The state provides ample money for the interface between science and industry. Six universities will prevail – all with ambitious plans.
Aachen, Bochum, Dortmund, Cologne, Münster and Paderborn: At these universities, significantly more will happen in the coming years for the promotion of start-ups. Yesterday, the six universities worked on project proposals for additional professorships, start-up consultations or special incubators in a call for proposals from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The requierements
The selected universities are now allowed to substantiate their project proposals thanks to the now explicit funding recommendation. Overall, the state of NRW has blocked up to 150 million euros for the initiatives for the next five years.
Which university receives which exact sum depends on the requested financial requirements – but the volume of the respective start-up centers in the country should be similar. “The selected universities can now significantly expand their start-up initiatives and grow into centers of regional start-up ecosystems,” said Economics Minister Andreas Pinkwart.
The founding scene of the federal state takes note of the extensive initiative with goodwill. “With the support NRW sets another sign and supports technology and Deeptech start-ups to a considerable extent,” says Torsten Jensen, NRW country representative of the Federal Association of German startups. The NRW section of the association had formed with great commitment last year under the title “NRWalley”.
Many applications for financial support
The winners were decided by a jury consisting mainly of university professors from universities outside North Rhine-Westphalia. Also present was Thomas Bachem, who currently builds the Code University in Berlin. In addition, representatives of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce as well as of the Stifterverband participated in the selection.
On the longlist stood a total of twelve universities – with which most of the major universities from the state had participated. Only half of the universities could actually cheer on the evening.
The other universities are just empty – Association representative Jensen hopes, however, that their plans do not disappear in the drawer: “We want from universities that have not received funding, that they still implement their concepts. Here will show who really meant it seriously. “The jury also recommended to promote individual projects of the defeated applicants.
Startups on point
With the 150 million euros, NRW reserves a proud sum for the interface between science and industry. However, other federal states are also working hard to significantly improve the climate for start-ups. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, accelerated accelerators are opening up – in December, for example, a program specializing in the energy industry was launched in Karlsruhe. Last year, Hessen announced that millions of subsidies would make the region around Frankfurt fit for a fintech future.
Also published on Medium.