EXIST – University-based business start-ups

Young, innovative businesses form an important cornerstone for Germany's economic competitiveness. This is particularly true of businesses emerging from settings, such as universities and research institutes which are developing innovative products from new ideas and research findings. The cutting-edge research taking place at German universities and research institutes offers an ideal breeding ground for innovative ideas. The businesses founded by these institutions are strategically positioned to gain a foothold in international markets early on. Together with their technological advantage, this enables them to grow faster than other enterprises. This is a good foundation for high-quality jobs.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) supports start-ups from universities and non-university research institutes with its “EXIST – University-based start-up” programme. The goal is to achieve a more consistent transfer of the findings from scientific research into the economic value chain, thereby increasing the number of innovative start-ups. To this end, the BMWK focuses on three modules: anchoring a culture of entrepreneurial independence at universities and research institutes; promoting innovative start-ups from universities and research institutes with the EXIST Business Start-up Grant; and supporting outstanding research-based start-ups from science with the EXIST Research Transfer programme.