Startup Factory OWL
The BMWK's "Startup Factories" lighthouse competition aims to create internationally visible lighthouses. The Startup Factory OWL is one of 15 projects that has received funding for the current concept phase in the nationwide competition.
The Startup Factory OWL stands for the establishment of an entrepreneurial, internationally visible beacon for B2B start-ups in the field of industrial digital transformation.
The EXIST lighthouse competition Startup Factories is a central element of the BMWK's start-up funding.
In the implementation phase from 2025, the competition will comprise five to ten excellence-oriented projects with a term of five years that aim to establish cross-university regional start-up ecosystems with international appeal and strong integration into supra-regional and national value chains. Since July 2024, 15 projects have been funded in a nine-month concept phase.
The Startup Factory OWL establishes an entrepreneurial, internationally visible beacon for B2B start-ups in the industrial digital transformation in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL). Paderborn University, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Bielefeld University and OWL University of Applied Sciences are joining forces for the Startup Factory OWL.
Our path to becoming a subsidized lighthouse
We stand for the promotion of science-based start-ups and scale-ups as well as corporate start-ups in cooperation with the supra-regional economy. out of 120 universities, we managed to make it into the top 15. Until February 28, we now have the chance to position the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region as a candidate for funding as a Startup Factory in the nationwide lighthouse competition.
The Start-up Campus OWL, which will open in 2024, offers the perfect starting point for the Startup Factory OWL: Germany's largest university-owned maker space offers a wide range of opportunities for prototyping and the development of new business models in the field of digital industrial transformation across 1,000 m². With a workshop landscape including an IIoT experimental area, electronics and metal workshop, spacious event spaces, co-working areas, a professional media and sound studio and a modern office landscape, we will be the international hotspot for B2B (hardware) start-ups.
Pooling the strengths of the players relevant to start-ups in Ostwestfalen-Lippe
Interdisciplinary university consortium with its start-up centers consisting of Paderborn University, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, OWL University of Applied Sciences and Bielefeld University.
The corporate venture builder someventure GmbH acts as an entrepreneurial practice partner to leverage start-ups from companies & industry.
Networking and ecosystem
Support and networking of science and innovation-driven SMEs in order to establish business ideas on the market in the long term.
Internationalization of start-up support
Expansion and internationalization of sustainable start-up support across all growth phases, especially in the manufacturing industry and Industry.Zero & Industry 5.0.
The strengths of the OWL region
One of Europe's leading production clusters and one of Germany's top 5 economic and innovation regions.
Close networking of strong industrial SMEs, traditional technology leaders and major international corporations.
Nationwide pioneer in the areas of Industry 4.0 & 5.0, Industry.Zero and Industrial AI.
Broad research landscape consisting of five universities with over 60,000 students and 5,000 researchers, whose university focus includes the transfer of research into business models.
Focus on transfer-oriented research in computer science, engineering, natural sciences and humanities.
Unique leading-edge cluster for intelligent & technical systems "it's OWL" and location of the Fraunhofer Institutes IEM and IOSB-INA.
Total area
7000m2
Maker Space
1000m2
Meeting place
150 founders
The Start-up Campus OWL, which opened in 2024, offers the perfect starting point for the Startup Factory OWL: with ten workshops (including an IIoT experimental area, electronics and metal workshop), spacious event spaces, co-working areas, a professional media and recording studio and a modern office environment, we are the international hotspot for B2B (hardware) start-ups.
Wood, plastic or metal can be worked with in various workshops. In the field of rapid prototyping, laser cutters and various 3D printers enable the production of initial mold models or fully functional products.
The IIoT Space is being created at the heart of the Maker Space. Here, agile start-up teams and established partner companies will work together on new solutions for industrial production. Between the craft workshops, the IIoT Space offers an insight into the industry and the opportunity to test newly developed products on real structures.
Contact us
You want to be part of our version? Then please contact us by e-mail at info@startupfactoryowl.de
