In the workshop “Funding 1x1: What should you consider?”, participants learned how to strengthen their capacity for innovation and drive digitalisation in their own company with the help of suitable funding programmes. They received a compact and easy-to-understand overview of current financial support options for small and medium-sized enterprises in the areas of digitalisation and innovation.

The workshop showed which programmes are suitable for different types of projects – from research tax incentives and “Digitalbonus” through to innovation vouchers. It was explained who provides funding, what exactly is funded and how typical hurdles in the application process can be avoided. Particular emphasis was placed on a clear and transparent presentation so that the content could be directly applied to participants’ own projects.

The speaker provided practical insights into selecting appropriate funding programmes, outlined the key steps in the application process and showed how to position projects strategically in order to increase the chances of success. The focus was on actionable tips rather than theory: compact, understandable and directly applicable. The workshop was aimed specifically at small and medium-sized enterprises that want to advance their innovation and digitalisation projects efficiently and make optimal use of available funding.

In the pitch workshop “Winning with good ideas – when they are presented convincingly”, entrepreneurs and employees learned how to present their vision, product or project precisely, effectively and in a way that is tailored to their target group. Whether in customer meetings, investor pitches, internal decision-making bodies or when initiating strategic partnerships – a clearly structured, confidently delivered pitch often determines what happens next in the business process.

In just 60 minutes, participants were given a compact, tried-and-tested pitch framework that can be easily applied in everyday work. They sharpened their core message, defined the value for their target group and worked on using a strong storyline to attract and hold attention. Through exercises on presence, language and dramaturgy, they trained their professional appearance and gained confidence for situations in which every second counts.

The workshop combined short impulses with immediately applicable methods and individual feedback. Instead of theoretical ballast, the focus was on concrete tools, phrasing building blocks and real-world examples – with the goal of enabling participants to present themselves clearly, convincingly and confidently in crucial moments.

In the workshop “Analog thinking, digital doing”, participants deliberately stepped out of their everyday routines and worked in small groups on their individual challenges – without technical jargon, but with a strong practical focus and plenty of room for exchange.
The central questions were: Where are we today, what is holding us back and which next steps are realistic? Together, participants reflected on their daily work, identified obstacles – whether technical, organisational or human – and derived concrete, immediately actionable ideas. In this way, “We really should become more digital at some point” turned into a clear roadmap with first, manageable measures.

Reflection quickly led to action: each person developed a realistic idea for immediate implementation in their company, as well as a bolder “what if” variant. No prior knowledge or finished project idea was required – topics came directly from everyday work, for example digital quotation processes, the use of software in the office or better coordination on construction sites. Clear guiding questions, structured role changes and short reflection phases ensured conversations at eye level that truly moved participants forward.

In the end, they took away more than just good conversations: they returned to their companies with new impulses, valuable contacts and a clearly formulated next step.

The workshop “Designing with the eyes: How eye tracking makes your digital products more successful” was planned as a practical introduction to the use of eye tracking in the design of digital products, but had to be cancelled due to illness. The idea was to show why some websites or apps are immediately convincing while others attract hardly any attention – and how eye tracking can help to understand how users actually look, search and decide.

Based on concrete examples and live demonstrations, it was intended to illustrate how gaze patterns can be analysed and interpreted in order to specifically improve usability and user experience. The workshop was designed for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as public institutions wishing to make their digital products more effective and user-friendly – even without prior experience.