The startup ecosystem in Saarland
Saarland has set itself the goal of becoming an attractive location for startups and developing one of the most startup-friendly ecosystems in the heart of Europe.
A strong network of different players and comprehensive support are key to this.
In the following, we present the main players, their motivation and their roles in Saarland’s startup ecosystem.
Key players in the Saarland startup ecosystem
Saarland regional group of the Startup Association
The #saarfari was initiated in 2022 by the Saarland regional group of the Startup Association with the overarching goal of pushing the Saarland startup ecosystem with innovative formats.
Intensive regional and supra-regional networking raises the conditions for local startups to a new level.
The Startup Association has supported the formats from the very beginning.
The two Saarland state spokespersons, Carolin Ackermann and Bernd Pohl, coordinate the #saarfari events on a voluntary basis and are supported by Daniel Winzent, who, as an exiled Saarlander, is committed to the Saarland ecosystem from his adopted home of Munich.
After two #saarfari delegation trips to the biggest startup hotspots in Germany – Munich and Berlin – the first #saarfari festival took place in Saarbrücken in June 2024: 12 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 3 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧 – 𝐦𝐢𝐭 12 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐧. Almost 200 visitors came to the first #saarfari festival in the CoWorking Space, Hall 4, in Saarbrücken.
All Saarland ecosystem partners were involved in the organization team and some as sponsors, including Triathlon – Saarland University, Saarländische Investitionskreditbank AG, East Side Fab, FITT gGmbH, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security.
As a highlight of this year’s #saarfari festival, the long-established Saarland Pitch was integrated on the day of the festival – with numerous (supra-)regional investors on site (including coparion, SWG by Saarländische Investitionskreditbank AG, Bruch Venture, BITO CAMPUS, snabb ventures, Montan-Ventures-Saar GmbH, HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds, Mosel Ventures).
Saarland Pitch 2.0
as the largest competition in the region The pitch competition, which was organized by Saarländische Wagniskaptialgesellschaft (SWG by Saarländische Investitionskreditbank AG) and Triathlon – Saarland University and combined with the #saarfari festival for the first time, has a long tradition and has positively surprised the German Startup Association, investors and regional experts in the start-up scene.
Almost 30 teams – almost all based in Saarland – had applied in advance to take part.
The pre-selection of the 16 startups that were allowed to present themselves on the day of the festival proved to be a real challenge for the pre-pitch jury (partners of the Saarland regional group of the Startup Association, SWG, Triathlon, East Side Fab/EDIH Saarland and saaris) due to the high quality.
Two expert juries selected the coveted places for the Saarland Pitch 2.0 final.
The final pitch in Saarland Pitch 2.0 was watched with great interest by the entire festival audience on the evening of the #saarfari festival.
All teams represented Saarland as a location for the startup scene excellently and with great praise from the Startup Association from Berlin.
The EDIH Saarland team would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners once again: NIFTEE (Carmelo Lo Porto), Delfa Systems GmbH (Steffen Hau), MicrOmics Technologies (Dr. Andre Holzer), Trustlens (Philipp Dewald), Pontem Pro (Anas Alakkad).
Saarländische Wagnisfinanzierungsgesellschaft (SWG)
under the umbrella of Saarländische Investitionskreditbank AG (partner #saarfari Festival, co-organizer Saarland Pitch) SWG finances the companies of tomorrow in Saarland and thus actively strives to maintain the innovative strength and competitiveness of the state by providing venture capital, but above all know-how as start-up aid for founders and start-ups in Saarland.
Since 1997, SWG has supported a total of 65 investment companies, focusing on technology companies in various sectors.
Each year, it makes an average of around 4 investments of up to EUR 2 million (further information on the extensive range of services at https://swgmbh.de/). In addition to her active role in the organization of the #saarfari Festival as co-organizer of the Saarland Pitch 2.0 by Madeleine Selina Adam, SWG’s investment managers were also available at the festival for bilateral exchanges with regional start-ups.
Triathlon
as an integrated ecosystem for entrepreneurship, innovation and transfer at Saarland University (partner #saarfari Festival, co-organizer Saarland Pitch) With a variety of formats such as the Saarland Accelerator, start-up seminars, workshops and coaching, Triathlon has been offering a physical meeting place for the implementation of start-up ideas with the Innovation Center since April 2024.
Triathlon’s support for start-ups covers all phases, from the development of ideas from research to the spin-off of start-ups and the promotion of growth in later phases(more information on Triathlon’s services).
East Side Fab.
e.V.
(Partner #saarfari Festival) As an innovation hub in Saarland, founded in 2019 by companies for companies with funding from the Saarland Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy, East Side Fab is also a partner of the #saarfari Festival.
The East Side Fab stands for innovation through collaboration – it is primarily about the realization of ideas in new concepts, prototypes and business models!
Industry, SMEs and start-ups are shaping the future of tomorrow together – for innovative strength and value creation in Saarland.
By participating in the EDIH Saarland lighthouse project, we are driving digitalization and networking in the greater region between companies and start-ups, including in the GovTech sector!
Saarland has nothing to hide in comparison to the nationwide start-up scene and is supported by other local players and networks.
Other local players and networks
BANS
The Business Angels Network Saarland (BANS) from the Saarland Chamber of Industry and Commerce is a network of mentors and investors that supports the start-up scene in Saarland.
Around 60 members from a wide range of sectors actively contribute their wide-ranging expertise to the regular support of the start-up scene through coaching and mentoring.
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital and Energy Saarland (MWIDE)
The Saarland Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy is a key player in the implementation of innovation and research strategies. It coordinates various funding programs and supports the networking of start-ups with established companies and investors. In addition, the ministry offers information platforms and advice for young companies. The Saarland Offensive for Start-ups (SOG) is a regional network that supports founders taking the leap into self-employment.(https://gruenden.saarland/) The SOG start-up ambassadors are Saarland personalities from the start-up scene who have either founded a company themselves or taken over an established company.
These honorary start-up ambassadors are appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digital and Energy and the Saarland Offensive for Start-ups.
Transformation Fund (TF)
The Transformation Fund (TF) is a central element of Saarland’s strategy to promote start-ups.
With a volume of 250 million euros over the next ten years, the fund supports start-ups with capital and expertise.
The TF is characterized by a professional fund structure and offers fast and efficient application processes.
The focus is on start-ups from the Saarland or those that are relocating to the Saarland.
Conclusion and EDIH support for start-ups
The startup ecosystem in Saarland is characterized by a strong network of different players who work together to make the location attractive for young, innovative companies.
The transformation fund, the support of universities and research institutions, the coordinating measures of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and numerous funding programs create an environment in which startups can grow and thrive.
This comprehensive support is crucial to establishing Saarland as a dynamic and sustainable location for innovation.
#SouthwestDigital Festival
-Save the Date! (www.suedwestdigital.de ) Be there at the
next big event in Saarland: The three project initiatives EDIH Saarland, Mittelstand-Digitalzentrum and Regionales Zukunftszentrum für KI und digitale Transformation im Saarland und Rheinland-Pfalz are jointly organizing the Südwest Digital Festival on
19. and
September 20, 2024 in Saarbrücken.
The programme offers activities relating to innovation, technology, digitalization and artificial intelligence for companies, the public sector and start-ups!
Sources:
Author
M.A. Caroline Mayer-Klein
Project Manager East Side Fab, Networking Expert