"In recent years, HM has systematically expanded and organizationally strengthened the area of entrepreneurship. I am extremely pleased that our investments have been so wonderfully reflected in the new start-up radar," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Martin Leitner, President of Munich University of Applied Sciences.
Top ranking in a highly competitive environment
This is the seventh time that the Stifterverband's start-up radar has analyzed start-up support at German universities. Institutional anchoring, sensitization, qualification, support structures, networking and the success of start-ups are evaluated. HM once again achieved top marks in these categories. This year's survey focused in particular on the consolidation of start-up activities.
“It is important to us to implement a consistent, long-term strategy for anchoring entrepreneurship in the university,” adds Prof. Dr. Klaus Sailer, CEO of the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship. “The good ranking encourages us to continue pursuing our model of an academically anchored, systemic approach that is based on holistic values and motivates as many talented people as possible to think and act entrepreneurially.”
Holistic start-up support as the key to success
The Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE) and Hochschule München pursue a unique model of start-up support that systematically integrates entrepreneurial thinking into higher education. This approach combines academic education with practical support and thus creates a bridge from studying to entrepreneurial independence. Close cooperation with companies and a strong network of business, science and society create valuable synergies that promote start-ups in a targeted manner. The focus is not only on founding individual companies, but also on developing a sustainable and responsible culture of innovation that creates added value for society.
"The success in the start-up radar is also proof of the strength of our network," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Thomas Stumpp, Vice President of Business at HM. "We build bridges between science, business and society in order to drive innovation. For us, entrepreneurship doesn't just mean founding start-ups, but establishing a way of thinking that creates sustainable solutions for the future."
Top positions at major universities
The density in the top field remains high and the results are close together: Saarland University is in second place with 57.5 points, closely followed by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) with 56.9 points. The results show that the top universities are moving ever closer together, which underlines the positive development of start-up support overall.
In recent years, HM has established itself as one of the leading entrepreneurship universities in Germany and Europe. It took first place in the Start-up Radar in 2012, 2016 and 2022, while it also achieved top rankings in 2013, 2018 and 2020. With their renewed success in the Start-up Radar 2025, Munich University of Applied Sciences and the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship are reaffirming their commitment to actively shaping the future of start-up support - regionally, nationally and internationally.
About the start-up radar by Stifterverband and BMWK
The start-up radar is regularly compiled by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) and supported by the Marga and Kurt Möllgaard Foundation. The study, which has been published every two years since 2012, is the most important survey on start-up support at German universities. Around 60% of all German universities and higher education institutions take part in the study.
The maximum total of 60 points is awarded across a total of seven modules (1: Anchoring start-ups / 2: Raising start-up awareness / 3: Start-up qualification / 4: Start-up support / 5: Start-up activities / 6: Monitoring and evaluation in start-up support / 7: Networking in start-up support).
Further information on the current ranking can be found atwww.gruendungsradar.de.
We would be happy to arrange an interview with HM President Prof. Dr. Martin Leitner or Prof. Dr. Klaus Sailer, Managing Director of the SCE.
Press contact:
Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM)
Ralf Kastner
presseinfo@hm.edu
T 089 1265-1920
Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE)
Andreas Gattner
andreas.gattner@sce.de
T 089 1265-3275