Crafts of the Future

What will the skilled trades of tomorrow look like? This question was the focus of the closing event of Social X Factor 2026. The Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE) at Hochschule München (HM) hosted the event in the Glass Pavilion of the Department of Design. There, 17 student teams presented their business ideas for the skilled trades of the future.

Interdisciplinary expertise

91 students from seven departments had just one week to explore the topic. Professors from the HM are supporting the teams as coaches.

For centuries, the skilled trades have been regarded as a cornerstone of the economy and culture. Today, they face far-reaching challenges. The teams sought answers to four key questions: How can innovative business models support the Transformation of the skilled trades? How can the skilled trades be made attractive to future generations? How can their cultural value be highlighted? And how can meaningful initiatives be developed that go beyond mere economic viability?

The Social X Factor is part of “Real Projects”, an interdisciplinary practical and teaching programme run by SCE and HM. In this programme, students work in teams to tackle real-world, open-ended problems set by practice partners, thereby learning to think and act in an entrepreneurial and sustainable manner.

Focus on recruiting young talent

A clear focus: four of the 17 teams specifically set out to recruit young talent for the skilled trades. Team Werkzwerge developed a sustainable craft kit designed to instil a love of the trades in children from an early age. Team WerkHeld:innen aims to bring skilled trades professionals into nurseries and schools through practically-oriented workshops, whilst also specifically engaging with parents to break down preconceptions.

To kick off the project week, Julius Brantner, founder of Julius Brantner Brothandwerk, gave a keynote talk on entrepreneurial thinking in traditional craftsmanship – and brought some fresh bread with him. Dr. Verena Knerich from the SCE, who had organised the seminar, hosted the closing event.

The winning teams of Social X Factor 2026

Following the team pitches, the students opened the ‘Market of Ideas’: they presented their prototypes at stands, whilst the audience voted for their favourites using an ‘Impact Dollar’. At the awards ceremony, Team Handful took first place with their sensor glove designed to facilitate knowledge transfer in the skilled trades. The concept aims to use sensor technology and AI to record optimal working movements and thus preserve expertise. Second place was shared by Team BauRast (break on the building site), Team WerkHeld:innen (young talent) and Team X-O-Pants (exoskeleton). Third place went to Team Loop (tailoring) and Team Werkzwerge (young talent).

The project week was also supported by Georg Räß and Ana-Sofie Schneider from the Chamber of Crafts. They gave keynote talks and advised the teams on innovation and technology. The winning team, Handful, received an invitation from them to attend the ‘Start-up Meets Craft’ event on 13 October 2026, where young technology companies and long-established craft businesses come together. This is an opportunity for the students to find out how a project could be turned into a viable business idea.

Ralf Kastner