The Munich Urban Colab is an initiative of UnternehmerTUM and the City of Munich, bringing together diverse forces under one roof. From startups and established companies to academia, talented individuals, creatives, and artists, everyone collaborates with the city administration and citizens on sustainable solutions for a livable city of the future. To this end, the Colab offers over 11,000 square meters of office space, co-working spaces, event and seminar rooms, and the high-tech prototype workshop Makerspace.
The aim of the initiative is to find and better promote sustainable solutions to the challenges associated with urbanization. The focus is on the future-oriented topics of construction, climate protection, sustainability, and mobility, which are relevant for smart cities. The building's users will benefit from UnternehmerTUM's many years of experience in developing startups. Users will also benefit from access to the city administration and direct exchange with experts from technology and business, venture capital firms, and dialogue with citizens. However, the Colab fundamentally aims to open itself up to universities, colleges, and all other stakeholders working on smart city solutions.
Active participation of the City of Munich
To ensure an active participation in the network, the city provides its own offices and co-working spaces in the Colab. The city administration also contributes its own challenges and projects and uses the network to develop technological, environmentally, and socially sustainable solutions using innovative approaches. The city's stakeholders include the Munich City Lab of the Department of Labor and Economic Development with its innovative economic development program, a branch of the InnovationLab, and the WerkSTADT of the IT Department. Furthermore, the SWM/MVG Mobility Lab is dedicated to future urban issues surrounding mobility.
Susanne Klatten, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of UnternehmerTUM, says:
"At the Munich Urban Colab, togetherness is lived. It unites the city, research, business, and citizens. The building's architecture deliberately exudes transparency. We invite all Munich residents to visit us; to have a drink in the café, to look around the workshops. We build prototypes in the heart of the city. We want to show that people can use our developments. And we invite them to participate. Liveable, sustainable cities need concepts in which citizens can participate."
Mayor Reiter: “We are creating the best conditions for the development of sustainable solutions.”
Dieter Reiter, Mayor of the state capital Munich, explains:
"Munich, with its unique university and business landscape, is a perfect location for an innovation hub like the Munich Urban Colab: Munich is technology-oriented, boasts a vibrant startup scene, and offers a unique charm. We are creating the best conditions for the development of sustainable solutions for the city of the future and for the benefit of our citizens."
And Clemens Baumgärtner, Minister for Labour and Economic Affairs of the State Capital, adds:
"With the Munich Urban Colab, we have not only created an impressive space. The new forms of interdisciplinary collaboration with the active participation of the City of Munich are unique. I am delighted that we are implementing this unique approach to innovative economic development together with UnternehmerTUM. This offers Munich the opportunity to play a pioneering role in the development of smart city solutions."
The Colab as part of the New European Bauhaus initiative
EU President Ursula von der Leyen, who participated in the opening virtually, sees the Munich Urban Colab as a significant place to implement the goals and visions of the EU Commission's New European Bauhaus initiative. This is an ecological, economic, and cultural project that aims to combine design, sustainability, accessibility, and investment. The New European Bauhaus seeks practical answers to the question of what modern life can look like in harmony with nature. This also aims to contribute to the European Green Deal, which aims to make the European Union climate-neutral by 2050.
