EXIST
Lighthouse competition
Startup Factories
As part of the German government's start-up strategy, the existing Startup Factories lighthouse competition was launched to significantly increase the number and quality of knowledge-based spin-offs.
exist
Startup Factories
The existing Startup Factories lighthouse competition was launched by the German government to take the German startup ecosystem to a new level in the next decade and significantly increase the number and quality of knowledge-based spin-offs.
On July 10, 2025, ten existing Startup Factories were awarded prizes in Berlin by Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. The award winners are spread across the whole of Germany and impressed with their very different concepts. However, they all stand for closely networked cooperation between science and research on the one hand and established players in the private sector, the start-up ecosystem and investors on the other. Through the scaling of innovations and their private-sector management, the factories represent a real boost for the German startup ecosystem and were inspired by role models such as UnternehmerTUM (Munich), which are already developing international appeal.
around € 110 million
private financing
10
Startup Factories in the project phase
The 10 existing Startup Factories start as beacons of the German startup ecosystem. The excellence-oriented Startup Factories are created as public-private partnerships between scientific institutions and cooperation and financing partners from industry. The aim is to increase the number and quality of science-based deep tech start-ups and to accelerate the start-up journey („from the start-up idea in the lab to scaling“). In this way, we want to raise the science-based start-up system in Germany to a new level.
144
Financing and cooperation partners from the business world
126
participating colleges, universities and research institutions as scientific partners
more than 1,500
Startups per year
The 10 existing Startup Factories start as beacons of the German startup ecosystem. The excellence-oriented Startup Factories are created as public-private partnerships between scientific institutions and cooperation and financing partners from industry. The aim is to increase the number and quality of science-based deep tech start-ups and to accelerate the start-up journey („from the start-up idea in the lab to scaling“). In this way, we want to raise the science-based start-up system in Germany to a new level.
Aim of the competition
The existing Startup Factories lighthouse competition is a central element of the BMWE's startup funding and the High-Tech Agenda Germany.
After an intensive selection process, they have been chosen: the 10 existing Startup Factories that will act as beacons of the German start-up ecosystem. These excellence-oriented hubs are being created as public-private partnerships between 126 universities and research institutions as well as 144 cooperation and financing partners from the business world, who together are providing around 110 million euros in private funding.
Establishment of startup factories
Establishment of up to 10 startup factories as internationally visible lighthouses, which cooperate closely with universities, research institutions, startups and the established economy and use private or other public support offers for startups and are thus a central player in the existing regional or supra-regional startup ecosystem.
Spin-offs and talents
Significant increase in the number and quality of innovative, knowledge-based and growth-oriented spin-offs and start-ups through the activities of the Startup Factories.
Mobilization of private funds
Mobilization of private funds for the long-term financing of startup factories and their offerings.
Access to private investors
Improving startups' access to private investors and the economy through the Startup Factories.
Select Startup Factory
The Bridge (in future: SouthwestX)
The Start-up Factory in the Southwest The Bridge (in future: SouthwestX) is supported by Saarland University, htw saar, DFKI, WHU in Vallendar and Trier University of Applied Sciences with partners from France and Luxembourg. The aim is to build a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, science and business from which 150 high-growth start-ups will emerge each year. The focus areas are artificial intelligence and green transformation as well as integration into an international region.
Impossible Founders
The Impossible Founders (iF) are Hamburg's answer to the most pressing challenge of our time: the sustainable transformation of the economy and society through science-based innovation.
Through the alliance of the University of Hamburg, TU Hamburg and DESY with anchor partners from industry, as well as the Michael Otto Foundation and the Joachim Herz Foundation, the iF combine research excellence with entrepreneurial implementation power and long-term commitment - and develop Hamburg into one of the leading European locations for deep-tech start-ups with impact.
GOe FUTURE
We are developing the GOe FUTURE lighthouse from the Lower Saxony life science ecosystem with academic institutions in Göttingen/Hanover/Braunschweig. We are increasing the quality and number of science-based spin-offs in the field of red and green life sciences - for the benefit and health of people worldwide.
FUTURY - The Future Factory
FUTURY - The Future Factory, where we are shaping the RhineMain region into a unique innovation and startup hotspot, driving sustainable, technology-driven, and knowledge-based entrepreneurship with a global reach.
UNITE Berlin-Brandenburg
The more than 50 partners from science, business, politics and society share one vision for UNITE: to create an internationally leading innovation and startup center in Berlin-Brandenburg. In future, a science-based startup is expected to emerge every day. To achieve this, over 50,000 entrepreneurial talents will be trained every year, digital structures will ensure even better networking and entrepreneurial structures will underpin the commitment to speed and risk-taking.
NXTGN
NXTGN is the innovation platform from Baden-Württemberg. It connects start-ups, science and business with the aim of creating a successful next generation of SMEs.
boOst Startup Factory
We foster the new generation of scaling tech companies, using engineering experience in central Germany. boOst provides a structured access to the regional startup ecosystem combining forces of universities, accelerators, coworking spaces, investors and industry partners to identify technologies, train and keep top talent and help them scale in Germany.
Gateway Factory
The University of Cologne and RWTH Aachen University are founding the Gateway Factory together with the Start2 Group and the other Gateway universities in Cologne. The goal: to develop established startups into internationally successful scaleups.
BRYCK Startup Alliance
With the BRYCK Startup Alliance, business, science and the public sector in the Ruhr region are building Europe's leading innovation center for the development of successful B2B deep-tech startups. Through the close integration of leading industrial companies, universities and investors in the BRYCK Startup Alliance, more promising startups are to emerge from science and new technologies are to be made marketable and implemented in industry more quickly.
ZOHO Factory
For the past seven years, FAU has been consolidating startup activities at ZOLLHOF in Nuremberg, one of Germany's leading tech incubators. Now, FAU, together with its partners, is planning the "ZOHO Factory" — the largest investment in Northern Bavaria's startup ecosystem. The goal is to create one of Europe's top startup hubs by 2030, with a focus on deep tech innovations and a strong international network.
Select Startup Factory
Timeline
EXIST
December 2, 2025
32. exist Foundation Forum
exist Startup Forum in the Palais & Kesselhaus of the Kulturbrauerei. Presentation of the offers of the Startup Factories
Beginning of November 2025
1st CEO Meeting
Kick-off meeting of the 10 selected Startup Factories
01.10.2025
Start of the project phase
Start of funding for the 10 selected Startup Factory projects
June 16, 2025
Jury meeting
Selection meeting project phase Startup Factories
From April 2025
Selection process
Selection process with the involvement of the jury
April 30, 2025
Application deadline for the project phase
Deadline for the submission of applications
December 18, 2024
Publication Directive
Publication of the funding guideline for the project phase in the Federal Gazette
July/August 2024
Kick-off meetings
Kick-off meetings with the PtJ and one or two jurors
Summer 2024
Creation of guideline
Publication for the concept phase in the Federal Gazette
Startup Factories
September 28/29, 2025
Bits & Pretzels 2025
Startup Factory Panelwith the participation of Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche on the Future Stage of Bits & Pretzels
September 22/23, 2025
7th Family Office Roundtable Workshop
Family Office Roundtable Workshop organized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and UnternehmerTUM at the ZOLLHOF in Nuremberg
March 19/20, 2025
Transform
exist Startup Factories Panel
12/02/2025
Moonshots & monies
Presence meeting of the concept phase projects in Paderborn
December 2024
Status discussions
Status meetings with the PtJ and one or two jurors
November 26/27, 2024
Family Office Dinner
Family Office Dinner and Workshop in Hamburg
October 22, 2024
Digital Summit 2024
Startup Factory Panel at the Digital Summit 2024, with the participation of Ms. Christmann
September 30, 2024
Bits & Pretzels
Joint presence meeting of all projects at the Bits & Pretzels in Munich
September 23, 2024
Brand Building
Virtual meeting of all projects on the topic of "Brand Building"
September 17, 2024
Startup Germany Summit
Startup Factory Panel at the Startup Germany Summit of the BMWE
July/August 2024
Kick-off meetings
Kick-off meetings with the PtJ and one or two jurors
July 01, 2024
Start 15 projects
Launch of the 15 projects selected for the concept phase
Downloads
You can download the most important information here.
exist program
exist supports university graduates, scientists and students in preparing their technology-oriented and knowledge-based start-ups.
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The GCCC acts as a central point of contact for German diplomatic missions abroad, interior and immigration authorities on the one hand and universities, research institutions and international start-ups on the other.
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