Saarland as a hotspot for innovative startups: 20 million euros for founders!

Saarland as a hotspot for innovative startups: 20 million euros for founders!

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has recognized the “Southwest X – The Bridge to Innovation” initiative as part of the EXIST lighthouse competition “Startup Factories”. This one from the Saarland University The partnership includes several universities and research institutions that are committed to the goal of significantly increasing the number of startups in the region and thus contributing to economic transformation.

More than 20 million euros are available for the initiative over a period of five years, with up to 10 million euros being made available as national funding. The focus is on technology and research-based spin-offs as well as innovative transfer into industry. Ten different startup factories were selected nationwide as part of this competition, which are to be strengthened through the mentioned financing and cooperation structures.

A network for startups

The “Southwest X” consortium is made up of a variety of partners, including htw saar, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and Max Planck Innovation GmbH. The Trier University of Applied Sciences, the RPTU Kaiserslautern, the Collège des Ingénieurs and the WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management are also among the supporters of the approaches in this framework. The Startup Factory plans to create a platform that enables multiple scales for start-up projects in science and research.

There is a particular focus on sustainable AI and green transformation, which means the initiative makes a relevant contribution to the current debate about environmentally friendly technologies. In addition, a fundamental international orientation should be promoted through cooperation with partners in France and Luxembourg. The consortium strives to establish a leading European model for research-based economic scaling.

Innovations in pest control

Nick Leiding and Lukas Deuscher's company, which has developed an innovative solution for pest control, shows relevant progress in the startup world. Both founders met in a bar during their time as students and brought their idea to life to minimize the use of active ingredients. The technology allows pest controllers to only take action when there is an actual infestation, supported by an app or PC.

With the support of Chemovator, BASF's incubator, they developed a prototype that has now been successfully tested. Martin, a third partner, contributed significantly to the development by establishing contacts with manufacturers in Asia who supply high-quality components. This development is particularly promising in light of upcoming legislative changes in January 2026 that will set new standards in the industry.

The positive response at trade fairs and the company's growth are based not only on innovative approaches, but also on the exchange with other founders and the early inclusion of customer feedback. These factors are essential to their future aspirations to be leaders in the industry.

Futuristic perspectives for founders

In addition to the “Southwest X” initiative, the Future Factory the establishment of new startups in the Rhine-Main area. The goal is to create 1,000 new startups by 2030, with founders receiving access to funding, industry and expert coaching. Structures like these are particularly important in the context of the EXIST competition, as they open up additional funding opportunities.

Participating universities, including the Goethe University Frankfurt, the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Technical University of Darmstadt, work together on the Futury platform. This has supported over 120 startups since 2015 and creates a connection between academic teaching, research and entrepreneurial practice. Such initiatives lay the foundation for innovative start-up projects in Germany.