CellPort Launches in Duisburg: High-Tech Master Classes for Smart Logistics

“We are strengthening Duisburg as a logistics hub through a combination of cutting-edge research, the latest mobile communication technology, and practical support for startups.”

• Innovation Platform for Logistics Startups

• Field testing under real-world conditions

• Project Combines a 5G Test Bed, Prototype Development, and Scientific Knowledge Transfer

• Objective: Bringing research to market-ready solutions for Logistics 4.0 more quickly

Duisburg, June 11, 2026. Duisburg is the launch site for “CellPort – Network for Smart Logistics.” The new innovation platform supports logistics startups in transforming scientific research into competitive applications for Logistics 4.0. The project began in June 2026, will run for four years, and is funded as part of the STARK program through the 5-Site Program for Coal-Mining Regions. Duisburg Business & Innovation GmbH (DBI) is responsible for project management and marketing, with two dedicated positions. Partners include startport GmbH, a logistics innovation platform, and the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE). The total funding amounts to two million euros.

“Duisburg exemplifies the challenges and opportunities of industrial transformation. Shaping these actively is our mission as business and project developers. We are strengthening the logistics hub through a synergy of cutting-edge research, the latest mobile communications technology, and practical support for startups,” says DBI Managing Director Rasmus C. Beck.

At the heart of CellPort are 12-month high-tech masterclasses for startups. A total of 30 young companies are expected to participate across four cycles. To access a dedicated 5G network, the project utilizes infrastructure that is particularly well-suited for application-oriented testing under real-world conditions: at the Multimodal Terminal Duisburg (MTD) operated by duisport—Duisburger Hafen AG. In Walsum, participants can test hardware and software—such as drones, Internet of Things applications, and autonomous vehicles—under real-world conditions. The program is complemented by a fully equipped prototyping workspace with 3D printers, CNC milling machines, and other tools for free prototyping.

Johannes Franke, Managing Director of startport: “With Cellport, we are creating a unique ecosystem for startups to develop and test sustainable solutions right here on site. The launch of this project is an important milestone for the region and a true testament to the area’s innovative strength.”

The University of Duisburg-Essen is also contributing its expertise to the project. “CellPort demonstrates how scientific research feeds into the startup ecosystem and drives innovation in logistics,” explains Güldilek Köylüoğlu Alabaş, a research grant administrator at UDE. In doing so, the project strengthens the transfer of research into practical applications, the further development of digital solutions, and the region’s status as a hub for innovation and economic growth.

“With the CellPort project, we are demonstrating that the 5-site program in Duisburg represents a vision for the future. CellPort aligns perfectly with this vision because it brings innovation and transformation together,” adds Michael Rüscher, Head of the Economic Affairs Department for the City of Duisburg.

The 5-Location Program supports municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia that are particularly affected by the phase-out of coal. It funds forward-looking projects that create new economic opportunities and accelerate structural change at the local level. In Duisburg, the program is helping to implement transformation projects such as CellPort and to position the city for long-term competitiveness and technological strength.

The STARK program (Strengthening the Dynamics of Transformation and New Beginnings in Mining Districts and at Coal-Fired Power Plant Sites) also supports projects that drive structural change in coal-mining regions.