More start-ups in Lower Saxony

Despite the crisis, 19% more start-ups were founded in the federal state than in 2019. The proportion of female founders is above the national average.

Lower Saxony recorded more start-ups in 2020 than in the previous year. A total of 106 start-ups were founded, 19 percent more than in 2019, according to the "Startup Monitor" compiled by the German Startups Association for the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs.

"Our state should become as attractive as possible for start-ups, we want to enable a new start-up era," commented Minister of Economic Affairs Bernd Althusmann (CDU) on the results of the study. The Minister was also pleased with the high proportion of female founders. This is 20 percent in Lower Saxony, four percentage points above the national average.

Most start-ups were registered in Hanover, 43 in total, with Braunschweig, Göttingen and the Osnabrück region also standing out positively. "Above all, the proximity to universities and a strong technical focus characterize the ecosystem," the press release states.

More than half of the 161 companies surveyed were positive about the future business situation despite the coronavirus pandemic. "The state of Lower Saxony is a great example of how a vibrant startup ecosystem can also emerge outside of major cities," says Christian Miele, President of the Startup Association.