MittelstandMacher: Innovation Ecosystem for Bavarian-Swabian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Launched
The Funkenwerk_MittelstandMacher project was officially launched today with a celebratory on-stage moment at the Rocketeer Festival in Augsburg. Together with Digital Minister Dr. Fabian Mehring, Prof. Gordon Rohrmair, President of the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (THA), Stefan Drüssler, COO of UnternehmerTUM, and Ramona Meinzer, Managing Director of Aumüller Aumatic, kicked off the initiative. The initiative aims to establish a network in Bavarian Swabia centered on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that connects business, academia, and startups to bring innovations into practical application more quickly. The Munich-based UnternehmerTUM serves as the initiative’s sponsor; its ecosystem was recently named the European champion by the renowned business newspaper “Financial Times.”
Bavaria’s Minister of State for Digital Affairs, Dr. Fabian Mehring, is understandably delighted; he launched the project together with his colleague, Minister Markus Blume, and has supported it from the very beginning: “We are systematically developing our Augsburg metropolitan region into the Free State’s second major innovation hub. To this end, we are actively seeking to join forces with our partners in Munich, who are already European leaders in startups and future digital technologies. Our vision: While Munich successfully conducts cutting-edge international research and competes at the world’s highest level, we in Augsburg are driving the connection from academia right into the heart of our Bavarian small and medium-sized businesses. In this way, we’re channeling the power of new technologies onto the proverbial road of our local economy and into local businesses. This close collaboration between Munich and Augsburg creates a true win-win situation from which all of Bavaria will benefit.”
Markus Blume, Bavarian Minister of State for Science and the Arts: “When knowledge and the factory floor come together, it’s the perfect combination for innovation. The combination of successful small and medium-sized enterprises and dynamic universities is the engine of success. With the Funkenwerk_MittelstandMacher project, we’re now providing an additional boost to the Swabian innovation region. We’re creating a network in the region for the region that bridges the gap between excellent research and direct application in businesses. And: We want to encourage people and create opportunities for them to start their own businesses. Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (THA) is exactly the right place for that. There’s a real startup spirit here. For years, THA has been one of the most successful universities in Germany for fostering startups.”
The project stems from an initiative by the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (THA), UnternehmerTUM, the Bavarian State Ministry for Digital Affairs (StMD), and the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts (StMWK). Operational implementation is the responsibility of THA_funkenwerk—the THA’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation—in close cooperation with UnternehmerTUM and with the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises. Funding is provided jointly by the THA and committed companies from the region. The collaboration among the participants creates a broad alliance designed to sustainably strengthen the region’s innovative capacity.
“The THA sees itself as an agile and dynamic university. Our goal is to identify the region’s challenges and needs at an early stage and work together to translate them into solutions. The MittelstandMacher are a prime example of this approach—and are having an even greater impact through their collaboration with UnternehmerTUM,” says the president of Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gordon Thomas Rohrmair.
About MittelstandMacher
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are considered the backbone of the German economy and a stable and reliable partner. At the same time, small and medium-sized enterprises are under increasing pressure due to digitalization, artificial intelligence, and rapid technological change. Shorter innovation cycles and new global conditions require faster development processes, the consistent implementation of new technologies, and closer integration with current research and young talent.
Strengthening
Innovative Capacity This is precisely where the MittelstandMacher initiative comes in. The project aims to strengthen and expand the innovative capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises and to establish new forms of collaboration between industry, academia, startups, and young talent. Christoph Buck, scientific director of THA_funkenwerk and initiator of MittelstandMacher, emphasizes: “SMEs possess an enormous wealth of knowledge, experience, market access, and innovative strength. Our goal is to make this potential visible and, together, translate it into concrete applications.”
For this reason, MittelstandMacher deliberately does not see itself as a traditional funding program, but rather as an open platform. Companies are encouraged to bring their specific needs to the table and develop solutions together with researchers and students. Through new event formats, collaborative projects, and ongoing exchange, ideas are to be brought to market readiness more quickly and sustainably anchored in the regional SME sector. In the long term, this will create an innovation ecosystem specifically tailored to the needs of Bavarian Swabia.
New Momentum for Startups and SMEs
A key role in this is played by the strategic partnership between Augsburg University of Applied Sciences and UnternehmerTUM, one of Europe’s leading ecosystems for startups and technological innovations. Stefan Drüssler, Managing Director of UnternehmerTUM, explains: “The dynamism of THA as a startup-focused university combines with our experience in building scalable innovation structures. Together, we are providing new momentum for startups and SMEs in the region.”
Even before the official launch, there was significant interest from the business community. At the end of last year, CEOs from Bavarian-Swabian SMEs met with researchers from THA to discuss what the cooperation network might look like. The first working meetings followed in March 2026: Entrepreneurs discussed key challenges such as digitalization, new technologies, and changing market requirements. The first joint courses at the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences have already been held.
TransferCampus and MasterClasses
Further concrete measures are planned for the coming months, including a TransferCampus for members of the initiative as well as special MasterClasses. The goal is to significantly accelerate the transfer of knowledge between research and industry and to further expand collaboration with young talent.
Ramona Meinzer, managing partner of the mechanical engineering firm Aumüller Aumatic, underscores the importance of the initiative: “The question of long-term sustainability is a concern for many small and medium-sized enterprises. MittelstandMacher offers a platform that addresses this very issue and significantly accelerates the transfer of research into practice.”
Companies interested in participating in MittelstandMacher can register at funkenwerk@tha.de