The winners of the 2026 Saxony Startup Award have been announced

The 2026 Saxony Innovation Conference has once again demonstrated why Saxony is one of Germany’s most dynamic regions for innovation. More than 2,000 participants gathered at the Dresden Exhibition Center on June 17 to discuss future technologies, entrepreneurship, capital, transformation, and economic competitiveness.

Under the motto “Next Level Transformation,” the event once again served as the central meeting place for the Free State’s entire innovation ecosystem. Everyone was represented—from startups and scale-ups to small and medium-sized businesses and academia, as well as investors, policymakers, government officials, and the next generation of founders.

Innovation Ecosystem Meets Future Topics

Across a total of six stages, the conference offered a comprehensive program of keynotes, panels, workshops, pitches, and deep-dive sessions. Over 100 speakers discussed current challenges and opportunities related to artificial intelligence, technology transfer, financing, growth, and international cooperation.

Prominent guests included Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer, Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter, Brainlab CEO Rainer Birkenbach, TRUMPF CIO Thomas Speck, entrepreneur and author Annahita Esmailzadeh, and SPRIN-D podcast host Dr. Thomas Ramge. At the same time, around 200 exhibitors showcased innovative technologies, products, and business models from Saxony, bringing innovation to life.

Collaboration as a Key to Success

A particular focus of this year’s event was on connecting different innovation ecosystems. Collaboration with Bavaria and international partners played a particularly important role in this regard.

The conference’s message: Innovation increasingly emerges at the intersections between industries, regions, and disciplines. Especially in times of technological upheaval, collaboration between startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, academia, and investors continues to grow in importance.

Startup Award as the Highlight of the Day

The emotional highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2026 Saxony Startup Award.

For the 26th time, the Free State of Saxony honored innovative startup projects that have the potential to help shape Saxony’s economic future in a sustainable way. A total of 116 applications were received.

Newcomer of the Year: Oxaphil GmbH

In the Newcomer of the Year category, Dresden-based Oxaphil GmbH stood out. The company develops polyoxazolines as novel solubilizers for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. The technology improves the solubility and stability of active ingredients, thereby opening up new possibilities for more effective products.

Startup of the Year: Meliodays Medical

Meliodays Medical GmbH, based in Leipzig, was named Startup of the Year. The company is developing a locally acting, non-hormonal therapy for severe menstrual pain. The goal is to provide those affected with effective treatment directly at the source of their symptoms.

Scale-up of the Year: DEMECAN

The first-ever Scale-up of the Year award went to DEMECAN GmbH from Ebersbach. The company produces pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis, thereby contributing to an independent supply in Germany.

NextGen Special Award for Elbklar

The NextGen Special Award went to Elbklar GmbH from Coswig. The young company uses drone technology to clean facades, windows, solar panels, and advertising signs. This makes cleaning processes faster, safer, and more efficient.

Saxony Continues to Strengthen Its Position

The innovation conference once again highlighted that Saxony has long been more than just a traditional industrial hub. The Free State is increasingly becoming a hotspot for DeepTech, life sciences, industrial innovation, and technology-driven startups. The award-winning companies reflect this diversity. The range of award-winning innovations spans from new materials and medical technology to cannabis production and drone technology.

Through events such as the Saxony Innovation Conference and the Startup Award, Saxony simultaneously raises the profile of entrepreneurial success stories and strengthens networking among founders, research institutions, industry, and investors.