Individuals included UNIPRENEURS who have gotten awards in the past, financiers, startup business owners, and representatives from politics, university management and the business community, who together went over how exceptional start-up communities can establish and grow. Their conclusion was that the complete capacity of scholastic research can just have an economic and social effect by means of strong networks between universities, companies, financiers, structures and politics.
The regional startup business owners on the panel explained which support had been particularly handy for their business’ success. Represented were Ianus Simulation, vGreens, MotionMiners and BauGPT, which have all skilled growth recently in Dortmund’s startup environment. In addition, Philippa Köhnk presented the most recent job for supporting deep-tech start-ups throughout the Ruhr area: BRYCK Startup Alliance GmbH, in which the RAG-Stiftung (among Germany’s largest structures), the Initiativkreis Ruhr (a regional organization alliance) and the three partners of the University Alliance Ruhr are signing up with forces in the shape of the BRYCK development and start-up center.
Universities as the key to the start-up environment
“Excellent startup environments develop where there is close interaction between universities, startups, investors and companies. The UNIPRENEURS effort shows the critical role that committed professors play in this,” said Marte Sybil Kessler, Senior Director Collaborative Science and Innovation at the Stifterverband, which is accountable for arranging the UNIPRENEURS initiative. Matthias Hilpert, one of the initiators of UNIPRENEURS, included: “The excellent start-up capacity at universities is far from tired. Entrepreneurship at universities is a driver of development and competitiveness. The UNIPRENEURS set the example: They motivate and inspire others.”
In a video message, Minister-President Hendrik Wüst applauded the initiative’s work. In his address, he highlighted the value of entrepreneurial thinking, networking and development efficiency for making Germany future-proof: “Networking is at the heart of UNIPRENEURS. It is exactly these networks that are one of the keys to success. The annual meeting is a perfect backdrop for developing and broadening these networks. It is this hands-on mentality that we need again now and which over the previous 200 years of industrial history has made North Rhine-Westphalia what it is today: a strong, ingenious state that is open to the world. With vibrant ladies and men who have actually constantly seen difficulties as opportunities as well and took those opportunities. The UNIPRENEURS reveal what that indicates today and how it can be done today.”
Effective start-up assistance in Dortmund
The network meeting occurred in Dortmund at two places important for development: Wilopark and the campus of TU Dortmund University. Manfred Bayer, the university’s president, said: “TU Dortmund University has its strong networks to thank for its success in supporting start-ups. We do this locally through close cooperation with TechnologieZentrumDortmund, which has meanwhile turned into Germany’s largest technology park. In the Ruhr region, we are now taking cooperation to a new level with the BRYCK Start-up Alliance, which the Federal Government is moneying as a Startup Factory.” Georg Weber, Global CTO of the Wilo Group, included: “Innovation takes place where science and service obstacle and inspire each other.” In his view, that is precisely what this network means.
About UNIPRENEURS
UNIPRENEURS is a joint effort to support spin-offs from German universities, started and arranged by Matthias Hilpert and the Stifterverband. The Federal Ministry of Research Study, Innovation and Space (BMFTR) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) are joint clients of the initiative. UNIPRENEURS awards the highest acknowledgment in Germany for outstanding dedication to entrepreneurship at universities. The first UNIPRENEURS were commended in 2023. They are differentiated teachers from throughout Germany who have shown exemplary commitment to spin-offs. They were selected from over 700 elections.
Further information