Start-up Ecosystem in Ulm: Wirtschaftsministerin Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut Pays a Visit
Ulm, August 10, 2023 – Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Tourism, visited the start-ups in Ulm today, as she recognizes their central role in driving technological progress through their innovative spirits.
During her visit, Minister Hoffmeister-Kraut met with start-ups Aurivus, Proteba, Envola, and NVision, as well as the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW), the site of the new Campus for Artificial Intelligence Ulm (KICU), and the Start-up and Innovation Center of the Ulm/Neu-Ulm region (TFU). The main focus of her trip was to exchange ideas with the start-ups about the start-up landscape in Baden-Württemberg and the support offered by the state and the Ulm region.
„The start-ups of today are the medium-sized and perhaps even the large companies of tomorrow that we need to ensure prosperity and employment,“ said Minister Hoffmeister-Kraut. „With their innovative power, start-ups are central drivers of technological progress. Therefore, we have created a statewide campaign called Start-up BW that brings together the entire start-up community in the state and provides targeted support and promotion to innovative start-ups. It stands for increased founding dynamics, a new entrepreneurial spirit, and a different risk culture,“ explained the Minister during her visit. To address today’s challenges, it is more important than ever to have creative people who actively shape the future, Minister Hoffmeister-Kraut added. Therefore, it is crucial to increase the visibility and attractiveness of the state as a start-up location.
„What gives me great optimism for the future is the fact that we are now broadly established throughout the state. While start-ups in city-states and other federal states primarily concentrate on one or a few hotspots for start-up activity, start-ups in Baden-Württemberg are more evenly distributed across the entire region and its various innovation centers,“ stated the Minister of Economic Affairs. As confirmed by today’s visit, an exceptionally active and attractive regional start-up ecosystem has developed in the Ulm region. Now, it is imperative to jointly consolidate and expand upon this success.
The Ulm start-up scene impresses with its diverse range of innovative ideas and projects. Start-ups such as Aurivus, Proteba, Envola, and NVision, which the Minister visited today, demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit that is prevalent in the region. Furthermore, the ZSW, KICU, and TFU are playing an essential role in providing the necessary support and infrastructure for these start-ups to thrive.
The visit of Minister Hoffmeister-Kraut highlights the commitment of the state government to fostering a vibrant start-up ecosystem in Baden-Württemberg. By promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, the government aims to secure prosperity and employment in the region. It is vital for the government and various stakeholders to continue collaborating and supporting start-ups to further enhance the start-up landscape and position Baden-Württemberg as an attractive destination for start-ups.
