Study: German companies reluctant to collaborate with start-ups

72% of European companies carry out projects with start-ups, two thirds of which classify cooperation as strategically important to crucial. German companies bring up the rear in terms of their willingness to cooperate with start-ups.

A new study by Sopra Steria shows that open innovation, the collaboration of companies with start-ups to find new solutions, has become the standard strategy. The report also shows that 72 percent of European companies carry out projects with start-ups and two thirds of companies rate collaboration as strategically important to crucial. Sustainability, artificial intelligence and cyber security are the three most important topics in which companies are pushing collaboration with start-ups.

German companies are skeptical about start-up collaborations

However, the study revealed that German companies collaborate with start-ups the least compared to other European countries. In Germany, 57 percent of companies have already collaborated with start-ups. A full 13.8 percent rate collaborations as unimportant. 48 percent achieved their start-up cooperation goals in only half of the projects they carried out. Nevertheless, 59% of the German companies surveyed plan to start collaborating with start-ups in the next 18 months.

As a counter-example, 92 percent of companies in Italy intend to invest in further open innovation projects, while only two percent do not.

Overall, German companies are now more open to collaborating with start-ups. Especially in industries such as the public sector, a cultural shift towards open innovation can be observed, for example through initiatives such as the GovTech Campus in Berlin.

About the study

The study for the Open Innovation Report 2023 was conducted by Ipsos for Sopra Steria and INSEAD in September 2022. It examined collaborations between start-ups and companies in ten European countries. A total of 1,648 participants were surveyed, including 188 start-ups and 56 companies from Germany. The study included start-ups that were founded after 2017 and have no more than 20 employees.

The summary of the study for the German market is available here: Sopra Steria

About Sopra Steria

Sopra Steria is a European technology company that supports companies and public authorities in their digital transformation. With comprehensive end-to-end solutions and in-depth industry expertise, it aims to increase the competitiveness and performance of its clients. The company has a collaborative approach and relies on innovative technologies to shape a positive future. Sopra Steria has 50,000 employees in around 30 countries and is listed on Euronext Paris.