GreenTech / GT Hub at Allgäu Airport near Memmingen: How SMEs, medium-sized businesses and start-ups in the Allgäu region are shaping the green future

🌿✈️ An innovative center for green technologies is currently being developed at Allgäu Airport, uniting the strengths of established medium-sized businesses with the innovative power of startups. The goal is to develop the Allgäu region into a leading European hub for sustainable technologies and attract the most talented minds in the industry. Over the next few years, the network is expected to grow to up to 30 startups focusing on digitalization and sustainability. What makes this project unique is the close integration of green innovations with established medium-sized companies from the region.

The new GreenTech Hub (GT Hub) was founded according to the motto "From SMEs for SMEs." The four founding partners—the Alois Müller Group (Ungerhausen), Südpack (Ochsenhausen), and Reisacher and Kutter (both from Memmingen)—are all family-run businesses with deep roots in the Allgäu region. This unique constellation aims to create a dynamic ecosystem for startups, SMEs, investors, and research institutions specializing in green technologies.

🌱 A dynamic network for sustainable innovation

“We want to think across industries and bring together the best talent, scientists, and companies from the fields of digitalization and sustainability,” explains Corinna Tappe, who, together with Dr. Stefan Lenz, forms the management team of GreenTech Hub GmbH. Tappe is known, among other things, as a mentor and managing director of the Bavarian branch of the “Startup Teens” network and brings extensive experience in the startup scene.

The modern building south of Allgäu Airport is scheduled for completion by mid-2025. Over 2,000 square meters of office and workshop space will be created, offering ideal conditions for young companies. At the topping-out ceremony, GT Hub took the opportunity to present its project to the public at a preview event.

🚀 Ideal location conditions for start-ups

The location at Allgäu Airport offers ideal conditions for developing a leading GreenTech hub. “With the motorway interchange and the airport, we have perfect transport infrastructure here,” emphasizes Dr. Stefan Lenz. Furthermore, engineers will soon have access to new future technologies such as an electrolyzer for hydrogen production. Existing facilities like the biogas plant, as well as planned projects such as a hydrogen filling station, an innovative district heating network, and large photovoltaic fields, create ideal conditions for the development and expansion of green technologies.

⚡ Unique focus on green technologies

The GT Hub is the first technology network in the region specifically designed to connect green technologies with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). “There are already several successful hubs in Germany, but our combination and deliberate specialization are truly unique,” ​​says Lenz. The thematic focus areas include renewable and efficient energies, the development of new materials, innovative business models in the field of sustainability, as well as topics related to the circular economy, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence.

These areas are of central importance for medium-sized businesses to secure their future and develop successfully. Andreas Müller, Managing Director of the Alois Müller Group, emphasizes: “For us medium-sized companies from the Allgäu region, it is best if we bring the brightest minds in the industry and their innovative ideas to us in order to jointly advance important topics and processes.”

🤝 Enormous potential through collaboration

The openness and trust of the medium-sized shareholders create enormous development potential. “We have an active network of medium-sized businesses here and numerous ‘hidden champions.’ The high concentration of manufacturing companies with decades of experience is a definite plus for any start-up,” says Corinna Tappe. Family businesses from the region are reliable business partners and are characterized by quick decision-making processes—an important factor for young companies.

🌟 SMEs as founders of start-ups

Tappe and Lenz also want to encourage companies in the Allgäu region to spin off their own startups. “Anyone who has experienced the dynamism and energy that a spin-off can unleash is more open to such a transformation,” explains Dr. Stefan Lenz. With their experience, they want to support and advise companies to successfully navigate these processes.

🎓 Support for founders

Aspiring entrepreneurs can look forward to comprehensive support. The GT Hub is developing a six-month accelerator program. “We support young companies with bootcamps on key topics such as finding investors, financing, and market analysis, and offer active one-on-one coaching,” explains Corinna Tappe. The network is also used to find suitable partners for the respective business ideas.

💡 Innovations for SMEs

The partners of the GT Hub emphasize how much medium-sized companies can benefit from collaborating with startups. Peter Reisacher, Managing Director of Autohaus Reisacher GmbH, explains: “Electromobility brings with it many issues that require innovative solutions. We expect the GT Hub to allow us to contribute our ideas and develop smart, sustainable solutions together with startups.”

Südpack also sees enormous potential: “The future of plastics is green. They must come from renewable raw materials and be returned to a functioning circular system. We want to actively shape this transformation. In the GT Hub, we can provide a home for innovative minds,” emphasize Johannes Remmele and Carolin Grimbacher, owners of Südpack Verpackungen GmbH & Co. KG.

🛠️ Presentation of innovative start-ups

At the preview event, four innovative startups showcased their potential. Reverion from Eching presented solutions for highly efficient, CO₂-negative energy generation and long-term storage based on biogas and hydrogen. Oculai demonstrated how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing camera-based data collection for construction sites. B2Square from Meerbusch demonstrated how CO₂ emissions can be drastically reduced in road construction through the use of biobitumen. AssetEnergy from Memmingen presented a digital metering and billing service that provides tenants with transparent heating and utility billing.

📈 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to accelerate digitalization and innovation

Christoph Keese, bestselling author and former editor-in-chief of "Die Welt" and "Welt am Sonntag," emphasized in his keynote address the need for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to actively participate in digital transformation and technological innovation. "We in Germany are very innovative, but we implement innovations too slowly and invest too little in innovative ideas and young companies," Keese stated. He advocated for a less restrictive approach to new technologies and the creation of a favorable economic climate for startups.

🛫 Allgäu Airport as a special economic zone

One vision Keese shared was the establishment of Allgäu Airport as a special economic zone. “If Memmingen Airport could be designated a special economic zone, it would be a real advantage for startups and investors,” he explained. This would create additional incentives and further increase the attractiveness of the location.

💪 Strengthening SMEs with the innovative power of start-ups

The GreenTech Hub at Allgäu Airport combines the strengths of established medium-sized businesses with the innovative power of startups, thus sending a strong signal for the region's green future. With optimal location conditions, a unique network, and a clear focus on sustainable technologies, the GT Hub offers ideal conditions for companies that want to actively shape the future. The collaboration between experienced medium-sized businesses and innovative startups promises to make the Allgäu region a leading area for green technologies in Europe.

📣 Similar topics

• 🌿 GreenTech Hub: Sustainable future in the Allgäu
• 🚀 Innovations from the Allgäu region for Europe
• 🔄 SMEs & Start-ups: A green symbiosis
• 🏗️ Ideal conditions for technological progress
• 🌱 The heart of green technologies
• 🤝 Cooperation for sustainable success
• 💡 Sustainability and digitalization in focus
• 🔎 Support and funding for founders
• 🌍 Allgäu Airport: Hub for sustainable innovation
• 📈 SMEs as a catalyst for innovation

#️⃣ Hashtags: #GreenTech #SMEs #Sustainability #Innovation #Startups

Today, companies are founded and investments are structured differently than just a few years ago. While the credo used to be "growth at any cost," profitability has now taken center stage. Founders are developing strategies early on that, in addition to ambitious growth targets, also outline a clear path to profitability. This shift in thinking is a response to changing market conditions and the increased demands of investors.

More information here:

• The transformation of the startup landscape: challenges and opportunities in times of change

In today's rapidly changing business world, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face the challenge of keeping pace with the dynamism and innovative power of startups. This balancing act between tradition and innovation requires creative solutions that allow SMEs to leverage the advantages of both worlds. One particularly promising approach is to temporarily outsource parts of business development and cultivate them in a startup-like environment, before later reintegrating them into the parent company. This strategy offers SMEs the opportunity to increase their innovative capacity without having to completely abandon their proven structures.

More information here:

• Staying flexible: SMEs' balancing act between tradition and innovation

The development of startups in Germany in 2024 shows both positive trends and continuing challenges. In a dynamic economic environment, the German startup ecosystem proves to be an innovative yet complex space in which founders and young companies must assert themselves. Understanding current developments and industry trends, as well as the hurdles founders face, is crucial to unlocking the full potential of this sector.

More information here:

• The dynamics of German start-ups in 2024: Trends, challenges and opportunities

☑️ Industry expert, here with his own Xpert.Digital industry hub featuring over 2,500 specialist articles

 

I would be happy to serve as your personal advisor.

You can contact me by filling out the contact form below or simply call me on +49 7348 4088 965 .

I'm looking forward to our joint project.

 

 

Xpert.Digital is a hub for industry focusing on digitalization, mechanical engineering, logistics/intralogistics and photovoltaics.

With our 360° Business Development solution, we support renowned companies from new business to after-sales.

Market intelligence, smarketing, marketing automation, content development, PR, mail campaigns, personalized social media and lead nurturing are part of our digital tools.

You can find more information at: www.xpert.digital - www.xpert.solar - www.xpert.plus