"Amplifying Entrepreneurship: Start-up Production Surge"

In the heart of Saxony, particularly in Dresden, a thriving startup scene is taking shape. Over 700 startups have emerged since 2020, with investments exceeding one billion euros, marking a significant growth spurt in the region.

This momentum is set to continue with the establishment of the boOst Startup Ecosystem gGmbH, a new organisation founded by eleven universities in Central Germany. The management team, consisting of Marco Weicholdt, Juliane Elsner, and Felix Hagleitner, is based in Dresden and is dedicated to fostering a vibrant startup culture.

The boOst Startup Ecosystem gGmbH serves as a startup factory, facilitating networking with investors and paving the way for rapid growth. Its primary goal is to harmonise science with real-world challenges, focusing on areas like semiconductor technology, chip design, photonics, and health tech.

Significant partners from industry and business, such as Infineon, Bosch, ESMC, X-Fab, and ZEISS, are involved in the project. The Technical University of Dresden (TUD) is leading the project, along with the University of Leipzig, and coordinates the contributions of other participating Central German universities.

The boOst Startup Ecosystem gGmbH was selected as one of ten projects in the EXIST lighthouse competition "Startup Factories" by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWE), and will receive up to ten million euros in funding. At least an equal amount of funding will come from project partners in industry.

Workshops, digital labs, co-working spaces, and networking with funding institutions, universities, and industry partners are fostering a vibrant startup scene, particularly for technology-oriented startups. Access to research and affordable infrastructure is attracting young talents to contribute their skills in Dresden and the region beyond their studies.

Two unicorns, Sunfire and Staffbase, are based in Dresden, signalling a promising startup environment. The significant partners of the boOst Ecosystem gGmbH include industrial leaders such as Infineon, ZEISS, Bosch, ESMC, X-Fab, Volkswagen, and the MADSACK media group, alongside academic institutions like the TUD and the University of Leipzig, as well as SpinLab – The HHL Accelerator and the Thomas Kirchner Foundation (YETI). These partners play roles in providing industry expertise, capital, and infrastructure to support innovative tech startups, facilitating knowledge-based company formations, and managing the ecosystem through a dedicated team based in Dresden under CEO Marco Weicholdt.

By 2030, the network aims to double the number of knowledge-based startups in Saxony and Thuringia from the current 100 to 200 per year, with at least 50 having a Deep-Tech focus. This ambitious goal, combined with improved industrial cooperation and a broader international reach, positions the boOst Startup Ecosystem gGmbH as a significant success story for the region. New job opportunities are expected to be created in the companies, with suppliers and in the service sector. The boOst Startup Ecosystem gGmbH is poised to boost innovation and economic growth in Central Germany.

"Amplifying Entrepreneurship: Start-up Production Surge"