Press Release from the City of Heidelberg, November 15, 2024:
City of Heidelberg Receives State Award for "Start-up-Friendly Municipality 2024/2025"
For the fourth time, the city administration and its partners have impressed in the state competition.
In the "Start-up BW Local – Start-up-Friendly Municipality" competition, the City of Heidelberg impressed the jury during its pitch on November 5, 2024, at the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart. Heidelberg has successfully excelled in every competition round and has now been awarded the title "Start-up-Friendly Municipality" for the fourth time. Central to Heidelberg's start-up ecosystem, the Heidelberg Technology Park, the Office for Economic Development and Science, the Culture and Creative Industries Unit, Heidelberg Startup Partners e.V., Heidelberg University, and the Rhein-Neckar Chamber of Commerce jointly developed a concept focusing on "Female Foundership."
Mayor Eckart Würzner expressed his enthusiasm about the renewed recognition:
"Especially in the current economic climate, it is crucial to offer start-up-friendly conditions. This award recognizes the many initiatives and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, and young companies that have been successfully implemented in Heidelberg over the years. The close collaboration between our support institutions, integration into regional support structures, and the new spaces created in recent years have all contributed significantly to making Heidelberg an outstanding place to launch a start-up."
A total of 17 municipalities in Baden-Württemberg can now use the "start-up-friendly" designation, which is awarded on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Tourism. In this competition format, participants presented their municipality's concept to a jury of established entrepreneurs. Selection criteria included demand-driven engagement with founders, measurable economic impact of the initiatives, sustainability, the overall quality of the concept, and the quality of the pitch presentation.
About the State Competition "Start-up BW Local – Start-up-Friendly Municipality"
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Tourism has been organizing the state competition Start-up BW Local every two years since 2018 in collaboration with municipal associations, including the Association of Towns and Cities, the District Association, the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Handwerk BW. The current competition marks the fourth round. The competition aims to foster entrepreneurial dynamism in Baden-Württemberg while also increasing the visibility of the measures and commitment of local actors at the municipal level.
For more information, visit: www.startupbw.de/local
