Press Materials
As a journalist or media representative, you'll find information here on all of Funkenwerk's key areas and offerings, as well as the latest press releases.
The Startup Incubator in Bavarian Swabia
The Funkenwerk—Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences—is the central point of contact for students, staff, and researchers interested in entrepreneurship who wish to turn their innovative ideas into startups or self-employment.
It provides support from the ideation phase through mentoring, coaching, and incubation programs all the way to applying for business licenses and funding such as EXIST. Funkenwerk also offers interdisciplinary seminars, workshops, and courses focused on sustainability and entrepreneurship, integrated into the curriculum.
With a strong network of experts and an incubator program, it actively promotes the Augsburg region through events, knowledge exchange, and support for successful spin-offs.
It has received multiple awards for its excellent startup support—including first place and top rankings in nationwide assessments—and thus contributes to a vibrant startup culture in Bavarian Swabia.
Prof. Dr. Gordon Thomas Rohrmair, President of Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, emphasizes: “We see ourselves as a startup incubator for our region. As a practice-oriented university, startup support—alongside technology and science transfer—is part of our DNA.”
July 2017: Initial funding from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Social Affairs (BayStMWK): HSA_digit
November 2017: Launch of the HSA_digit initiative by Prof. Dr. Norbert Gerth to promote a digital startup culture at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. The name “digit” is a combination of the English words “dig” and “IT,” signifying the goal of “bringing to light,” “unearthing,” and “promoting” digital business models.
2017–2020: Development into an entrepreneurial university. Expansion and establishment of comprehensive programs and offerings (courses, seminars, workshops, new project formats, an incubator program, and a diverse range of spin-offs).
December 2019: Follow-up funding through the EXIST funding program “Unlocking Potential.” As an EXIST university, HSA expands its startup support activities to all seven faculties and raises awareness of entrepreneurship among students university-wide.
December 2020: 80 percent success rate for EXIST applications. Augsburg University of Applied Sciences establishes itself as a startup hub in the region.
March 2021: Rebranding of the startup initiative—HSA_digit becomes Funkenwerk. With Funkenwerk, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences offers students and researchers interested in starting a business a creative and innovative “space” for collaboration. Here, ideas are tested and—much like in an incubator—further developed. The “Funke” (spark) serves not only as a metaphor for a good idea but also for the “crackle” of enthusiasm or the “fire” for an idea. The “Werk” represents a place where these ideas are refined through synergistic processes. The “Werk” should not be understood in a mechanistic or industrial sense, but rather as an umbrella term for a community of founders who bring their qualities and skills together here to achieve something greater.
October 2023: Entrepreneurial activity will be the focus of a new program launching in Bavarian Swabia, organized by the University of Augsburg and the three Swabian universities—Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (TH Augsburg), Kempten University of Applied Sciences (HS Kempten), and Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HS Neu-Ulm)—on behalf of the State Ministry of Science and the Arts. The joint activities will focus on innovation- and startup-related training that students can complete. The Ministry of Science is funding the project with two staff positions and 500,000 euros over the next five years.
January 2024: Women with forward-looking startup ideas can now receive individualized support from Funkenwerk as part of the “HerVenture” program. The project is funded through the nationwide “EXIST-Women” funding program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
March 2024: Rebranding of Funkenwerk. Following the renaming to
Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (THA), the institution transitioned to a new THA corporate design.
April 2024: Prof. Dr. Gerth hands over the academic leadership of the THA_funkenwerk university initiative to Prof. Dr. Buck.
March 2025: The THA_funkenwerk university initiative becomes the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- March 2021: Augsburg University of Applied Sciences’ startup support program receives a seal of quality. According to the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, the university offers exemplary support for student startups. It awarded the university the “Exemplary Achievements 2020” seal of quality, the highest distinction in the study on startup culture at universities.
- February 2023: Top ranking for Augsburg University of Applied Sciences: In the 2022 Startup Radar conducted by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, it took first place nationwide in the category of medium-sized universities.
- April 2023: Team Funkenwerk is named
“Rocketeers of the Year 2023” - March 2025: Top ranking for Augsburg University of Applied Sciences: In the 2025 Start-up Radar conducted by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences ranked third nationwide in the category of medium-sized universities.
- April 2026: Bavarian Digital Prize 2026 for MittelstandMacher
The Bavarian Digital Prize B.DiGiTAL 2026 was awarded as part of the Augsburg Rocketeer Festival. Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder presented the Bavarian Minister-President’s Honorary Award to Prof. Dr. Dieter Kranzlmüller for his contribution to digitalization. Minister of State Dr. Fabian Mehring presented this year’s Digital Prize to Ramona Meinzer, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gordon Thomas Rohrmair, and Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger for their commitment to the MittelstandMacher initiative.
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The entrepreneurial spirit is in the air
Augsburg University is a hub for entrepreneurial spirit. It’s teeming with brilliant ideas. And when it comes to bringing those ideas to life, students and university staff have a team of experts at their side: Funkenwerk.
Marcus Lange, a university alumnus and founder of the startup langesicht, conceived the film together with the entrepreneurship experts at Funkenwerk.
How Universities Support Startup Founding.
The Stifterverband’s Startup Radar compares university profiles regarding startup support at German universities. Augsburg University of Applied Sciences participated in the 2020 and 2022 evaluations.