Munich Startup: In recent years, the MTZ has further developed its strategy. Which changes were particularly formative – and what prompted this transformation?
Felix Brinkmann: The MTZ has focused its rental and acquisition efforts on companies that deliver genuine innovations – across many industries. Additionally, the service concept and spatial design are oriented toward the expectations and needs of young founders. Examples include a new reception area, an information system, installation of showers, expansion of bicycle racks, and development of the community area. Fundamentally, the MTZ should take on a more active role in the Munich ecosystem and reactivate its mandate for startup promotion.
Arno Eggers: The strategic shift was also a response to changing market conditions: higher demand for flexible spaces, increasing competition among innovation centers, and a clear need for community-building. It’s clear that startups are not just looking for square meters, but an environment that enables growth with sufficient flexibility. The reorientation has positioned the MTZ more clearly and at the same time modernized the internal organization. I particularly appreciate that you can see this in the newly acquired tenants in the building. The concept “MTZ” is increasingly being lived.
MTZ as scaleup hub: Flexible spaces and professional infrastructure
Munich Startup: The MTZ is increasingly positioning itself as a place for scaleups. How does this self-image manifest itself, and what does this concretely mean for tenants and offerings in the building?
Felix Brinkmann: A key aspect is flexible rental. Our tenants can expand their office spaces easily, quickly, and according to their needs as they grow. Furthermore, they can utilize the MTZ’s high-quality and professional infrastructure, which is an important factor both in external perception and in attracting employees.
Arno Eggers: The scaleup self-image also means that we accompany startups in a critical phase. Namely, when first successes are in place, but structures, processes, and teams need to grow rapidly. For this, the on-site team creates framework conditions that provide stability: clear contacts, plannable space development, professional services, and an environment of similarly growing companies.
Munich Startup: Which industries or technologies currently characterize the startups at the MTZ? Has the portfolio changed in recent years?
Felix Brinkmann: The industries and technologies are intentionally very broadly defined. Given the fast pace and high innovation density, technologies change very rapidly. The MTZ’s portfolio also shifts according to current trends.
Munich Startup: Felix, you’ve been head of the MTZ for three years. Which success story of your startups has impressed you most during this time?
Felix Brinkmann: One example is the university spin-off Noxon. The team originally comes from medical research and is now developing a bionic sensor system that is user-friendly and integrated into textiles and clothing. What’s impressive about Noxon is how the team manages to bring together expertise from universities, neuroscientific findings, and other experts in healthcare to create an extremely useful product. Furthermore, the team has managed to implement impressive expansion despite initial challenges in a demanding and highly regulated market environment. At the MTZ, we’re proud to have Noxon as a tenant, because the team impresses not only with its business development but is also present at networking events, excels at volleyball in front of the MTZ grounds, and achieves top performances at the foosball table.
Collaboration within the MGH
Munich Startup: The MTZ is part of the Munich Trade Fair and Technology Center Company (MGH), as is Munich Startup. How would you describe the collaboration and division of roles between these units?
Felix Brinkmann: Overall, very well. The MTZ complements the MGH’s offerings and provides suitable and straightforward solutions for startups. In this way, the MGH makes an important contribution to supporting key economic actors in the Munich area.
Arno Eggers: The interlinking between the MTZ and Munich Startup is increasingly gaining strategic importance. While the MTZ provides physical spaces, community, and infrastructure, Munich Startup takes on the role of the central information and communication channel in the ecosystem. This was the plan when we reorganized these units some time ago. The MGH forms the organizational framework within which both units can work increasingly closely together.
Munich Startup: In 2017, the MTZ was described as the “spider in the web.” How has the network changed since then, particularly in collaboration with partners like Baystartup or the city of Munich?
Felix Brinkmann: We maintain close business relationships with both Baystartup and the city of Munich. Baystartup offers our tenants comprehensive, free, and uniquely in-depth consulting services. We also organize monthly networking events with Baystartup, a Christmas celebration, and our summer festival, which has become one of the best-known in the Munich ecosystem. We see ourselves as part of the city of Munich and contribute to strengthening the location with our offerings. In doing so, we organize joint events and the MTZ is increasingly establishing itself as one of the leading startup centers in the Munich area. Strategic further development takes place in close coordination with the Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft.
Arno Eggers: The MTZ has established itself as a reliable partner that not only organizes events but actively sets impulses – for example on topics like location attractiveness, innovation policy, or space development. Integration into city strategies has become more intensive, as evidenced, for example, by close collaboration with Spaces4Scaleups.
MTZ 2: Vision of a modern innovation center
Munich Startup: Speaking of “MTZ 2” – what can you tell us about possible expansion or new construction plans? What vision lies behind it?
Arno Eggers: The planned new construction of the MTZ is more than a space expansion. It’s a strategic step to reach new target groups, particularly technology-oriented companies that also need test or production spaces. At the same time, an architecturally and conceptually modern center is to be created that more strongly integrates aspects such as sustainability, flexible spatial logic, community areas, and digital services. The vision is another innovation hub that will further increase Munich’s attractiveness in close collaboration with other players from the ecosystem. The location in the Werksviertel helps here. Currently, around WERK1, what is likely to become Munich’s most important innovation hub in the long term is emerging.
Felix Brinkmann: We see that our offerings are very well received. This is evident from the fact that over 50 new startups have moved in with us in the past three years. MTZ 2 will expand our offering once again at another attractive location. Additionally, it will be possible to combine traditional office spaces with workshop space.
Munich Startup: If you look five years ahead, what role should the MTZ play in the Munich innovation ecosystem?
Arno Eggers: In five years, the MTZ should be one of the central platforms for technology-oriented growth companies in Munich. We want to be a place where startups have access to knowledge, capital, talent, and infrastructure, and at the same time a strong partner for the ecosystem when it comes to economic future topics.
