"With dedication and effort, we'll regain our position as global leaders"
At the Technical University of Munich's UnternehmerTUM, over 50 new businesses emerge annually. This tremendous success is discussed by CEO Helmut Schönenberger in the podcast "Startup - tell it like it is."
Recently, prominent figures like Bill Gates, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Transport Minister Volker Wissing, and Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger have all visited the vibrant hub of entrepreneurship that is UnternehmerTUM. This campus is renowned as Europe's largest and leading startup center, serving as an inspiration for many other universities.
Each week, a new company is born here. Germany, recognized for its research prowess, struggles to leverage this knowledge effectively and fosters an insufficient number of startups. Helmut Schönenberger, an engineer and professor, has dedicated his life to bridging the gap between universities and society, ensuring technology effectively contributes to our daily lives.
A chance encounter at Stanford University's startup scene in the US over two decades ago sparked a change in Schönenberger. Observing the economic impact of companies like Google and Nvidia, he shared a belief that Germany needed to embrace the startup culture more swiftly.
Upon his return to Germany, Schönenberger caught the attention of BMW heiress Susanne Klatten. Sharing a vision for improving the conditions for founders and importing Silicon Valley's startup culture into Germany, they formed a powerful alliance.
50 successful startups yearly
Under Helmut Schönenberger's leadership, UnternehmerTUM now births over 50 startups annually, including prominent companies like travel service provider FlixMobility, Isar Aerospace's rocket startup, and Celonis, which optimizes business processes by analyzing company operations. Celonis' founder, Bastian Nominacher, occasionally shares his experiences in lectures to inspire future entrepreneurs.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck, a supporter of UnternehmerTUM, aims to strengthen Germany economically by promoting new businesses more effectively. In pursuit of this goal, the German government has launched a lighthouse competition to establish 15 startup factories similar to UnternehmerTUM throughout the country.
Professor Helmut Schönenberger delves into the potential of UnternehmerTUM, what other universities and regions can learn from its success, and Germany's international competitiveness in the ntv podcast "Startup - tell it like it is." He further discusses the strategies needed to enable knowledge and technology to flow from universities into society.
The Commission, led by Economics Minister Robert Habeck, is interested in promoting new businesses more effectively in Germany and has launched a lighthouse competition to establish 15 startup factories similar to UnternehmerTUM throughout the country. The Commission recognizes the success of The Commission at Technical University of Munich's UnternehmerTUM, where over 50 startups are born annually, including renowned companies like Celonis and Isar Aerospace.
