08 October 2025 
 
22 September 2025

Innovation meets tradition

Around 50 startups from eight countries are exhibiting at this year’s EMO Hannover in Hall 6, Stand C11 and F18. "This is now the fourth time that we are running the Startup Area at the EMO. It is a concept which helps to create connections between well-established companies in our industry and up-and-coming technology companies," says Stephanie Simon, who is in charge of organizing the EMO Startup Area on behalf of the VDW. "Our Startup Area is sold out. The strong demand despite a difficult economic situation shows that, together with the VDMA Startup Machine, we have now built up a very good reputation among startups. And they expect good business opportunities from their participation in the EMO," she says happily. In total, almost 80 startups will be exhibiting at the EMO 2025.

Foto: VDW - Kai-Uwe KnothFoto: VDW - Kai-Uwe Knoth
Startup Night during EMO Hannover 2023
The participating companies will be showcasing a wide range of topics and products. In the category of Production Technology & Components, these include new components, production processes and machine solutions that make production more efficient and competitive. One of the providers of this technology is Smart Factory from the Netherlands. Co-founder Frank Westervoorde says: "Smart Factory connects CNC machines regardless of brand and provides real-time insights into production. We optimize ERP and planning systems in a similar way to navigation apps that calculate the best way to avoid traffic jams. The result is greater productivity, increased on-time delivery performance, satisfied customers and higher profits thanks to data-driven production management."

Another key category goes by the name of Smart Factory and Digital Enablement, which goes hand-in-hand perfectly with Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, a focus topic at the EMO 2025. This is all about industrial IoT, AI, process digitalization and other key technologies for the networked factory. Lucas M. Schroth, CEO/co-founder of Process.Science from Hamburg, says: "We are at the EMO to show how manufacturing companies can gain new opportunities through data-driven process optimization – with our new IoT Miner for automated, actionable insights from sensor data."

Finally, the topic area of Future Services and Platform Solutions will showcase digital services, platform models and after-sales solutions, often in conjunction with new business models and sustainable approaches. SparePartsNow from Aachen are one example of this type of company. "The EMO brings the industry together – just like our platform, which connects five million spare parts with the people who need them every day," says Dr. Christian Hoffart, CEO of the company.

Different formats for a variety of ways to network

Established companies from the metalworking sector are keen to collaborate with startups, as they generally have a reputation for pioneering new solutions to key challenges such as smart factories, digitalization, AI-supported production optimization and much more. "With the Startup Area, we want to stimulate and inspire both sides, exhibitors and startups alike, because our entire industry can benefit from different ways of thinking and approaches to solutions," emphasizes Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director of EMO organizer VDW.

To ensure that startups and established EMO exhibitors can link up well at the trade fair, the organizers have put a number of different formats in place. "The Startup Area itself will be playing host to 1:1 matchmaking on Tuesday, the second day of the trade fair. This is like a 'speed dating' event where exhibitors can network with startup founders in three to five-minute conversations. There is also a Startup Night to allow interested parties to develop an understanding of each other in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, we are also running daily startup tours," explains Stephanie Simon. "In this way, we are also helping startups to develop contacts with established companies and investors," she says.

The startups themselves also value the world's leading trade fair for production technology as a valuable way to make contact with other companies and as a platform for expanding their network. "We are delighted to be part of the EMO 2025! After all, it's not just about presenting technologies to each other; it's also about bringing together the CNC machining industry, generating ideas and starting real collaborations. As a startup, this is the perfect place for us to present our company and get in touch with future customers who are ready to help shape the future," says Keran Sivalingam, co-founder of Refactum from Kaiserslautern, summarizing the reasons why companies are motivated to participate at the trade fair-


More news about "EMO":


18 September 2023

Startups@EMO Hannover

This years‘ EMO will once again feature a large Startup Area on Stand E34 in Hall 9, presented jointly by the organizer VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association) and the VDMA Startup Machine. "Startups bring a breath of fresh air to well-established industrial sectors because they often function as pioneers and trendsetters in their field of business," says Stephanie Simon, who is responsible for the project at the VDW. That's why established exhibitors are often more than interested in talking to young companies, she points out. "The EMO Startup Area currently features nearly 60 companies that are looking to break into the production technology market and appeal to its users," adds Juliane Salten of the VDMA. Their primarily aim is to raise their profile and set up networks with customers and investors. (more…)





29 May 2019

EMO Hannover: Engineering inspired by nature

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24 May 2019

VDI Recruitment Days at EMO Hannover

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7 January 2019

New exhibition area “IoT in production” at EMO

With a new exhibition area "IoT in production", EMO Hannover wants to underscore its claim to position itself as a platform for networking in production. EMO Hannover 2019 will take place from 16 to 21 September under the motto "Smart technologies driving tomorrow's production." (more…)


13 September 2018

EMO 2019 to focus on smart technologies

"Smart technologies driving tomorrow's production!" will be the theme of EMO Hannover 2019. This shifts the focus onto the development and implementation of new Industry 4.0 functions, the organiser organiser VDW (Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken - German Machine Tool Builders' Association) announces. (more…)


12 March 2018

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