of IT and telecommunications.

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  • Verizon Communications Inc. is a U.S. and globally leading telecommunications provider in the areas of mobile communications, internet, and landline. The company is headquartered in New York City.

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  • With its expertise in water management and information technology, the start-up okeanos offers customized solutions to achieve your operational goals, particularly in the fields of hydrological modelling, urban water management and hydrometry.

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  • Our start-up partner Stackbox delivers the full potential of e-mobility with a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem, including the critical IT solutions required to build and operate it.

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  • VEXO Lichttechnik GmbH & Co KG is a medium-sized company based in Erkrath. They have been successfully developing, producing, planning and distributing outdoor lighting since 1999.

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  • As a project sponsor of the Digital Hub Ruhr, the city of Gelsenkirchen enables networking and cooperation between companies, research institutions and other cities / regions in the ICT sector to be further promoted and advanced.

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  • With its clear focus on science and technology, our research sponsor, the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, not only makes a significant contribution to training the next generation of skilled workers, but also works with regional companies to develop technological solutions and products that set trends.

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  • Digital Campus Zollverein

    As a network partner, the Digital Campus Zollverein e.V. with its 70 members makes a significant contribution as a driving force and network platform for companies and institutions to jointly develop forward-looking initiatives in the Ruhr metropolis.

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The digital ecosystem

Networks

Networks are the basis of any digital innovation. With them, the foundation of the entire ecosystem is laid and IoT data can be collected efficiently. From LoRaWan to WiFi to fiber optics or 5G – the latest network technologies are presented at the Digital Hub Ruhr.

Access to communications networks and digital services, and thus the provision of sufficient bandwidth, is of crucial importance for people, companies, and municipalities today. In this context, a wide variety of communications networks form the prerequisite and basis for complex applications in areas such as transportation, health, administration, and others. It's not just about connecting people, but also machines. This creates the basis for the Internet of Things.

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Use cases

Numerous smart use cases and their respective sensor technology enable the reliable collection of IoT data.

Identifying viable and innovative use cases to achieve more efficient processes, automated production workflows or a better customer loyalty are the taska of the Digital Hub Ruhr. Here, existing use cases can be seen, and new use cases can be tested under laboratory conditions.

PDF Examples of use (german)

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Applications

Experience dashboards and applications from various fields such as Smart City, Telehealth, Industry, and Logistics, and get inspired. A wealth of data is collected through various use cases.

Providing and analyzing this data for different devices and services is one task of a digital ecosystem. Through a data platform hosted and implemented by GELSEN-NET itself, data can be stored, processed almost in real-time, correlated, and connected to create new added value. The Digital Hub Ruhr offers state-of-the-art data platforms that demonstrate efficiencies through numerous use cases and can be tested under laboratory conditions.

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[Translate to Englisch:] Skyline

Real people. Real feedback.

  • I am pleased to see that GELSEN-NET, in close cooperation with the founding partners Verizon and K-Tel, have created a showroom that represents the entire ecosystem of digital solutions for companies and municipalities. Thus, the Digital Hub Ruhr shapes the future of a Smart City and the Industry 4.0.

    - Thomas Dettenberg, CEO GELSEN-NET
  • Cities and municipalities in Germany have a key role in the implementation of digitalization concepts, and exactly in the place where it counts: where people can see for themselves the actual benefits and advantages of new technologies, and where, at the same time, problems and concerns of them are not ignored. We are very pleased about the partnership with GELSEN-NET and Gelsenkirchen, which gives us the opportunity to present solutions for Industry 4.0 and Smart Cities and put them to the test in everyday living environments.

    - Jürgen Brömmer, Business Development Partner verizon
  • Together, we are shaping the Digital Hub Ruhr as a powerful forge for the future - united by P5G: potentials, partnerships, projects, processes and perspectives.

    - Boris Krell, Geschäftsführer K-Tel
  • With the Digital Hub Ruhr, we can make digitization tangible, inspire municipalities and companies, and thus make a valuable contribution to digital progress in the region.

    - Oliver F. Heimann, Business Unit Manager Smart City GELSEN-NET

You want to visit the Digital Hub Ruhr?

Would you like to visit us, present your own application or develop a digital solution together with us? Then send us a short e-mail. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

You need more information?

Download our examples of use here or send us an e-mail if you have any specific questions.