Baden-Württemberg continues to invest in innovation funding - Minister of Economic Affairs Hoffmeister-Kraut hands over funding decisions to de:hubs in Karlsruhe, Mannheim/Ludwigshafen and Stuttgart

Baden-Württemberg is continuing to focus on activities to promote digital innovations and projects between established companies and start-ups. Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs of Baden-Württemberg, pointed this out today on the occasion of the approval of the second funding phase for the three Baden-Württemberg de:hubs of the Digital Hub Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection in the Stuttgart state parliament. All three hubs are also part of the Baden-Württemberg Digital Hub Network Baden-Württemberg.

This underlines the state's continued promotion of innovations in Baden-Württemberg that help to see the challenges of digital transformation as an opportunity and open up new areas of business.

Image source: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism Baden-Württemberg

Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, emphasized: "With the three de:hubs, Baden-Württemberg is a frontrunner in the nationwide digital hub initiative. In the fields of applied artificial intelligence, digital chemistry and health as well as future industries, they are making a significant contribution to further strengthening Baden-Württemberg's national and international visibility in these fields. As part of our Baden-Württemberg digital hub network, the de:hubs are important thematic contact points. With this in mind, we are supporting the de:hubs in the state in a second funding phase to further develop their basic structures and content offerings."

Gennadi Schermann from the Digital Hub Applied Artificial Intelligence Karlsruhe, which promotes research, application and start-ups in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), explained: "Our Digital Hub builds on the region's unique expertise in the field of applied artificial intelligence. We are delighted to now expand our successful activities with the support of the state and to further strengthen the AI community and the AI ecosystem in the region. Our goal remains to bring AI methods and technologies into application. To achieve this, we continue to rely on strong partners from business, the start-up scene, science and the public sector."

Stefan Kohl from 5-HT Digital Hub Chemistry & Health in Mannheim/Ludwigshafen, which focuses on chemistry, pharmaceuticals and healthcare applications, emphasized: "Over the past five years, we have built up a strong national and international start-up network in order to provide Baden-Württemberg companies with the best innovative solutions for the transformation of the chemical industry and the healthcare sector. The Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, with its strong players in the chemical and healthcare sectors, offers the ideal location for our hub. We are delighted about the continued support for our work."

Elke Zimmer, State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport of Baden-Württemberg, 5-HT Managing Director Stefan Kohl and Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg (from left to right)
Image source: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism Baden-Württemberg

Christian Lorenz from the Stuttgart hub CODE_n / the Future Industries Hub Stuttgart, which focuses on smart products, mobility, AI and Industry 4.0, said: "The de:hub has succeeded in creating a lively place for trustful cooperation, creativity, exchange and innovation in the diverse and top-class ecosystem of start-ups, future agencies and innovation facilitators in the Stuttgart region - with partners far beyond the above-mentioned industry focal points. We are delighted to be able to continue our work in the areas of SPACES, SERVICES and EVENTS with the new funding."

The three hubs are part of the Digital Hub Initiative (de:hub) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. The aim of this digital ecosystem is to promote innovation, knowledge transfer and technology cooperation and to accelerate the digital transformation of the German economy. The digital hubs bring start-ups together with SMEs, large companies, investors and the scientific community. The Digital Hub Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection comprises a total of twelve hubs.

The de:hubs support start-ups and both young and established companies. Through collaborations, innovation workshops and tailored programmes, they help players in various industries and subject areas to create new opportunities through digitalization in order to master the challenges of the markets.

The three Baden-Württemberg de:hubs have already received funding from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism in an initial funding phase from 2019 and 2020 to 2022 and 2023. They are also part of the Baden-Württemberg Digital Hub Network, which includes the three de:hubs as well as the twelve regional digital hubs and two European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), which are also funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism. They cooperate with each other in order to promote innovation across the board in the respective subject and focus areas and to utilize synergies.