German Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier: “We need to build bridges of innovation between start-ups and established companies”

February 3, 2021

• Ahead of the High-Tech Partnering Days, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier stresses the importance of cooperation between founders and established companies.
• Alongside Family Day, the High-Tech Partnering Days are one of the two flagship events of High-Tech Gründerfonds, Germany’s most active seed stage investor.
• The three-day event will be held in an exclusively virtual format for the first time between 9 and 11 February. The aim is to continue to provide a networking platform for start-ups, policymakers and businesses during these challenging times.
• In addition to Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier, the high-profile speakers at the event will include Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn as well as executive board members of Bosch, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Börse, Dräger, Lidl Digital, Software AG and Techniker Krankenkasse.

Ahead of the High-Tech Partnering Days, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier is stressing the special importance of cooperation between established companies and start-ups.

We need to see more bridges of innovation promoting dialogue between large and medium-sized enterprises as well as young start-ups so as to further enhance Germany’s standing as a hub for high-tech. Events such as the High-Tech Partnering Days provide a valuable contribution in this regard.

Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs

The event will be hosted by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Germany’s most active seed stage investor and most successful public–private partnership in the field of venture capital. HTGF’s investors include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, KfW Capital and more than 30 partner companies from the world of business.

The HTPD will be held in an exclusively virtual format for the first time over three days between 9 and 11 February.

We want to make sure that start-ups have the opportunity to strike up a dialogue with industry representatives, even in times of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, representatives from corporations, medium-sized enterprises and family-run businesses will gain direct and quick insight into the innovative strength of young companies. And it’s exactly this kind of dialogue that we are aiming to provide a platform for through the HTPD.

Dr. Alex von Frankenberg, HTGF Managing Director

Focus on digital tech, life sciences & healthcare, and industrial tech

The first day of the conference will begin with a focus on digital tech. Dr. Thomas Book, Member of the Executive Board at Deutsche Börse, will be among the speakers. Furthermore, in his visionary speech (“Startup meets Corp: Clash or Match?”), Rolf Schumann, Chief Digital Officer at Lidl Digital & Schwarz Digital, will speak about the opportunities he sees through collaboration with young companies.

Our possibilities are limited only by our imagination – unless our egos get the better of us.

Rolf Schumann, Chief Digital Officer at Lidl Digital & Schwarz Digital

The second day of the event will be opened by Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn with a focus on life sciences and healthcare. Visionary speeches will be given by Toni Schrofner, Executive Board Member for the Medical Division at Dräger, and Dr. Jens Baas, Chairman of the Board of Techniker Krankenkasse.

Digital innovations are a key factor to improve and build sustainable healthcare systems. However, entering the healthcare market seems to be accompanied by some difficulties for digital innovations so far. Health insurance funds could therefore play an important role to enable start-up businesses to access the market: they possess industry expertise and deep insights, are well aware of potential challenges and since most recently have the possibility to invest or act as a type of incubator themselves, keeping in mind the inherent goal to improve healthcare rather than maximizing profits. Hence, promising relationships and synergies between established health insurance funds and innovative start-up businesses are likely to evolve.

Dr. Jens Baas, Chairman of the Board of Techniker Krankenkasse

Artificial intelligence as a criterion for success

Industrial tech will be the focus of the third day of the conference. Prof. Dr. Sabina S. Jeschke, Member of the Management Board for Digitalization and Technology at Deutsche Bahn AG, will talk about the importance of artificial intelligence.

The true potential of artificial intelligence will be unleashed in three stages – the AI of today driven by algorithms, the AI of tomorrow driven by 5G connectivity, and the quantum computing breakthrough in the near future. For companies to be successful, it is crucial that they start preparing for these foreseeable developments. At Deutsche Bahn, we are already making such preparations.

Prof. Dr. Sabina S. Jeschke, Member of the Management Board for Digitalization and Technology at Deutsche Bahn AG

Jeschke is looking forward to networking with the start-ups.

Through their ideas, high-tech start-ups can address the technological challenges faced by established companies. This consistently leads to innovative solutions that both parties benefit from.

Prof. Dr. Sabina S. Jeschke, Member of the Management Board for Digitalization and Technology at Deutsche Bahn AG

In addition to the visionary speeches and the inspiration they will provide, workshops and panel discussions will take place over all three days of the HTPD. The focus of these activities will also be to promote networking between founders and established companies. Participants in the virtual event will be able to share insights in one-on-one sessions and in small-scale discussion rounds, while also watching presentations by high-tech start-ups sharing their ideas and demonstrating their innovative business solutions. 

To register for the event and for more information, please click here. A ticket for the full conference costs €99.00. Day tickets are also available.

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor that finances high-potential, tech-driven start-ups. With roughly EUR 900 million in total investment volume across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has helped forge almost 600 startups since 2005. Driven by their expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion, its team of experienced investment managers and startup experts help guide the development of young companies. Investment is focused on the fields of digital tech, industrial tech, life sciences, the chemical sector and associated business fields. To date, external investors have injected almost EUR 3 billion into the HTGF portfolio via more than 1,700 follow-on financing rounds. HTGF has also successfully sold interests in more than 120 companies.

Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, KfW Capital, and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V., as well as the companies ALTANA, BASF, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, B.Braun, Robert Bosch, BÜFA, CEWE, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Post DHL, Dräger, Drillisch AG, EVONIK, EWE AG, FOND OF, Haniel, Hettich, Knauf, Körber, LANXESS, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, PHOENIX CONTACT, QIAGEN, RWE Generation SE, SAP, Schufa, Schwarz Gruppe, STIHL, Thüga, Vector Informatik, WACKER, and Wilh. Werhahn KG.

https://www.htgf.de/en/

Media Contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Stefanie Grüter, Head of Marketing & Communications
Tel.: +49 (0) 228 82300 188
s.grueter@htgf.de