Press release

Hamburg: magnet for innovative scale-ups from all over the world

7 May 2024
The Scaleup Landing Pad Hamburg funding programme brings international GreenTech growth companies to Hamburg and supports them in their collaboration with Hamburg's business community.

The Scaleup Landing Pad Hamburg, an initiative of the business development organisation Hamburg Invest and the Ministry of Economics and Innovation, has selected five promising growth companies from a pool of international applicants. The GreenTech pioneers include Allegro Energy from Australia, BANF from South Korea, Heatcube - Kyoto Group from Norway, Polymertal from Israel and Tsubame BHB from Japan. What the companies have in common is that they have the potential to provide Hamburg-based companies with innovative solutions to current challenges in the field of sustainability.

Polymertal from Israel, for example, has developed innovative materials that have metallic properties but are significantly lighter than conventional metals. As a result, up to 60% of the weight can be saved compared to metallic components, leading to a significant reduction in energy consumption when using these materials.

Implement and apply innovation projects together

The five selected scale-ups will receive personalised support until the end of the year in order to successfully build up their business in Germany. The core of the offer to the growth companies is a comprehensive matchmaking programme that brings the young companies together with established Hamburg companies. The aim is to carry out joint innovation projects and implement the new solutions locally. In addition, the scale-ups receive advice and support on legal, administrative and practical issues relating to entering the German market.

In order to increase the chances of successful collaboration, companies such as Airbus, Otto and HHLA had already formulated their innovation requirements prior to the call for proposals. Accordingly, in addition to the five initially selected scale-ups, 22 other international young growth companies that have applied with their solutions for these needs are currently being examined by the Hamburg partners. The companies whose solutions are best tailored to the needs of the companies also have the chance to be included in the programme.

Sascha Jacobi, Head of the Scaleup Landing Pad at Hamburg Invest, says of the programme: "Our Scaleup Landing Pad makes it easier than ever for young companies to gain a foothold in Germany and Europe. With its features and market-oriented flexibility, the programme is unique in Germany and aims to bring innovative cutting-edge technology to Hamburg in order to drive forward the green transformation of our metropolis. The opportunity to formulate individual innovation needs allows us to actively involve our Hamburg-based companies in shaping the process, thereby increasing the chances of successful collaborations for the international scale-ups."

Koji Nakamura, Managing Director of the selected scaleup Tsubame BHB from Japan, sees the participation in the Scaleup Landing Pad Hamburg as a strategic step into the German and European market: "Our participation in the Scaleup Landing Pad in Hamburg is an important step for Tsubame BHB to strengthen our presence in Germany and underline our commitment to sustainability and decarbonisation. We look forward to finding technology partnerships and meeting potential customers to work together on pioneering green H2 and ammonia projects. This programme offers us the opportunity to expand our network and work together to pilot our solutions in the German market."

Tsubame BHB is launching a state-of-the-art ammonia synthesis technology based on an electrocatalyst that allows ammonia to be produced at lower temperatures and lower pressure compared to existing processes.

Now in its third year, the Scaleup Landing Pad Hamburg facilitates market entry into the region for international growth companies. Last year, 190 talks were held between international scaleups and Hamburg-based companies, resulting in 8 pilot projects.

Sources and further information

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