Startup Factory

NXTGN

We are a startup factory!

In the future, Startup Factories will be the central hubs for innovation in Germany. As NXTGN, we have now won the flagship competition organized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and are one of 10 Startup Factories in Germany to receive funding.

Go to NXTGN Website

Significance for the KIT Presidium

KIT is a partner from the start

As the strongest partner in terms of startups, KIT brings its experience in startup support to the initiative. With over 40 spin-offs per year, currently 13 investments in companies founded at KIT, and a strong network of research partners, companies, and investors, KIT is one of Germany’s leading startup universities.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth, Vice President for Transfer and International Affairs: “The NXTGN Startup Factory is a flagship project for KIT and Germany as a location for innovation. Through close cooperation with leading universities and companies, we are creating a joint platform for deep tech spin-offs and the ‘next generation of SMEs’. With a focus on deep tech innovations, we are jointly providing decisive impetus for Germany’s innovation and competitiveness.”

Next Generation Mittelstand

Our Targets with NXTGN

The NXTGN alliance underscores the goal we are all working toward: a successful, innovative, and closely networked next generation of companies and their contribution to a sustainable society.

You can find more information about the competition here.

By 2030, we want to make a major contribution to transformation:

15,000 participants
15,000 participants in programs run by cooperation partners and joint formats, with 30% female founders and 10% international participants, and targeted support for barrier-free formats and migrant founders
300+ new deep tech startups
Targeted support for activating researchers through new formats, involvement of business partners, faster IP transfer, and more efficient access to laboratory and production space.
1,000 matches
Connecting startups with the specific transformation needs of business partners to generate effective matches, orders, partnerships, investments, etc.
1 billion in venture capital
Building scalable startups that mobilize more than one billion euros in venture capital for their international growth.
10,000 new jobs
Creating jobs in Baden-Württemberg.

NETWORK

Strong partners from Baden-Württemberg

We have formed a strategic alliance with leading partners from science and industry to develop the Startup Factory application.

The scientific partners are the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (and the KIT FORGE), the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research (Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research) – the transfer center of the University of Stuttgart, hei_INNOVATION at the University of Heidelberg, Entrepreneurs Campus at the University of Ulm, Campus Founders in Heilbronn, and the Institute for Applied Research (Institute for Applied Research) at the Media University.