Start for Future aims to advance the further development and monetization of disruptive concepts and cutting-edge technologies. By fostering collaboration, the cooperative aims to help shape the innovation landscape in Europe and promote systemic innovation. The establishment of a European Cooperative as a new organizational form is the next step in the alliance's development.
The founding assembly, which took place during the SFF Summit in Varna on June 24, 2023, marks the founding of the SFF Cooperative as a joint corporate form that will play a central role in shaping Europe's political, social, and economic landscape. Seventeen prominent partners from the existing alliance of 36 universities, incubators, research, and business organizations are founding members of the cooperative. These include, in addition to the Munich SCE and the Munich University of Applied Sciences, including the Greek Startups Academy, EIT KIC Urban Mobility, the international consulting firm Eura AG and numerous European universities such as Queen's University Belfast, International Burch University in Bosnia and Herzegovina and VIA University College in Denmark.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Stumpp, Vice President for Business and Entrepreneurship at HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences, explains:
"By facilitating access to resources, investments, and expertise, the SFF cooperative supports the smoothest possible transfer of insights and ideas into tangible offerings, ranging from innovative products and services to startup spin-offs. This approach not only opens up a variety of prospects for our university across Europe but also benefits our closest regional ecosystem partners."
Start for Future as an opportunity for the European ecosystem
The establishment of the SFF cooperative offers new opportunities for European companies, investors, regional ecosystems, and small and medium-sized enterprises. The cooperative brings together innovation actors from companies and universities to work on innovative technologies needed to meet the challenges of the future.
Prof. Dr. Klaus Sailer, Managing Director of Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship, one of the founding members of the SFF cooperative, says:
"This collaborative ecosystem facilitates knowledge transfer, promotes the co-creation of innovations, and provides companies with a unique platform to collaborate with entrepreneurial individuals, thus driving innovation within their own organizations. The SFF cooperative supports promising startups and spin-offs emerging from universities, offering opportunities for early-stage investment and potentially high returns. Furthermore, the nature of the SFF cooperative encourages cross-sector collaboration, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to form strategic partnerships, gain access to resources and expertise, and scale their activities. This promotes their growth and competitiveness in the European market."
