Company's rapid expansion aid for new ventures

The Technical University of Dresden (TUD) is leading the boOst Startup Ecosystem project, in collaboration with the University of Leipzig, and acts as the coordinator for the contributions of other Central German universities. This new organization, boOst Startup Ecosystem gGmbH, is funded by a consortium, including the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) with funding of up to ten million euros. This is matched by at least an equal amount from industrial project partners.

The boOst Startup Ecosystem aims to harmonize excellent science with real-world challenges, focusing on areas such as semiconductor technology, chip design, photonics, and health tech. By 2030, the project aims to double the number of knowledge-based startups in Saxony and Thuringia from the current around 100 to 200 per year, with at least 50 having a deep-tech focus.

The project has significant partners from industry and business, including Infineon, Bosch, ESMC, and X-Fab, all based in Dresden. TUDAG, SpinLab - The HHL Accelerator, and the Thomas Kirchner Foundation (YETI) are shareholders of the boOst Ecosystem gGmbH. These incentives aim to attract young talents to contribute their skills in Dresden and the region beyond their studies, creating new jobs in the companies, with suppliers, and in the service sector.

The boOst Startup Ecosystem has already shown potential, with the boOst Startup Factory Mitteldeutschland's networking with investors facilitating rapid growth for startups in the region. The startup location of Saxony, particularly Dresden, has seen significant growth with around 700 startups and over one billion euros in investments since 2020. Two unicorns, Sunfire from Dresden and Staffbase, have emerged in the region, further indicating its startup potential.

The boOst Startup Ecosystem was selected as one of ten projects by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWE) in the EXIST lighthouse competition "Startup Factories". Workshops, digital labs, co-working spaces, and networking opportunities with funding institutions, universities, and industry partners are fostering a vibrant startup scene, particularly for technology-oriented startups.

With Marco Weicholdt, Juliane Elsner, and Felix Hagleitner forming the management team of the boOst Ecosystem gGmbH, based in Dresden, the project is poised to increase the region's international clout, improve collaboration with industry, and potentially produce more unicorns. Economy in Saxony dedicated a whole article to boOst, indicating its significance as a potential success story for the region.

In conclusion, the boOst Startup Ecosystem is a promising initiative that brings together academia and industry to foster a thriving startup ecosystem in Central Germany, particularly in Dresden and Saxony. The project's focus on deep-tech startups and its significant funding from the BMWi and industry partners make it a promising venture for the region's economic growth and innovation.