Our network partner explained

Networking educators, researchers and employees across universities

Our Academics stakeholder group is made up of educators, researchers and employees who are either already active in the field of entrepreneurship or startup support or want to be in the future. Our goal as NXTGN is to promote their collaboration and collective visibility.

We design targeted events such as the International Entrepreneurship Education Summit (IEES) and develop formats such as train-the-trainer programs. We also support the INSPIRE BW Hubs, which efficiently bundle start-up offers at universities. In this way, we strengthen exchange and knowledge transfer.

OUR MISSION

Empowering universities as drivers of innovation

Educators, researchers and university employees not only impart knowledge, but also drive innovation and support startups as mentors.

Awakening the founding spirit at universities

From students to post-docs - universities produce the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. We encourage entrepreneurship with inspiring programs and targeted networking.

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Using research as a source of innovation

Numerous successful startups grow out of scientific projects. We support the teams with tailor-made assistance so that their ideas become realizable innovations.

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Bringing new insights in the Mittelstand

The Mittelstand benefit from scientific expertise. We facilitate a direct exchange between researchers and companies so that new discoveries can be integrated.

Our network

These Academic Partner are already part of our community

We are particularly proud to be able to count all the universities in Baden-Württemberg that support startups among our partners.

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The three-tier model of startup support in Baden-Württemberg includes the local universities, the regional INSPIRE BW hubs and the state-wide NXTGN state initiative.

The INSPIRE BW HUBS

A regionally connected university landscape creates synergies

There are six INSPIRE BW Hubs to bring universities that offer individual support services together regionally. These networks are designed to accelerate startups even more efficiently and are promoted by the Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg.

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DeepTechHub

The DeepTechHub focuses on deep tech and comprises a total of 87,464 students.

Universities involved:

KIT (Lead)

University of Heidelberg

Universität Mannheim

Hochschule Mannheim

Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Hochschule Pforzheim

Heilbronn University

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TriAS

TriAS focuses on life sciences and artificial intelligence and comprises a total of 38,903 students.

Universities involved:

Universität Tübingen (Lead)

Hochschule Reutlingen

Stuttgart Media University

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Schwarzwälder Gründergeist

The Schwarzwälder Gründergeist supports startups from all disciplines and comprises a total of 32,626 students.

Universities involved:

Universität Freiburg (Lead)

Hochschule Furtwangen

Offenburg University of Applied Sciences

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INSPIRE2Start

INSPIRE2Start focuses on impact and female entrepreneurship and comprises a total of 44,055 students.

Universities involved:

Universität Stuttgart (Lead)

University of Hohenheim

Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart

Hochschule Nürtingen-Geislingen

Hochschule Esslingen

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StartupSÜD

StartupSÜD focuses on combination technologies in the deep tech sector and comprises a total of 24,642 students.

Universities involved:

Universität Ulm (Lead)

Ulm University of Technology

Biberach University of Applied Sciences

Aalen University

Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Art and Design

Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (Standort Heidenheim)

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Kilometres1

Kilometer1 supports start-ups from all disciplines and comprises a total of 20,905 students.

Universities involved:

Hochschule Konstanz (Lead)

Universität Konstanz

Hochschule Ravensburg-Weingarten

Hochschule Albstadt-Sigmaringen

Coordination by INSPIRE BW Hub platform

The INSPIRE BW Hub Platform, based at the University of Heidelberg, serves as the coordinating instance. In particular, it supports the networking of the six hubs and provides an overarching infrastructure.

Du hast Fragen oder Anregungen zu den INSPIRE BW Hubs oder dem Hub Management? 
Dann melde dich bei Dr. Raoul Haschke.

Don't miss any news!

Are you active in the field of entrepreneurship or startup support? Then sign up for our Academic Newsletter. Here we provide insights into the network and keep you up to date on relevant events.

Constantly in close dialogue

This is what the people behind
the logos say

Junior Professor Dr. Theresa Veer
University of Tübingen | #academicpartner
“The NXTGN network is a real game changer for the academic world! The direct exchange with innovative founders inspires my research and allows it to grow beyond the ivory tower. What's particularly exciting is that our proximity to politics opens up new opportunities to translate scientific findings into concrete policies.”
Dr Rubina Zern-Breuer
Universität Stuttgart | #inspirebw-hub
„Mit Inspire2Start gestalten wir ein lebendiges Gründungsökosystem, das Hochschulen vernetzt, Impact- und Female Entrepreneurship gezielt fördert und nachhaltige Innovationen langfristig trägt – von der Idee bis weit über die Ausgründung hinaus.“
Prof. Dr. Alexander Brem
University of Stuttgart | #academicpartner
“Successful startups are created when the right people with the most promising ideas come together at the right time. Being able to support this motivates me and is fun. And I always learn something new.”
Prof. Dr. Bettina Merlin
Heilbronn University | #academicpartner
“As a university that places great emphasis on entrepreneurship, we have the ideal partner in NXTGN, which supports us in our work with its large network, organizes top-class events and strengthens networking with other universities - that really helps us all move forward.”
Prof. Dr. Nils Högsdal
Stuttgart Media University | #academicpartner
“A good network is so important because a network is more than the sum of the individual players. Not everyone can do everything themselves, but needs to know someone who can help.”
Prof. Dr. Steffen Reik
Ulm University of Applied Sciences | #academicpartner
“All players in the Baden-Württemberg startup ecosystem are pursuing the same major goal: to produce more successful startups. NXTGN pulls many threads together here and forms the supra-regional network that develops potential through synergies and mutual support and helps us to achieve this goal together.”
Prof. Dr. Christina Ungerer
Hochschule Konstanz | #inspirebw-hub
„Die INSPIRE BW Hubs bündeln Know-how, Netzwerke und Ideenreichtum über Hochschulgrenzen hinweg – ein echter Booster für die Innovationsfähigkeit und Effizienz der Gründungsförderung in Baden-Württemberg.“
Contact us

Become part of our ecosystem

Contact the Academics team directly or use our general contact form. You can find information on the specific services on our offers page.

Magdalena Weinle

Head of Academic Success

Up to something new?

Then take a look at the job advertisements in our jobportal.

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