Building the startups of tomorrow.

Our themes and areas of expertise encompass the fields on which we focus and in which we work together to turn potential into concrete projects.

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TECH
MED-TECH
FEMALE
CREATIVE
INTERNATIONAL

TECH

At NEXT Mannheim, “tech” isn’t a single location but an entire network: At MAFINEX, C-HUB, and—in the future—LAB4, startups are emerging that tackle existing challenges and shape the future with software, hardware, and new technologies. Three hubs, one shared goal—to strengthen Mannheim as a hub where technology is not only developed but also applied, because Mannheim’s strength has always been its industry, and that is precisely where it is determined whether new technologies will actually take hold.

MAFINEX

The ideal location for technology and IT startups. A modern melting pot for tech entrepreneurs.

C-HUB

The C-HUB is Mannheim's creative hub: This is where creative ideas and digital solutions are developed—in close collaboration with universities and a strong community.

LAB4

The hub for sustainable transformation—where companies, startups, and research institutions work together to bring innovation to market.

SMART INDUSTRIES CLUSTER

The Smart Industries Network is committed to digital transformation in industry. As a regional industrial network, it brings together around 50 innovative startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, global players, and research institutions from the IT and industrial sectors to form a highly effective innovation cluster in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The network’s origins lie in Industry 4.0, connected manufacturing, sensor technology, and automation. The network has expanded its focus to include current topics such as cybersecurity, sustainability, energy efficiency, AI, building automation, and digital sovereignty. Its mission is to foster networking and innovation in these key areas to advance the digital transformation of industry in the region. The network’s members operate across industries, focusing on the synergy between digitalization and sustainability—the major dual transformation.
Smart Industries Network

GREEN INDUSTRIES CLUSTER

The Green Industry Cluster brings together stakeholders from business, academia, and the public sector to actively shape the green transformation in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The focus is on sustainable technologies and innovations in the areas of renewable energy, the circular economy, resource efficiency, and water management. With the LAB4 Sustainable Growth, a central innovation hub is also being created that will serve as the cluster’s physical home in the future and provide space for networking, collaboration, and the development of sustainable GreenTech solutions.
Green Industry Cluster

MED-TECH

Bringing medicine and technology together—that’s what the Med-Tech division at NEXT Mannheim stands for. From digital health solutions to new medical devices: Here, we bring together services, institutions, and contacts for startups looking to improve care, diagnostics, or treatment. A real locational advantage: The MMT ecosystem is one of the most concentrated innovation ecosystems for medical technology in Germany—companies, hospitals, university medical centers, and research institutions are all located within walking distance of one another on the MMT campus, ensuring a short path from idea to patient application. Right in the middle of it all is the CUBEX Business Development Center for startups and SMEs in the healthcare industry. This combination—excellent research, clinical practice, and tailored institutions—makes Mannheim one of the best locations for med-tech startups in Germany.

CUBEX

At the CUBEX Business Development Center, medtech startups, research, and the healthcare industry come together to advance innovative solutions for the healthcare of tomorrow.

MED-TECH CLUSTER

The Mannheim Medical Technology Cluster connects companies, hospitals, and research institutions to jointly bring innovations to medical applications. Our goal is to pave the way for good ideas to reach the market. As a result, a strong medtech ecosystem has emerged in Mannheim that guides companies of all sizes along the entire value chain and supports them at every stage of their development.
Medical Technology Cluster

FEMALE

Here Female Founders Grow into Entrepreneurs

Female Founders Mannheim brings together women interested in starting a business, female founders, and female entrepreneurs. Through dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and a strong network, the community raises the profile of women’s entrepreneurship and supports women in launching and developing their ideas in Mannheim.

GIG7

As one of three centers in Germany, GIG7 is Mannheim’s center of excellence for women in business. For over 20 years, it has been supporting female founders, entrepreneurs, and women in business with personalized advice, practical resources, and a strong network—from the initial idea to the next stage of growth.

CREATIVE

Mannheim has always been a city for creative minds and bold ideas. This creative diversity comes to life in different ways at the MUSIKPARK, C-HUB, and TEXTILEREI hubs: MUSIKPARK strengthens the music industry, C-HUB connects the creative industries with digital solutions, and TEXTILEREI supports startups in the fashion and textile industries. Together, these three venues create space for exchange across industry boundaries—where different perspectives come together, learn from one another, and give rise to new ideas.

C-HUB

Creative, centrally located, well-connected. The C-HUB is Mannheim’s creative hub. This is where creative ideas and digital solutions take shape—through collaboration with universities and a strong community.

MUSIKPARK

As a UNESCO City of Music, Mannheim thrives on music! As a center of excellence, the Musikpark supports the people and businesses that shape this vibrant music industry.

TEXTILEREI

At TEXTILEREI, creative ideas become concrete projects: As Mannheim’s startup hub for the fashion and textile industries, it supports entrepreneurs in developing their visions and establishing themselves in the market.

INTERNATIONAL

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