Liminals

A festival for exchange, innovation, and shaping the future: On September 17 and 18, Liminale will make its debut as part of “next Startup Days” on the grounds of the Faust e.V. Cultural Center in Hanover. The event builds on the great success of innovercity at the aufhof and features over 40 exciting program highlights. The focus is on key topics for the future—such as how artificial intelligence and the energy transition are changing (working) life and how we can contribute to strengthening democracy.

An open dialogue to develop urgent social and technological solutions to current and future challenges—that is the promise of Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts with its two-day Liminale festival, which will take place on Wednesday, September 17, and Thursday, September 18, on the grounds of the Faust e.V. Cultural Center in Hannover. On both days, visitors can expect a diverse program featuring a total of over 40 keynote speeches, workshops, panel discussions, and live presentations under the theme: “Between Now and Tomorrow: Space for Innovative Ideas”—all with free admission. Liminale is supported by Sparkasse Hannover, the GETEC Group, enercity, and the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture.

A Space for Exchange and
Innovation “Liminale is a space where researchers, students, forward-thinking companies, and the interested public come together and inspire one another. We promote the exchange of ideas and shape our future by making innovations visible and accessible—for a sustainable, equitable, and technologically advanced society,” explains Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Grotjahn, Vice President for Research, Technology Transfer, Entrepreneurship, and Continuing Education at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts

The high-calibre program brings together leading minds from science, business and society. For example, Harald Welzer, social psychologist, futurologist and publicist, will speak about the common goals of business, science and civil society and explain possible solutions for the burning issues of the future.

The renowned tech investor and co-host of the successful "Doppelgänger Tech Talk" podcast Philipp Klöckner sheds light on current developments in the field of artificial intelligence and ventures an outlook on what is to come, with concrete recommendations for the German economy in terms of innovation, competitiveness and technological sovereignty.

Gitta Connemann, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, and climate activist Carla Hinrichs will also look to the future and join a panel discussion on how, among other things, climate targets that are currently at serious risk can still be achieved and how more people can be effectively inspired to support climate protection. Those interested can find out more about numerous other speakers in advance at https://liminale.innover.city/. 

Open Discourse at the Heart of Liminale
Liminale is all about mutual exchange and open discourse: “What makes Liminale special is the diversity of perspectives. People from different disciplines come together and contribute their viewpoints,” explains Prof. Dr. Josef von Helden, President of Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts. “Only through open, constructive exchange can a space be created where ideas can mature and concrete solutions can be developed. This is exactly the atmosphere we want to create over the course of these two days.”

The festival events, along with the “next Startup Day” program, will take place across four stages, where talks, panel discussions, and interviews will be held. Visitors can get involved in interactive workshops, while meeting areas and lounges provide space for networking and targeted matchmaking. Art exhibitions and live music round out the program throughout the festival. Admission is free; registration in advance at https://innomatch.nds.de/events/default/liminale/EDPG9OkxKl is required

Liminal 2025
September 17–18, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Cultural Center Faust e.V.
3 Bettfedernfabrik, 30451 Hanover
Registration under: https://innomatch.nds.de/events/default/liminale/EDPG9OkxKl
Further information is available at: https://liminale.innover.city/

Next Startup Day

The next Startup Day is the premier event in Lower Saxony focused on startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship—organized by Niedersachsen.next Startup and NBank.
September 17, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Cultural Center Faust e.V.
3 Bettfedernfabrik, 30451 Hanover
Registration under: https://innomatch.nds.de/events/default/next-startup-day/p32NOMoPg5
Further information is available at: https://next-startup-day.de/

Speakers (excerpt):
• Gitta Connemann (Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy)
• Harald Welzer (FUTURZWEI. Foundation for Sustainability)
• Philipp Klöckner (tech investor)
• Wolf Lotter (co-founder of brand eins)
• Carla Hinrichs (Letzte/Neue Generation)
• Gitta Connemann (Parliamentary State Secretary, BMWK)
• Wolf Lotter (co-founder of brand eins)
• Stephan A. Jansen (Agency for Constructive Economy)
• Ulrich Dirnagel (Charité Berlin)
• Karen Pittel (ifo Center)
• Barbara Diehl (SPRIND)
• Georg Schütte (Volkswagen Foundation)
• Ulf Klostermann (PreussenElektra)
• Kerstin Berghoff-Ising (Sparkasse Hannover)

Contact

Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts

 Zarifa Mostafa Mohamad (she/her)

zarifa.mohamad@hs-hannover.de

0152 / 5706 5855