Ecosystem

BRYCK Startup Alliance Becomes One of Germany’s Startup Factories – Multi-Million Euro Funding for Deep-Tech Innovation in the Ruhr Area

  • Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Reiche honors BRYCK Startup Alliance as national Startup Factory in the EXIST Lighthouse Competition
  • Up to €10 million in funding for the establishment of a deep-tech hotspot in the Ruhr region
  • Goal: Over 1,000 spin-offs and €1 billion in venture capital by 2030

Berlin/Essen, July 10, 2025 – Today, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche has awarded the BRYCK Startup Alliance as one of Germany’s official Startup Factories. The decision was made during a ceremonial event at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin. The consortium from the Ruhr region impressed a high-level jury in the nationwide EXIST Lighthouse Competition "Startup Factories". As a result, the BRYCK Startup Alliance will receive multi-million euro funding to establish a European Deep Tech hotspot in the Ruhr area.

The BRYCK Startup Alliance will receive multi-year funding of up to €10 million. Its aim is to accelerate groundbreaking Deep Tech innovation in Germany and build a high-performance, university- and industry-oriented startup center with international appeal. This not only strengthens the Ruhr area as a location for innovation and entrepreneurship – it also establishes theregion as a model for shaping Germany’s industrial future.

Philipp Herrmann, Managing Director of the BRYCK Startup Alliance, states: „This decision is historic. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvent the Ruhr area – from industrial legacy to Europe’s forge of the future. With the Startup Factory, we are building Germany’s new industrial engine here – focused on Deep Tech and powered by real regional strength."

The BRYCK Startup Alliance brings together the Ruhr region’s key strengths: the highest university density in Europe and the economic power of one of the continent’s leading industrial hubs. It is founded on a strong regional alliance between academia, industry, and capital. Core partners include the University Alliance Ruhr – consisting of three research-strong universities (Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, and the University of Duisburg-Essen). On the industry side, the alliance is supported by the Initiativkreis Ruhr, a coalition of over 70 leading regional companies and institutions. The RAG-Stiftung contributes through its innovation and startup center BRYCK, as well as with its strong network and private-sector capital.

Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the RAG-Stiftung, comments: „With the recognition as a Startup Factory, the BRYCK Startup Alliance becomes a visible symbol of renewal in the Ruhr area. This initiative stands for transformation, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial strength. Being selected confirms the path we started with the founding of BRYCK – and it proves that others see the huge potential in this region too."

From the University Alliance Ruhr, the presidents Prof. Dr. Barbara Albert (University of Duisburg-Essen), Prof. Dr. Manfred Bayer (TU Dortmund), and Prof. Dr. Martin Paul (Ruhr University Bochum) add: „This decision is a milestone for the BRYCK Startup Alliance and for our University Alliance Ruhr. Together, we can show the potential of close cooperation between academia, industry, and startups – and how universities can actively contribute to Germany’s industrial transformation."

Guido Kerkhoff, spokesperson for the Initiativkreis Ruhr: „With the BRYCK Startup Alliance, a new hub for innovation and entrepreneurship is growing in the Ruhr region – powered by a strong regional coalition. The Initiativkreis Ruhr brings the strength of its over 70 partner companies to actively shape this transformation and to further strengthen the industrial heart of Germany."

In the next five years, the BRYCK Startup Alliance aims to establish a high-performance Startup Factory in the heart of the Ruhr. Planned initiatives include tailored programs across all startup phases, such as scalable accelerator programs for Deep Tech startups. Simultaneously, structured access to over €10 billion in venture capital will significantly improve funding opportunities for spin-offs. The historic, listed Colosseum – a former industrial hall in Essen – will serve as the home of the BRYCK Startup Alliance. By 2030, the goal is to generate at least 1,000 spin-offs, support over 200 scaling Deep Tech startups, and mobilize over €1 billion in venture capital within the ecosystem.