Press release

Hamburg honoured for outstanding start-up conditions

5 December 2024
Startup promotion and administrative digitalisation in Hamburg are internationally outstanding. Hamburg received the "Startup Ecosystem Stars Awards" presented by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in these categories.Scaleup Hamburg, the programme offered by Hamburg's business development agency Hamburg Invest, received an award in the "Exceptional Industry Support" category.

The Scaleup Hamburg programme supports established Hamburg companies in networking and collaborating with promising start-ups and scale-ups. Close support makes it possible to test and evaluate pilot projects for solving current challenges - particularly in relation to sustainability issues - in Hamburg companies quickly and with a low threshold. This gives local companies access to innovative solutions, while scale-ups can acquire new local customers and expand their business model in a new market. This enables participation in dynamic market developments, particularly for SMEs in the area of increasingly regulated sustainability requirements. Scaleup Hamburg was honoured with an award in the "Exceptional Industry Support" category for its structured networking and support work.

Dr Rolf Strittmatter, Managing Director of Hamburg Invest:
"Hamburg is one of the leading European locations for innovative start-ups. Winning the Startup Ecosystem Award once again underlines the attractiveness and strength of the Scaleup Hamburg programme. With this programme, we specifically promote cooperation between local industrial companies and international founders. The successful networking brings progressive solutions to Hamburg, facilitates access to the location and sustainably strengthens the city's innovative power. "

Hamburg venture client unit GovTecHH honoured together with public IT service provider Dataport

Hamburg has set itself the goal of promoting the use of new technologies and collaboration with start-ups. In January 2024, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg therefore included an experimentation clause in its procurement guidelines, which simplifies cooperation with innovative partners to modernise and digitalise the administration. Hamburg has also concluded a framework agreement with Dataport. This means shorter and less bureaucratic procurement procedures that take account of rapid technological developments and enable more efficient administration.

Together with Dataport, Hamburg received a Startup Ecosystem Award in the "Innovative Procurement" category for this.

Christian Pfromm, Chief Digital Officer Hamburg:
"In order to be able to utilise new technologies quickly and in line with demand, we need efficient procurement processes. With the experimentation clause in our procurement guidelines and the framework agreement with Dataport, we have created the right conditions to facilitate access to innovative solutions. Our own venture client unit, GovTecHH, enables us to utilise the excellence of start-ups even better for the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. "

Dr Johann Bizer, Chairman of the Executive Board, Dataport AöR:
"The digitalisation of public administration requires innovation. AI and data-related solutions in particular offer potential. It is essential for us and our sponsors to recognise and be able to use the innovations of smaller companies, such as start-ups. We are endeavouring to do this with the 'Broker Framework Agreement for AI and Data Brokerage'. This enables us to quickly and easily procure the right solution at the cutting edge of development - from small and large providers. "

With the Startup Ecosystem Stars Award, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Mind the Bridge organisation honour cities and regions around the world that are building and driving innovation ecosystems. GovTecHH and Hamburg Invest's Scaleup Hamburg programme have already jointly received the international award in the "Startup Programmes" and "SME Support" categories in 2023.

Sources and further information

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