Experiencing Innovation and Startups Firsthand: Excursion to the Munich Urban Colab

Representatives from MCI and the University of Innsbruck accompanied students to one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs

How do successful start-ups emerge, and what role do innovation and entrepreneurial spirit play in addressing societal challenges? Students of MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® explored these questions during an excursion to the Munich Urban Colab in Munich’s Creative Quarter. They were accompanied by representatives from MCI as well as the University of Innsbruck. The visit took place on Friday, March 13, as part of the activities of the German Friends of the Universities of Innsbruck Association (DFK).

Located in Freddie Mercury Street in Munich’s Creative Quarter, the Munich Urban Colab serves as an open innovation space where UnternehmerTUM and the City of Munich join forces. Under one roof, it enables new forms of collaboration between start-ups, established companies, academia, the creative industries, and public administration. Its overarching goal is to foster innovation and jointly develop solutions to today’s major societal challenges.

The program began with a warm welcome at the Colab and an introductory session by Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, CEO of UnternehmerTUM GmbH. In his presentation, he provided valuable insights into the innovation ecosystem built around UnternehmerTUM, which has evolved into one of Europe’s leading centers for entrepreneurship and innovation since its founding in 2002 by entrepreneur Susanne Klatten. With more than 100 high-growth technology start-ups launched each year, UnternehmerTUM supports founders in turning their ideas into successful businesses.

Schönenberger outlined how start-ups are supported לאורך a comprehensive range of services—from initial idea development and product design to financing and scaling. More than 500 employees contribute to fostering innovation and strengthening collaboration between start-ups, industry, and academia. A particular highlight is the MakerSpace, which offers cutting-edge infrastructure for prototyping and small-scale production across approximately 2,700 square meters at two locations.

Following this, Dr. Niclas Mauß, Director of the Circular Republic network at UnternehmerTUM, introduced initiatives aimed at advancing the circular economy. His presentation highlighted the growing importance of circular thinking for sustainable economic development, particularly in the context of global challenges such as climate change, the energy transition, and resource scarcity.

Another highlight of the excursion was a series of presentations by female founders from the UnternehmerTUM ecosystem. The showcased start-ups introduced innovative technologies from highly relevant research fields, including early cancer detection and solutions for connecting quantum computers. These presentations offered students direct insight into the dynamism and diversity of modern high-tech entrepreneurship.

The excursion concluded with a joint lunch at the Urban Colab, providing an opportunity for exchange and networking. In an open and informal setting, participants engaged with key players of the innovation ecosystem and gained a first-hand impression of the collaborative culture on site.

Overall, the excursion demonstrated the importance of entrepreneurial thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and technological innovation in actively shaping the future—and highlighted the opportunities these developments create for the next generation of entrepreneurs.