THE 2023 DEEPTECH AWARD: THE WINNERS
Five Deep Tech Stars were awarded for particularly innovative, deep-tech-based products and solutions at the Spindler & Klatt event location on 6 July. The Deep Tech Awards took place for the eighth time in Berlin; the prize is endowed with a total of €50,000.
Berlin is considered the top location of the German tech industry. Artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, IT security and the Internet of Things are particularly heavily represented in the capital; developments are primarily driven by start-ups and highly specialised small and medium-sized enterprises. With the DeepTech Award, the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises aims to show just how innovative Berlin’s deep tech SMEs are. In July, the Deep Tech Stars were once again awarded in five categories.
A total of 50 suggestions were submitted to the jury; 13 made it into the preliminary round, during which the submitted products and solutions were assessed as to their degree of innovation and marketability. The best three in each category were ultimately presented as finalists at the award ceremony; the prize winners were then announced. Three of this year’s award-winning companies had developed solutions for the nursing field. Only one suggestion was submitted in the category IT Security; however, the jury deemed it a worthy winner.
The Deep Tech Awards are initiated and awarded by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises as part of the Project Future (“Projekt Zukunft”) state initiative as well as by the Deep Tech Berlin campaign; the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) co-finances the award.
THE 2023 WINNERS
In the category Artificial Intelligence
Bearcover
This Berlin medical technology start-up aims to relieve nurses and carers during night shifts at homes for senior citizens and clinics – with a robot named “Oscar”. As it patrols the corridors, computer technology and radar sensors help the robot recognise movement and breathing, even through closed doors. This data allows it to quickly register accidents, falls or other emergencies.
In the category Sustainable & Social Impact
YoniCore by CoreCreation
YoniCore is the first customisable medical device for the treatment of female urinary incontinence and genital prolapses: a silicon mould (diaphragm) inflates to fit the shape of the pelvic floor and can thus relieve urinary incontinence and reduce pelvic floor weaknesses in the long term, such as the bulging of inner organs (prolapse). The entire solution comprises the diaphragm, a rehabilitation app and a user-centric, data-protection-friendly cloud environment.
In the category Web3 – DLT, Blockchain Technology, NFT & the Metaverse
LI.FI Service
The software product developed by LI.FI pools the most important bridge systems between different blockchains and connects them. The software makes blockchain systems compatible and helps users exploit decentralised blockchain systems, which in turn makes it easier for new companies to enter the market. Within 18 months of its founding, LI.FI managed to get its blockchain bridge system integrated into MetaMask, one of the largest digital exchanges (wallets) in the blockchain field.
In the category IoT/Industry 4.0
AssistMe
AssistMe aims to support personnel in nursing homes and improve quality of care – with a solution comprising “interconnected” incontinence pants and an app. A clip on the pants measures their condition and capacity; it then transfers these data to an app that processes this information for nursing staff. This in turn allows staff to provide timely care to their nursing home residents.
In the category IT Security
Neofonie
TXTWerk is an automated text analysis tool with which digital agency Neofonie aims to help users gain a better overview of IT risks. The tool works its way through a multitude of notifications on hacker attacks, malware and safety gaps, compiling reports from the data. This allows users to identify key developments in the field of IT security and warn companies, as well as authorities, of new dangers. TXTWerk was developed in cooperation with the Federal Office for Information Safety (BSI). (vdo)
