HM starts in EU innovation project

Hochschule München is taking part in SFF DEEP CONNECT, a new European collaboration project. It was selected as part of the EIT Higher Education Initiative (HEI) 2025/2026 and is funded by the European Union through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). A total of ten organisations from ten European countries are working together to make it easier to translate scientific findings into marketable innovations. Building on the existing Start for Future network, universities, research institutions, companies and innovation ecosystems are set to collaborate even more closely.

Ten countries, one shared goal

The project will from September 2026 and run for 24 months. During this time, the aim is to integrate entrepreneurial spirit, innovative capacity and the management of intellectual property more firmly into everyday university life. This includes, amongst other things, programmes for students, researchers and university staff; the establishment of so-called ‘Asset-Matching Living Labs’, which bring research findings together with talented founders and companies; and the further development of the SFF Open Incubator to support deep-tech start-ups. In addition, a ‘Founder Passport’ is being developed to facilitate cross-border collaboration for founders. By the end of the project, the aim is to have trained more than 4,500 participants, supported over 30 start-ups and established at least ten new companies.

‘Hochschule München is proud to be part of this consortium’

Thomas Stumpp, HM Vice-President for Transfer and Cooperation, emphasises the importance of the project: “By bringing together ten institutions from ten countries, the initiative is creating the cross-border infrastructure that our students, researchers and entrepreneurs need to translate excellent deep-tech approaches into real-world businesses. HM is proud to be part of this consortium, which places universities of applied sciences at the heart of Europe’s future in innovation.”

Further information is available on the EIT website.

Constance Schölch