Zeppelin University (ZU) is setting up a start-up center on its SeeCampus. The first renowned partner is the WAGNER Group, which is launching its incubator "freiraum” (free space) within the ZU start-up center. There in the "PioneerPort", founders and researchers will find a common place for innovations from companies in the region and student start-ups with impetuses from science in the future. The official launch will take place in the coming fall.
"Innovation is the core of our WAGNER DNA and an essential component of our long-term strategy as one of the world's leading experts in surface coating. Innovation needs the free space to be able to think beyond boundaries, unrestricted, beyond existing mental, organizational and spatial structures," says Dr. Bruno Niemeyer, chairman of the management board of the WAGNER Group. With the new WAGNER Group incubator "freiraum" at the ZU, this space is created and business ideas with a strong relationship with surface coating technology are promoted, which are implemented in the context of start-ups. This is all done very practically through co-working space, financing, mentoring and access to expertise. Niemeyer continues: "With the ZU as one of the best universities in Germany with a strong focus on entrepreneurship, we have found the ideal partner in the region. Their interdisciplinary problem and solution-oriented approach, especially with regard to innovations, offers the best prerequisites for a transfer of knowledge in both directions. In addition, and this is equally important to me, we are supporting young entrepreneurs in the Lake Constance region with our start-up center."
The president of the ZU, professor Dr. Insa Sjurts, explains: "The promotion of economic, social and cultural entrepreneurship is the key objective of the ZU. With the start-up center, the various activities at the ZU are bundled and developed further in research, teaching and practice in the area of business start-ups under the umbrella of a start-up center." The start-up center has the potential to not only create sustainable added value for founders and for the ZU, but also for the city of Friedrichshafen and the Lake Constance region. It is also a good supplement to other projects in the city and region, which include company start-ups. Insa Sjurts: "We are very pleased to have a strong and innovative partner on our side in the WAGNER Group."
The start-up center, which is led by Sandra Rompe, is generally open to all student start-ups at the ZU and companies in the region. The start-up center is accompanied by an advisory board with representatives from science, business and business development.
Students and alumni have already founded more than 120 companies at the ZU. The best-known include the long-distance business pioneers from DeinBus.de, the social company "Rock Your Life!", the publishing house for 3D printed design objects "Stilnest" as well as "unu," developers and providers of electric scooters.
