LOVEDIS: Kickoff StartMiUp Factory Sustainable Life
On November 25, the StartMiUp Factory celebrated its official kick-off in the Lokschuppen Marburg - and surprised the guests right at the beginning with a comprehensive rebranding. The project will operate under the new name LOVEDIS in future. The branding picks up on the guiding principle "Because we LOVEDISruption" and is intended to emphasize the claim of actively shaping innovation and transformation processes.
The event was opened by Mara Steinbrenner, Managing Director of StartMiUp Factory GmbH, who then acted as a very successful moderator throughout the day. The program was deliberately focused on the topic of artificial intelligence.
Keynote on AI dynamics and technology development
Technology expert Sascha Lobo, who gave his keynote speech remotely for personal reasons, kicked off the program. He provided insights into the speed at which AI systems are changing markets, work processes and social procedures. His assessment of the different innovation strategies of large tech companies such as OpenAI and Alphabet and what this could mean for the future of the industry was particularly exciting for the audience.
Workshops on innovation, transformation and corporate development
The participants then split up into various workshops. The sessions covered topics such as:
- Fueling Innovation
- Workforce transformation
- Holistic corporate success
The formats offered insights from practice, science and corporate development and were used intensively by the participants.
Second keynote: Prejudices, gender and bias
Another keynote followed in the afternoon, given by Annahita Esmailzadeh. She focused on social and structural prejudices and the influence of bias in decision-making processes. The presentation deliberately set a counterpoint to the technology focus of the day and emphasized the importance of diversity-oriented organizational development. A topic that is also becoming increasingly important in the context of innovation.
Networking, table talks and exchanges with start-ups
After a second workshop session, the event offered a wide range of opportunities for networking. In the table talks, participants were able to talk directly with the start-ups present and receive practical input on founding, technology and market development. The open networking format in particular was used intensively and contributed to the dynamic atmosphere of the day.
What is the StartMiUp Factory or LOVEDIS?
The StartMiUp Factory, in future LOVEDIS, is a joint project of the three Central Hessian universities in cooperation with regional corporate partners. The aim is to establish a decentrally organized accelerator for growth-oriented start-ups in the following regional focus areas:
- Biotech & Pharma
- MedTech & (Digital) Health
- Efficient Materials & Manufacturing
- Agritech & Nutrition
- Sustainable Infrastructure
Companies not only contribute expertise, but also infrastructure, production capacities and market access. Start-ups benefit from coaching, mentoring and cross-technological innovation impulses. Another aim is to build up a regional talent pool in order to attract and retain skilled workers in Central Hessen in the long term.
In this way, the accelerator aims to contribute to the further development of Central Hessen as a location for innovation and to strengthen cooperation between business, universities and the start-up scene.
Significance for the Central Hesse region
With the rebranding to LOVEDIS, the project is positioning itself more clearly as a driver of innovation in the region. Particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotech sector, where Central Hessen traditionally has strong structures, a specialized start-up ecosystem could develop in the long term that systematically supports both start-ups and the regional economy.
Whether this succeeds depends largely on the extent to which the participating universities, companies and start-ups pursue a common vision and whether the region develops sufficient openness for new impulses. If this succeeds, LOVEDIS could become a formative component of the innovation landscape in Central Hessen.
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