The Bavaria Israel Partnership Accelerator (BIPA) is celebrating the successful continuation of its programme to promote cooperation between Bavaria and Israel. The kick-off workshop of the 13th edition took place in Munich from 14 to 18 October and once again brought together students and young professionals from both regions.
Organised by the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE) at Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM), the participants worked on solutions to challenges faced by companies, start-ups and public institutions. This year’s edition was dedicated to the topic of ‘Innovation in Challenging Times’.
As a special highlight of the workshop, State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy officially handed over the ministry’s funding decision for the years 2024 and 2025.
‘We believe more than ever in the Israeli-Bavarian friendship. And we are convinced of the benefits of close cooperation between the two countries. Both Bavaria and Israel stand for innovative entrepreneurship and high-tech. If we combine our respective strengths, great things can come of it. BIPA is a very good example of this and a beacon for successful cooperation,’ explained State Secretary Gotthardt in his address to the participants, emphasising the importance of cooperation between Bavaria and Israel.
Despite the current situation in the Middle East, the BIPA programme will continue, while many other Israel programmes are currently on hold. HM and the SCE, in cooperation with the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, are sending a strong signal in favour of the sustainable partnership with Israel and the long-standing partner Tech7 from Beer Sheva. This ongoing cooperation demonstrates the commitment to building bridges and strengthening the innovative power of both regions, even in difficult times. The intercultural exchange between Bavaria and Israel plays a central role in this, as it not only deepens mutual understanding, but also offers valuable perspectives for the development of innovative solutions.
Following the kick-off workshop in Munich, the two-month virtual phase of the programme will now begin, during which the participants will work with experienced mentors to develop tailored solutions for the entrepreneurial challenges. In December, the teams will present their final projects to the participating companies and the wider public.
BIPA
The Bavaria Israel Partnership Accelerator has been connecting established companies, start-ups and public institutions from Bavaria with students and young professionals from both regions since 2015. The multinational teams work together closely to develop innovative solutions for challenges in the fields of Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, Smart Mobility, MedTech, IT security and many more. To date, over 50 corporate partners and more than 300 participants have completed the programme.
SCE
The Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE) at Munich University of Applied Sciences offers educational and research programmes in the field of entrepreneurship, promotes start-ups, innovation processes and the development of entrepreneurial personalities. The internationally networked SCE supports start-ups from science and accompanies young companies from the development of ideas to marketable innovation. It also supports companies in breaking new ground and cooperating strategically with start-ups. With its activities, the SCE contributes to actively shaping the future of our society and to establishing a comprehensive start-up culture.
Source and full article: Hochschule München (in German)