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In 2027, Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) will hold its first trade show in Germany. At the inaugural event in Hanover, the state pavilion organized by NRW.Global Business will connect companies from NRW with partners from the defense industry, politics, the armed forces and government agencies. There, they will be able to showcase their technologies and industrial expertise and establish new contacts.

A new quantum computer, the Jülich trapped-ION quantum computer (JION), has been put into operation at Forschungszentrum Jülich. It was developed by the Siegen-based startup eleQtron in collaboration with the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC). The system is connected to one of Europe’s most powerful supercomputing infrastructures. The technology is now set to be scaled up for more complex applications, such as in materials research, optimization and artificial intelligence.

New propulsion systems, automation and digital technologies are transforming inland waterway shipping. Researchers from NRW are investigating how these technologies can be applied in real-world conditions aboard the research vessel NOVA. In late August, a voyage to Rotterdam began, during which the focus was on practical tests and technical exchanges between NRW and the Netherlands.

At its new location in Werne, RCS Plastics GmbH will be able to process approximately 100,000 metric tons of plastic material per year. This new facility will expand the RCS Group's production capacity. A standalone plastic recycling facility is being built north of the group’s existing headquarters on a 6.5-hectare site. 

From Germany to the U.S.: The Bielefeld-based company Goldbeck is now taking this step. Goldbeck plans, builds and operates real estate using a systematic construction approach. To enter the market, Goldbeck has formed a joint venture with Mortenson, one of the largest construction companies in the United States. 

According to the municipal utilities company Stadtwerke Düsseldorf, the most powerful hydrogen refueling station in Europe has been located on Höherweg in Düsseldorf since last year. Until now, the station has been supplied with hydrogen via truck trailers to fuel Rheinbahn’s fuel cell buses, among other things. With the commissioning of its first electrolyzer in July 2026, Stadtwerke Düsseldorf is now producing hydrogen on-site for the first time. 

MWC Barcelona is one of the world’s most important trade shows for mobile communications and connectivity. Companies and industry experts from around the world will gather there from March 1-4, 202. Last year, nearly 3,000 exhibiting companies were represented at the event. At the upcoming trade show, NRW.Global Business will offer companies from NRW the opportunity to participate in the NRW state pavilion and present their solutions to an international audience of industry professionals under the state's umbrella.

Heavy rainfall and high temperatures present significant challenges for densely populated cities. However, the potential of ground surfaces is limited. Fraunhofer UMSICHT is therefore turning its attention to building facades. In this interview, Dr. Holger Wack explains how the Vertical Water Sponge stores rainwater, alleviates pressure on existing water retention systems and enhances the urban microclimate.