Stefan Drüssler
3D printers are whirring, soldering devices are attaching sensors to circuit boards, a camera is screwed to a robot prototype for testing. A few meters above the high-tech workshop, start-up teams discuss their business ideas in English, German and many other languages, with potential customers and financiers. One floor further, start-ups are working with innovation partners from companies or the city of Munich on new smart city and mobility solutions.
Anyone who wants to get to know Munich's lively innovation and start-up scene or network with others comes here. To the Munich Urban Colab. Founders from all over the world work with companies, VCs, researchers and the city of Munich on 11,000 square meters of floor space consisting of offices, co-working spaces, event and seminar rooms and the high-tech prototype workshop MakerSpace. All under one roof.
Deep tech metropolis
Created in a public-private partnership with the city of Munich, the "Colab" is one of UnternehmerTUM's greatest successes. Europe's largest start-up and innovation center has been driving and bundling the city's innovation ecosystem for 20 years. This includes world-leading universities and research institutes such as the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Big Tech companies Google, Apple and Microsoft, as well as leading German companies such as SAP and Siemens.
"The mix of research, industry, big tech and politics makes Munich one of the most successful and fastest growing major cities in Europe"
The mix of research, industry, big tech and politics makes Munich one of the most successful and fastest growing major cities in Europe. 4.4 billion euros could be raised by Munich start-ups in 2021. Around 3 billion euros, almost two-thirds went to tech start-ups at TUM and its associated institute UnternehmerTUM.
Stirring enthusiasm for entrepreneurship
The secret of UnternehmerTUM's success is its holistic approach. Students, young start-ups and experienced professionals come into contact with entrepreneurial thinking in the numerous training programs. They learn how to develop digital products, services or business models in real-world projects. Many subsequently set up their own businesses and benefit from incubation and accelerator programs to turn their ideas into reality. They receive the right hardware for their projects in Europe's largest prototype high-tech workshop, MakerSpace. As a result, 70 to 80 tech start-ups are founded at UnternehmerTUM every year.
International hub
All programs are open to start-ups and venture enthusiasts worldwide. From AI, mobility to biotech, young companies find a good breeding ground in Munich.
