Boost for Science Startups: Berlin and Brandenburg Are Pushing Knowledge-Based Innovation

Ideas need fertile ground to grow. Berlin and Brandenburg are already among the most entrepreneurial regions in all of Germany: in 2023, Berlin was ranked number one in new start-ups, and the Brandenburg state capital of Potsdam is among the top 10 start-up cities. Both federal states together have one of the highest research densities in all of Europe – around 30,000 researchers work here at universities and non-university institutes. This represents enormous potential for deep tech start-ups and knowledge-based innovations.

The new innovation and start-up centre UNITE Berlin-Brandenburg aims to leverage this potential. Around 34 universities and scientific institutions of both federal states are joining forces for this purpose. The goal: to triple the number of spin-offs from science within five years and to turn the German capital region into one of Europe’s leading centres for science-related start-ups. “In five years, we will have an internationally visible beacon for science-related start-ups here because we will offer many services from a single source, so that founders and companies can cooperate even better and get quick access to all services,” says Agnes von Matuschka, managing director of the Standortmanagement Golm GmbH at the Potsdam Science Park, which is steering the development of the UNITE network in Brandenburg and working closely with the Berlin UNITE partners.

Both federal states want to make it easier for researchers to found companies and build an extensive network across state borders that links research, start-up founders, associations and companies. Brandenburg’s Minister of Science, Dr Manja Schüle, emphasises the importance of young scientists for the start-up region: “Talented people need resources and networks to turn ideas into reality, to learn from and with others, to practice and experiment. Talented people need UNITE. As a state, we are pleased to offer support to this unique ecosystem for founders.”

Prof. Dr-Ing. Jörg Steinbach, Brandenburg’s Minister for Economic Affairs, also sees the initiative as a great opportunity for the sustainable economic development of the capital region: “With UNITE, we want to sustainably strengthen the creation and development of innovations and startups in the Berlin-Brandenburg region and contribute to the economic future of our state, our companies and our infrastructure. Minister of Science Schüle and I explicitly support the close cooperation between Berlin and Brandenburg stakeholders from science, startups and companies to establish the joint ‘startup factory’ UNITE. This will also reinforce the long-standing and productive collaboration between the two federal states.”

A public-private partnership of scientific institutions and commercial enterprises will make this shared vision a reality from 2025 onwards. ”UNITE Berlin-Brandenburg will leverage the expertise of the many scientific institutions in the region and transfer innovations from science to industry and society,’ says Ilka Mai, start-up and transfer manager at the Standortmanagement Golm GmbH. ‘The focus will be on sustainable solutions that address major global challenges.”

One of UNITE’s main goals is to support startups in specific application scenarios all the way to market maturity and beyond. In doing so, the startup factory is closing a gap. Startup centers at universities already provide students and doctoral candidates with the resources and guidance necessary to become self-employed with their ideas. However, existing programs often only extend to the seed phase. “Many university start-ups fail because they can’t develop their products to market maturity and secure sufficient financing after they’ve been set up,” says UNITE project manager Marie Westreicher. “UNITE Berlin-Brandenburg aims to support founders along the way and help them develop scalable business models that can have a lasting positive impact on society.”

A Powerful Consortium of Science and Medium-Sized Companies

The UNITE initiative was launched in response to the Startup Factories competition organised by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. In June 2024, a total of 15 consortia were selected to develop a concept and obtain funding commitments from industry. The Department will provide up to €10 million in matching funds for every €10 million in private funding. The first major sponsors for the UNITE application are already on board, including the Berliner Sparkasse. The final decision on which five to ten lighthouse projects will be funded will be made in May 2025. However, for the UNITE creators, it is evident that they are now establishing a framework for structures that will be implemented in any case. After all, there is a clear need for these structures, and there is considerable support for them in both federal states.

One special feature of the UNITE concept is that a particularly powerful consortium has been formed with a total of 34 universities and scientific institutions – 16 in Berlin and 18 in Brandenburg. UNITE also relies on a diverse corporate structure. “We are very focused on activating medium-sized companies as partners and building a broad network in which companies can contribute their ideas and innovation topics at an early stage,” says Agnes von Matuschka. In Brandenburg, the Economic Development Agency Brandenburg (WFBB), among others, actively supports the networking activities with industry partners.

Digital Matching, a Mentor Network and Central Lab Bookings

When UNITE begins its work in June 2025, the science startups in the Berlin-Brandenburg region will be the first to benefit. A digital platform will make it easier for them to access the startup ecosystem in the capital region and efficiently match them with sponsors, founding partners, specialists, cooperation partners and first customers within the UNITE network. Alumni who have already successfully founded startups will be available as mentors. This will help to form teams more quickly and grow ideas better.

In the future, startup clusters in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, health, or green tech will help to pool expertise and make innovation processes more efficient through the exchange of experience and network effects. This gives startups access to the latest research expertise. Pitch events and calls for proposals will be organised centrally for individual areas in the future, making it easier for potential investors to get an overview and get involved in the capital region. Co-working spaces, maker spaces, laboratories and equipment from the various partners in the UNITE network will be bookable on a central digital platform, and patent databases and other digital resources will be easily accessible.

Targeted Innovation Development and 50,000 Entrepreneurial Talents per Year

In addition to helping the scientific community to more easily transfer innovations from research to industry, UNITE will also benefit the regional economy. The UNITE network will give companies in Berlin and Brandenburg access to young talent, start-ups and new technologies. “Companies need innovations to survive in the market, and many disruptive innovations come from startups,” says von Matuschka. “We are embedding the regional economy in a cross-state startup ecosystem that offers the opportunity to get to know innovations at a very early stage, to invest in startups and to have them work on customised challenges.”

In addition, UNITE will provide a pool of entrepreneurial talent – around 50,000 young people are to be trained within the network each year. A fellowship programme will enable students to gain extensive experience at companies, venture capital firms and startups, ultimately leading to employment as highly qualified professionals. The planned Entrepreneur Office will also make it easier to attract international entrepreneurs. “UNITE strengthens Berlin-Brandenburg by providing rapid access to the region’s entire spart-up environment and infrastructure. It is important to us that international talent gets off to a good start here and can benefit from the best conditions for successfully founding a company. We want people coming from outside to see Berlin and Brandenburg as a friendly startup region with helpful contacts who answer questions quickly and support those interested in starting a company,” says Westreicher.

A Startup Region With Fast Processes Instead of Endless Applications

The new Startup Factory is doing everything it can to accelerate the startup process in the entire capital region. “We want to join forces to break down national borders as much as possible and reduce bureaucratic hurdles in order to make it easier to found a company in the region,” says Agnes von Matuschka. In the field of life sciences, for example, an accelerator is urgently needed that can provide university and non-university start-ups with suitable laboratories immediately after the spin-off so that they can continue to work seamlessly – instead of getting bogged down in endless applications or setting up laboratories. “It is crucial that we start to think of Berlin and Brandenburg as one single start-up region in order to be internationally competitive.”

Above all, however, UNITE aims to act as a booster for the entrepreneurial spirit. “There are many scientists in the region who have already taken the plunge and launched startups, some of which have been very successful,” says Westreicher. “We at UNITE have these role models in mind. We want to help people with promising business ideas to overcome their fear of setting up their own business by bringing them together with experienced entrepreneurs, providing them with the perfect advice and arranging start-up financing.” In particular, women are to be encouraged to pursue their start-up ideas – by 2030, the proportion of female start-ups in Berlin and Brandenburg is to increase to 40 per cent.

If the creators of UNITE have their way, a new science startup will be founded every day in Berlin and Brandenburg from 2025 onwards – and will encounter the best conditions for ideas to grow. Thus, one of the most entrepreneurial regions in Germany is forming a strong network and international hotspot for deep tech innovations – with a shared vision for cross-state cooperation.

Statements About UNITE Berlin-Brandenburg

Dr Manja Schüle, Minister for Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg:
“Talented people need resources and networks to turn ideas into reality, to learn from and with others, to practice and experiment. Talented people need UNITE. As a state, we are pleased to offer support to this unique ecosystem for founders.”

Prof. Dr-Ing. Jörg Steinbach, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy of the State of Brandenburg:
“With UNITE, we want to sustainably strengthen the creation and development of innovations and startups in the Berlin-Brandenburg region and contribute to the economic future of our state, our companies and our infrastructure. Minister of Science Schüle and I explicitly support the close cooperation between Berlin and Brandenburg stakeholders from science, startups and companies to establish the joint ‘startup factory’ UNITE. This will also reinforce the long-standing and productive collaboration between the two federal states.”

 

Text: Mirco Lomoth | © Standortmanagement Golm GmbH/iStock-ID 1404167759, skynesher