The following text has been machine translated from German.
The SouthwestX Startup Factory will focus on technology- and research-based spin-offs as well as innovation transfer, with a strong emphasis on industry involvement. A total budget of more than €20 million is available over the next five years, including up to €10 million in federal funding.
The competition, initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, aims to significantly increase both the number and quality of academic spin-offs from universities and research institutions. Nationwide, ten Startup Factories were ultimately selected through a multi-stage, highly competitive process that began in mid-2023. The consortium led by Saarland University brings together renowned academic and industry-oriented partners as well as established companies from the SouthwestX region, which includes Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate as integral components, along with areas in France and Luxembourg.
In addition to Saarland University, htw saar with its technology transfer organization FITT gGmbH, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), and Max Planck Innovation GmbH, the consortium also includes supraregional and, in some cases, international partners: Trier University of Applied Sciences (Environmental Campus Birkenfeld), RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, the Collège des Ingénieurs (Munich and Paris), and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (Vallendar) as a strategic partner in entrepreneurship and scaling. Furthermore, numerous additional partnerships have been established in Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Luxembourg, and France.
“Being recognized as a Startup Factory is a major milestone for Saarland University and the entire SouthwestX region. It shows that with our transdisciplinary approach, strong partnerships, and international perspective, we are addressing exactly where the future is being shaped,” emphasizes University President Prof. Dr. Ludger Santen.
A key feature of the concept is its integrated approach to a supraregional innovation ecosystem that focuses both on the creation of startups and on close cooperation with established companies. This generates significant leverage through the combination of federal funding and private co-financing. The public seed funding of €10 million is complemented by investments from companies, investors, and institutions—with the goal of establishing a sustainable, scalable structure for research-based startups and innovation transfer. The consortium has successfully raised around €12.5 million from private partners, supporters, and companies.
“With the Startup Factory, we are creating a unique platform that internationally connects scalable startup ventures from science and research, develops them in a targeted manner, and brings them to market readiness. SouthwestX thus becomes a model region for innovation-driven transformation,” explains Ralf Zastrau, Director of Entrepreneurship at Saarland University and Project Lead for the Startup Factories.
Focus Areas of the Startup Factory Concept
Sustainable AI and Green Transformation
The supraregional consortium places a strong thematic focus on promoting responsible artificial intelligence and green transformation. This orientation reflects pressing global challenges and aims to develop innovative solutions that are both ecologically and economically sustainable. Startups gain access to deep-tech infrastructure, tailored coaching, and validated market pathways—from ideation through scaling.
Strong International Network
International orientation is a core component and a key strategic differentiator. Particularly noteworthy is the close cooperation with partners in France and Luxembourg. These cross-border collaborations create a dynamic innovation ecosystem that facilitates the exchange of knowledge, technologies, and capital.
Integration with Industry and Finance
The new Startup Factory positions itself as a bridge between academia, industry, and society. In addition to close partnerships with regional and supraregional research institutions, collaboration with SMEs, industrial partners, investors, and the financial sector is a central element of the concept.
New Name: “SouthwestX”
As part of the strategic and operational implementation of the funded project, the Startup Factory will be developed under the brand “SouthwestX – The Bridge to Innovation.” The name symbolizes a supraregional platform for cross-border entrepreneurship, dynamic startup activity, and high-performance innovation transfer. SouthwestX brings together all partners and activities from Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Luxembourg, and France—with the aim of establishing a leading European model for research-based economic scaling and sustainable transformation. SouthwestX stands for internationality, execution strength, scientific depth, and strong economic connectivity.
Bildquelle: BMWE/Dominik Butzmann
Background: EXIST Flagship Competition “Startup Factories”
Information on the Startup Factories awarded today:
Participating partners:
Saarland University with Triathlon and SouthwestX (formerly: The Bridge Innovators):
WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes und Fitt gGmbH
Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU)
Hochschule Trier – Umweltcampus Birkenfeld: Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld
Max Planck Innovation: Technologietransfer für die Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Deutsches Forschungszentrum für künstliche Intelligenz (DFKI)
