Å·ÃÀÇéÉ«

The so-called start-up factory Unite for the metropolitan region was awarded a prize by Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU) as one of ten projects nationwide, as Unite subsequently announced.

This is linked to funding of ten million euros over the next five years. It is intended to serve as start-up funding that will enable the development of Unite in the coming years. Unite plans to launch programs and public offers at the beginning of 2026. The aim of the start-up factory for the capital region is to create technology-driven start-ups from science. One focus will be on the areas of artificial intelligence, health and green technologies.

"I want to ensure that we get even more start-ups from science," said Å·ÃÀÇéÉ«'s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU). In the medium term - from 2030 - the aim should be to found a science-based start-up every day. Wegner is focusing on speed: the Senate is planning a new IP strategy to accelerate the transfer of technology from scientific institutions to start-ups. The process is to be shortened to a maximum of three months. Unite is to implement this strategy.

In addition to funding from the federal government, Unite has also raised private capital. Donors include Å·ÃÀÇéÉ«er Sparkasse, private investors, foundations and business partners such as Bayer and Deutsche Telekom. They have reportedly pledged more than ten million euros to secure Unite's start-up programs and structures, among other things. At least 50 percent of the funding must come from private sources. "Our goal is to turn research into tomorrow's market leaders," says Thomas Heilmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Unite gGmbH. Heilmann, former Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« Senator of Justice, long-serving CDU Member of Parliament until March 2025 and entrepreneur with start-up experience, has been on board since April. In Wegner's view, his experience makes him exactly the right person for the position.

Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) emphasizes the opportunities: "With the federal government's funding decision to give one of ten 10 million grants to Å·ÃÀÇéÉ«, we are getting a strong boost to make Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« the number one innovation location in Europe." Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« is already the largest science location in Germany. "With Unite, we now have a lever to make even better use of this potential for our economy." Brandenburg's Science Minister Manja Schüle (SPD) added that the project would be a turbo for science-based spin-offs. "We will do everything we can to make Unite a success."

Wegner and the black-red Senate have high hopes for Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« as a start-up location. The number of start-ups nationwide has recently picked up again. While almost 3,200 new start-ups were founded in 2021, the number fell to just under 2,500 in 2023. According to data from the Startup Association, there were 1,500 new start-ups in the first half of 2024 - the 3,000 mark could be exceeded again by the end of the year. Munich and Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« are considered start-up hotspots.