With the Innovation Agenda 2030, a broad alliance of business, science, public sector, startups, civil society and other partners have one shared goal: Munich should be established as an AI and startup hub in Europe by 2030 – with international attraction and strong regional roots.
“We strive to develop a shared Innovation Agenda 2030 for Munich with the participation of our partners from business, science, academia, politics, startups, founders, representatives from Venture Capitals area and members of the civil society. The collaboration from all parties involved will help further establish Munich and the region as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship that is recognised at the local, regional, national and international levels.”
Frizzi Engler-Hamm
CEO
Munich Innovation Ecosystem GmbH
As part of a global network of talent, startups, companies, academia, government and the public, we're working together in one of the world's most livable cities on tech-based, impact-driven innovation!
It is powered by a diverse ecosystem of innovative companies, world-class research institutions, and a dynamic startup scene.
Innovation means more than technology alone: it also includes social, cultural, and organizational progress.
Munich stands for an open innovation culture in which creativity, interdisciplinary exchange, a willingness to experiment, and a positive approach to learning from failure are actively embraced.
An innovation-friendly environment is essential for attracting talent, encouraging business investment, and strengthening international competitiveness.
The Innovation Agenda 2030 focuses on trageted initiatives in five areas of action – with the goal of strengthening Munich as an outsanding city for innovation.
The Innovation Agenda 2030 is designed as a collaborative effort and thrives on the active involvement of committed Stakeholders. We are looking for individuals, institutions, and organisations who would like to take responsibility – whether through their own projects that contribute to the areas of action, through innovative ideas, or as part of a strong network. All who would like to participate or join existing initiatives are welcome.
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As the Scale-up City 2030, Munich specifically supports scale-ups - companies that grow quickly and are on the verge of becoming international players. This field of action addresses concrete location factors such as production space, political visibility, network access, and reinvestment into the region.
The Scale-up Council provides scale-ups with a platform to address central challenges with policymakers at the EU, federal, and state levels. It supports scale-ups in areas such as foreign trade law, export control, internationalization, space law, and regional economic issues - ensuring that innovation remains in Munich and continues to grow. Its purpose is to reduce structural growth barriers for scale-ups and strengthen their international competitiveness.
Are you involved in an initiative that supports scale-ups in their growth, or would you like to contribute specific resources? Please get in touch with us and become part of Agenda 2030.
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This field of action strengthens Munich’s position as one of Europe’s leading locations for Artificial Intelligence. Science, industry, and the public sector work hand in hand to accelerate AI research, advance the development and deployment of trustworthy AI, and create forward-looking AI solutions that help shape global standards while addressing ethical and societal challenges.
AI NATION Bavaria empowers founders by providing access to infrastructure, funding, networks, and expertise - enabling excellent ideas to become market-ready faster. The platform also increases Germany’s international visibility as an emerging AI powerhouse.
AI NATION is Germany’s national platform for AI startups. It emerged from the collaboration between AI+MUNICH and the Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneurship Center (K.I.E.Z.) in Berlin. AI NATION connects regional ecosystems, supports AI-focused founding projects, and helps AI startups scale.
AI NATION provides founders with access to infrastructure, funding, networks, and expertise - creating the conditions for excellent ideas to become reality faster. The platform also strengthens Germany’s international visibility and contributes to positioning the country as a leading AI nation.
AI NATION is supported by Munich Innovation Ecosystem and Science & Startups - the association of the startup centers of Berlin’s universities and Charité - Universitätsmedizin - along with Start2Group, the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship, and TUM Venture Labs. AI NATION is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and EXIST, and co-financed by the State of Berlin.
Core Programs
Supporting Resources
The Bavarian AI Act Accelerator is a two-year project funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Digital Affairs to support SMEs, start-ups, and the public sector in Bavaria in complying with the EU AI Act. Under the leadership of the appliedAI Institute for Europe and in collaboration with Ludwig Maximilian University, the Technical University of Munich, and the Technical University of Nuremberg, training, resources, and events are being offered. The project objectives include reducing compliance costs, shortening the time to compliance, and strengthening AI innovation.
The project enables organizations to work with trustworthy AI, share knowledge across the ecosystem, and navigate regulatory requirements more efficiently.
This project is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Digital Affairs and the project-consortium is led by the appliedAI Institute for Europe gGmbH.
You contribute to Munich’s AI landscape through an initiative, research project, or technical innovation? Join Agenda 2030 and help shape Europe’s leading AI hub.
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CleanTech 2030 advances innovation for a regenerative and climate-positive future. Munich and Bavaria are positioned as leading locations for sustainable technologies that enhance energy efficiency, preserve resources, and accelerate the circular economy. This field of action supports future-proof solutions that strengthen the regional economy while contributing to global sustainability efforts.
The Zero Waste Innovation Hub is an offer by the Department of Labor and Economic Development, City of Munich, that guides companies on their path toward zero waste, resource efficiency, and circular business models. Through consulting projects, workshops, networking formats, and collaboration with circular startups, Munich’s businesses receive hands-on expertise for implementation.
Key areas of impact:
Transition to Circularity: The hub enables companies to not only rethink waste as a valuable resource, but to prevent waste in the first place and adopt sustainable processes that unlock long-term environmental and economic benefits.
Collaborative Innovation: By connecting companies, startups, and stakeholders, the hub fosters interdisciplinary collaboration that leads to scalable, sustainable solutions.
Tailored Consultation: Organizations benefit from individual advisory support, best practices, and access to practical tools that accelerate their circular transformation.
Working on sustainable technologies or circular-economy projects? Become part of the CleanTech Hub 2030 with your initiative.
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An innovation-open urban society sees change as an opportunity rather than a threat. In an environment that encourages openness, participation, and experimentation, innovative solutions emerge and create lasting impact. Actively involving citizens turns innovation into a shared process, strengthening residents' connection and empowering them as co-creators of transformation. This approach harnesses Munich’s innovative strength to address societal challenges and improve the quality of life for everyone.
Fachstelle für Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung & unser.muenchen.de
The City of Munich’s Fachstelle für Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung coordinates and strengthens public participation across departments. Through the digital participation platform www.unser.muenchen.de, citizens can engage in dialogue, submit ideas, and participate in surveys and planning processes. It increases transparency, lowers participation thresholds, and allows residents to directly contribute to shaping Munich’s future.
MünchenBudget
Integrated into the Fachstelle, MünchenBudget provides €1 million in 2025 to implement citizen-driven ideas and projects. Residents aged 14 and older can submit proposals and vote on which projects move forward, promoting civic engagement and democratic innovation.
muenchen-mitdenken.de
The urban planning participation portal www.muenchen-mitdenken.de offers structured opportunities for citizens to engage in formal and informal planning processes. Residents can contribute ideas, comment on plans, and follow how their input informs City Council decisions.
Innovationswettbewerb München
The annual Munich Innovation Competition invites innovative proposals addressing specific municipal challenges. Through a structured co-creation process, smart-city solutions are developed and tested in real-world contexts, improving services and processes for residents.
With the exhibition “Startups Belong in a Museum!”, citizens experience how AI startups are solving real-world problems. This combination of technology and culture fosters understanding, openness, and trust in innovation.
The exhibition brings technology and culture together and highlights how innovation opens new perspectives. Concrete, innovative AI solutions are made tangible, helping visitors better understand different application areas and their added value. In 2024 and 2025, up to 20 AI startups and programs showcased their work in the participating museums each year, reaching several thousand citizens.
You have a format or idea that strengthensinnovation openness in the Munich region? Join Agenda 2030 and help shape anengaged, future-driven society.
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Munich’s reputation as a leading European innovation hub is not built on aspirations alone - it is already visible in numerous concrete achievements. Across startups, research institutions, corporations, and international networks, the city demonstrates its strength and global relevance.
The following highlights show how Munich today generates international visibility and is recognized worldwide as a center for innovation, talent, and technological excellence.
Startup & Innovation Hubs
Munich hosts leading hubs such as UnternehmerTUM, WERK1, BayStartUP, Start2 Group, and Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship, which rank among Europe’s top 15. Further Hubs and programs include AI NATION, Founders@unibw, LMU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, Wavelab. Startups benefit from mentorship, networks, and international partnerships, and ecosystem players actively represent Munich at international trade fairs and events.
Research & Academic
ExcellenceWith over 25 universities and research institutions and around 140,000 students, Munich has one of Europe’s densest concentrations of academic talent. Elite institutions like TUM and LMU, along with research centers such as the Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Center Munich, and Leibniz Institutes, attract international talent, produce high-impact research, and collaborate with global universities and research partners.
Corporate & Global Tech
PresenceMunich is home to Germany’s largest corporations (BMW, Siemens, Allianz) and global tech leaders (Apple, Amazon, Google, Intel, Microsoft, OpenAI, TSMC). Many of these companies engage with startups via corporate venture funds and accelerator programs. Combined with around 140 venture capital and private equity firms, Munich offers strong access to finance and markets, strengthening its standing as an internationally recognized hub for innovation and industry.
Events & Conferences
Munich is a key international trade fair and conference hub, hosting leading industry events as well as high-profile gatherings like the One Young World Summit 2025 and Bits & Pretzels. These events showcase Munich’s innovation ecosystem to a broad audience and attract international attention. Munich Startup and Munich Business support local startups when they participate in global events like SXSW, VivaTech, and Slush, helping them showcase their innovations on the international stage.
International Delegations
International delegations regularly visit Munich’s innovation hotspots, such as WERK1 and UnternehmerTUM, experiencing the ecosystem firsthand. These visits strengthen partnerships, create networks, and raise Munich’s profile abroad.
Online Visibility & Promotion
Social media channels from Munich Innovation Ecosystem (MIE), Munich Startup, Munich Business and other ecosystem players help promote Munich as a leading innovation hub, showcasing the city, its startups, and innovation ecosystem to a broad audience.
International Recognition & Rankings
Munich is consistently recognized as a top European innovation hub. Awards such as the Startup Ecosystem Star Award 2025, high placements in the Dealroom Tech Ecosystem Index, and the EY Startup Barometer highlight the city’s leadership in startups and industry support. Its flagship universities, TUM and LMU, consistently rank among the world’s top 100, while city and innovation rankings like Mercer Quality of Living or Monocle Global City Index reinforce Munich’s global reputation, attracting investors, talent, and partners worldwide.
You represent Munich internationally or report on innovation topics? Connect with us — together we strengthen Munich’s global presence.
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The implementation of the Innovation Agenda 2030 can only succeed through collaboration. This is why we are calling everyone to participate. Are you promoting an existing initiative that contributes to a specific area of action? Do you represent an institution that wants to become part of the agenda? Then we welcome you to become part of this joint mission!
Die Zukunft gemeinsam gestalten – in München. Als Teil eines globalen Netzwerks aus Talenten, Start-ups, Unternehmen, Wissenschaft, Regierung und der Öffentlichkeit arbeiten wir in einer der lebenswertesten Städte der Welt an technologiegetriebenen, wirkungsorientierten Innovationen!
Innovationskraft ist ein zentraler Erfolgsfaktor Münchens – getragen von einer Vielzahl innovativer Unternehmen, exzellenter Forschungseinrichtungen und einer dynamischen Gründerszene.
Innovation bedeutet mehr als Technologie: Sie umfasst auch soziale, kulturelle und organisatorische Entwicklungen.
München steht für eine offene Innovationskultur, in der Kreativität, interdisziplinärer Austausch, Experimentierfreude und positive Fehlerkultur gelebt werden.
Ein innovationsfreundliches Umfeld ist entscheidend, um Talente zu gewinnen, Unternehmen anzusiedeln und die internationale Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu stärken.
Die Innovationsagenda 2030 setzt auf gezielte Initiativen entlang fünf Handlungsfeldern – mit dem Ziel, München als herausragenden Innovationsstandort zu stärken.
Die Innovationsagenda 2030 ist als gemeinsame Anstrengung angelegt und lebt vom aktiven Mitwirken engagierter Akteure. Gesucht werden Persönlichkeiten, Institutionen und Organisationen, die Verantwortung übernehmen möchten – sei es durch eigene Projekte, die auf die Handlungsfelder einzahlen, durch innovative Ideen oder als Teil eines starken Netzwerks. Alle, die sich einbringen oder an bestehende Initiativen andocken möchten, sind herzlich eingeladen, sich zu beteiligen:
Die Umsetzung der Innovationsagenda 2030 kann nur im Verbund gelingen. Deshalb rufen wir erneut zur Beteiligung auf:
Dann laden wir Sie herzlich ein, Teil dieser gemeinsamen Mission zu werden!
