Expert Topic Startup-Machine

Startup-Machine

Uniting Machine Engineering and Startups

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Startups transform trending topics into new technologies and products that will be of importance in the future of mechanical engineering. Startups employ novel work practices which mechanical engineers should be aware of.

Conversely, mechanical engineering represents a huge user industry for startups. With VDMA Startup-Machine, we have created a platform that brings both of these parties together - matchmaking which is relevant to the mechanical engineering industry. We invite you to join us!

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Startup Empfehlung: Startup-Machine

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  • Startups @ EMO Hannover 2025
Looking for fresh impetus for your company? Whether it's new technologies, digital innovations or sustainable solutions - at Startup Matchmaking at EMO Hannover, you can get in touch with the right partners quickly and in a targeted manner.

Startups and mechanical engineering: How the cooperation succeeds

From our content

From our content
Startups in focus: Future Services & Platform Solutions

From 22 to 26 September 2025, startups will be presenting new platform models and digital services for smart workflows and future-oriented business processes in the EMO Startup Area. Find out more about the exhibiting startups!

Startups in focus: Smart Factory & Digital Enablement

In the EMO Startup Area, startups will present solutions for Smart Factory & Digital Enablement from September 22 to 26, 2025. The focus: AI, IoT, process digitalization and cybersecurity. Find out more about the exhibiting startups!

Startups in focus: Production Technology & Components

In the EMO Startup Area from September 22 to 26, 2025, startups will present new components, production processes and machine solutions that make manufacturing more efficient and competitive. Find out more about the exhibiting startups!

Let's Talk: EMO Startup Area with Metubiq

Metubiq will be presenting its technology for vibration-insensitive 3D surface measurement for the first time in the EMO Startup Area 2025. The young startup is using the trade fair to attract partners and discuss use cases directly with the industry.

Startup-Award 2025: These top startups are in the final!

At the German Mechanical Engineering Summit in Berlin on September 16, 2025, we will be presenting the Startup-Award to the startup that is paving the way to more efficient and intelligent production with AI technologies in robotics and automation.

Fast Connect: The EMO Startup Night with Speed-Dating

Innovation starts with the right conversation: The EMO Startup Night with Speed-Dating on September 23, 2025 brings established companies and startups together - for fresh impetus, new partnerships and real ideas for the future. Be there now!

Meet the future: Startup matchmaking at EMO Hannover 2025

Looking for fresh impetus for your company? Whether it's new technologies, digital innovations or sustainable solutions - at Startup Matchmaking at EMO Hannover, you can get in touch with the right partners quickly and in a targeted manner.

Where the future meets wood - that was the LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025

Innovative solutions, smart technologies and international networking for the wood industry - a review of a successful second edition of LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025.

"Startups are the litmus test for the EU's simplification plans"

It is right to combine the topic of startups and scaleups with an EU strategy. After all, startups drive Europe's innovative strength and future viability.

Next-level construction: This was the bauma Startup Area 2025

Shaping the future with startup power: 48 promising startups presented themselves at bauma 2025, setting new impulses for the construction machinery industry with their fresh ideas and technologies.

LIGNA.FutureSquare: Startup power for the wood industry

The Startup Area @ LIGNA.FutureSquare went into the next round. From May 26 to 30, 2025, 14 startups from four countries presented their pioneering solutions for the industry at LIGNA, the world's leading trade fair for woodworking and wood processing.

Innovation opportunity for start-ups & SMEs: EIC Pathfinder Challenge

Under the title "Towards Autonomous Robot Collectives Delivering Collaborative Tasks in Dynamic, Unstructured Construction Environments", the EIC is looking for pioneering technologies for the use of autonomous robotic collectives in the construction industry.

Startup Spotlight @ LIGNA.FutureSquare with improvem

At LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025, the startup improvem from Austria shows how the digital twin makes wood processing more transparent, efficient and sustainable - for smarter production processes and future-proof companies.

Startup Spotlight @ LIGNA.FutureSquare with ligenium

Revolutionizing intralogistics with intelligent wood-based materials - that is ligenium's mission. The startup, which was already nominated for the 2023 Mechanical Engineering Summit Startup Award, is presenting itself for the first time at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025.

Startup Spotlight @ LIGNA.FutureSquare with Deeplai

After a successful debut at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2023, Polish startup Deeplai will exhibit again at the Startup Area this year. Deeplai brings state-of-the-art AI technologies to the wood industry.

Targeted matchmaking: how successful collaborations are created

In 2023, EMO Hannover attracted numerous company representatives from the production technology sector. It will take place again from September 22 to 26, 2025 and will further expand the focus on matchmaking between startups and corporates in the Startup Area.

VDMA Startup-Machine brings innovations to the big stages in 2025

2025 will be a highlight year for mechanical and plant engineering companies and startups. VDMA Startup-Machine connects young companies with established players in mechanical engineering at the leading industry events.

Startups pave the way to climate neutrality in the construction machinery industry

At bauma 2025, startups showed how pioneering technologies and creative solutions can transform the construction industry.

Startups bring digital innovations to the construction industry

More efficient project management, autonomous robots and AI-supported innovations for a sustainable construction industry.

Startup Spotlight @ LIGNA.FutureSquare with Voodin Blades

Voodin Blades celebrates its premiere at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025. CEO Tom Siekmann shares his goals and explains why participation is an important step for the Hessian startup.

Startup solutions point the way to a sustainable construction sector

bauma 2025 highlighted startups that are pioneering the transition to zero-emission and sustainable practices in the construction sector.

Startups drive sustainable change in mining

At bauma 2025, startups played a key role in the transformation of the mining industry towards greater efficiency, safety and sustainability.

Innovative drive concepts from startups drive the future

At bauma 2025, startups presented their innovative drive concepts tailored to the specific requirements of the construction industry.

Pioneers meet practice: LIGNA.FutureSquare Insights from Strong by Form

LIGNA.FutureSquare 2023 offered startups like Strong by Form a stage to present their solutions. VDMA Startup-Machine supports young entrepreneurs who are advancing the industries with fresh ideas and new technologies.

VISION sets an example: Growth despite negative market situation

Growth and cutting-edge technological solutions characterize the world's leading trade fair for machine vision / Record number of exhibitors and strong increase in visitors in 2024

"Important step for more venture capital"

The conditions for growth and innovation capital in Germany are to be significantly improved - an important step towards promoting start-ups.

VDMA Research and Innovation: New tasks, new management

VDMA bundles its activities in the area of "Research and Innovation" and establishes a new joint office. Research and innovation processes can thus be further optimized. Dr. Eric Maiser and Martin Nitsche take over from Dietmar Goericke.

Mechanical engineering & startups: innovation opportunities through industry challenges

VDMA Startup-Machine and prototype.club are promoting innovation in mechanical engineering with a new innovation format. Find out more about successful projects and how you can benefit from them as a member company.

Startups at trade fairs as the key to success

For the Berlin startup AdaptX Systems, participation in the EMO Hannover Startup Area 2023 was worthwhile. Tim Bornemann, Co-Founder, shares his experiences with us and why an early trade fair presence is worthwhile for startups.

Startup Award at the Mechanical Engineering Summit 2023

On 8 November 2023, the VDMA Startup-Machine and Production presented the Startup Award to Ucaneo. The startup impressed with its innovative approach of opening up new paths for the future of production through the biologisation of industry.

The VDMA startup search platform - your entry into startup scouting!

Discover startup contacts and trends for mechanical engineering worldwide? The digital startup search platform helps you get started with startup scouting and find suitable partners.

Startup scouting

Tracking down startup trends and contacts for mechanical engineering worldwide - this is the mission we pursue with our startup scouting services. This is made possible by the Startup Radar project. Find out here how we can help you keep an eye on international startup activity and identify suitable partners.

Innovation essential - cooperation with start-ups is an opportunity!

Cooperation between mechanical engineering companies and start-ups is still in its infancy. But it offers enormous market and future opportunities. The summer forum provided insights and promoted exchange.

Start-ups for the future of the wood and furniture industry

From 15 to 19 May 2023, visitors were able to discover groundbreaking innovations from start-ups in the Startup Area at Ligna.FutureSquare. Emerging companies brought fresh ideas and innovations that had the potential to shape the future of the industry.

VDMA Future Business and Startup-Machine: Your team for the future!

When it comes to future topics, we at Future Business and Startup-Machine are exactly the right people to talk to.

Innovation tour to the Startup Nation Israel

Israel is a source of innovation and a startup hotbed for the mechanical engineering industry. The VDMA Innovation Tour Israel project introduces VDMA members to the Israeli innovation ecosystem.

Industrial VISION Days 2024

An unparalleled concentration of expertise - that's what the world's largest presentation forum for machine vision stands for. At the Industrial VISION Day you will find out about the latestes cutting-edge developments in the machine vision industry.

8th Future Business Summit - Results

Services in mechanical engineering: The focus is already on people, digitization and sustainability. Will everything be new, will everything be different in the next decade? Around 120 guests discussed future scenarios and received new impetus on applications, training and new business models at Campus Buschhütten.

Our events

List of planned experience exchange events ("ERFA") from the North, VDMA Regional Association North and the Marine Equipment and Systems (MES) working group.

Future Business Summit at CERN: "The largest machine in the world"

The exclusive follow-up event to our sixth Future Business Summit took place live in Geneva and brought the future to life. Photos, video interviews and presentations are available now.

Ecosystem Journey "Startup Innovation" with UnternehmerTUM

Gaining inspiration and starting points for startup innovation, building networks and exchanging ideas: That was the Ecosystem Journey "Startup Innovation" 2021 in Munich.

New startup search platform | explore now!

Discover startup contacts and trends for mechanical engineering worldwide?! The new digital startup search platform helps to find suitable partners.

Mechanical engineering and startups compete in Linz

At the VDMA Startup Machine Event, more than 80 participants met at the Linz Tabakfabrik on November 3, 2021 to live the exciting exchange between mechanical engineering and startups.

Startup Award Mechanical Engineering Summit 2021

Future startup wanted: At the industry's top get-together, VDMA Startup-Machine and Production once again honored the startup with the greatest potential for mechanical engineering.

Benefiting from the network - tackling AI projects together

More and more companies in mechanical and plant engineering are turning to artificial intelligence. Cooperation partners such as universities, IT service providers or start-ups are playing an increasingly important role.

AI as a success factor - machine builders and startups find each other

42 percent of AI startups for mechanical engineering come from Europe. Process optimization, visual quality control and predictive maintenance as key innovation fields. Financing is lacking in Europe.

Startups and mechanical engineering: How the cooperation succeeds

There is great potential in the cooperation between startups and mechanical engineering. The prerequisite is that both parties find each other and master the challenges of cooperation. VDMA Startup-Machine helps companies to get started.

The machine for discovering the future has three parts

The basic components: Trendscouting – Lighthouses in the infinite ocean of trends, Corporate Foresight – Thinking in alternative futures, Startup Machine – Machine makers and startups create new business.

Self-made circular economy – the potential of Makerspaces

Makerspaces are freely accessible workshops with high-tech equipment. Ideal for machine makers – e.g. for trying new technology, meeting startups, or sustainability gains and training of own staff.

Future Business: Nine years of success

Nine very successful years for VDMA Future Business: from the start in 2016 until today, trend scouting, foresight and the start-up network have been important drivers for members and the association!

In a nutshell

In a nutshell

Auf den Punkt Zitat - Expert Topic Startup-Machine

"Start-ups are proof that innovation and entrepreneurial spirit are the driving forces that keep the industry at the cutting edge and allow it to flourish."

Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Executive Director of VDMA

Auf den Punkt Zahl Expert Topic Startup-Machine

44

Percent of SMEs

are already working with startups.

Source: VDMA

Auf den Punkt Zusammenfassung Startup Beispiel

Summary
Using AI to find startups for the mechanical engineering sector
  • Only 23 percent of SMEs working with startups fund their own scouting
  • VDMA Startup-Machine thereby supports members in their search for partners and in the screening of startup trends
  • The Startup Radar provides an overview of the global startup scene for the mechanical engineering sector (3000+ startups)

Events

Events

Tue. 26.08.25 Tue. 26.08.25

  • Competence Center Future Business

Now even smarter, faster and with brand new features! The "Startup Radar Dashboard" is entering the next round - more powerful, more intuitive and with new functions for even better insights into the world of mechanical engineering-related startups! Experience the relaunch of the dashboard live!

Now even smarter, faster and with brand new features! The "Startup Radar Dashboard" is entering the next round - more powerful, more intuitive and with new functions for even better insights into the world of mechanical engineering-related startups! Experience the relaunch of the dashboard live!

Mon. 22.09.25 Fri. 26.09.25

  • Startup-Machine & Startups

Looking for fresh impetus for your company? Whether new technologies, digital innovations or sustainable solutions - at Startup Matchmaking at EMO Hannover, you can get in touch with the right partners quickly and in a targeted manner.

Places available

Tue. 23.09.25 Tue. 23.09.25

  • Startup-Machine & Startups

Innovation starts with the right conversation: The EMO Startup Night with speed dating on September 23, 2025 brings established companies and startups together - for fresh impetus, new partnerships and real ideas for the future. Be there now!

Places available

Tue. 30.09.25 Tue. 30.09.25

  • Competence Center Future Business

Now even smarter, faster and with brand new features! The "Startup Radar Dashboard" is entering the next round - more powerful, more intuitive and with new functions for even better insights into the world of mechanical engineering-related startups! Experience the relaunch of the dashboard live!

Places available

Thu. 23.10.25 Thu. 23.10.25

  • Industrie 4.0
  • Digitalization & Industrie 4.0
  • Research, Innovation & Technology
  • Startup-Machine & Startups
  • Innovation Management
  • Digital Transformation
  • Open Innovation

On 23.10.2025 at LIT Open Innovation Center

Places available

Tue. 28.10.25 Tue. 28.10.25

  • Competence Center Future Business

Now even smarter, faster and with brand new features! The "Startup Radar Dashboard" is entering the next round - more powerful, more intuitive and with new functions for even better insights into the world of mechanical engineering-related startups! Experience the relaunch of the dashboard live!

Places available

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More VDMA services

More VDMA services
Startup-Scouting
Tracking down and highlighting startup trends and contacts for the international mechanical engineering industry - that is the mission behind our startup scouting services.
Networking and Matchmaking
As a platform for mechanical engineering and startups, we bring both parties together: We create spaces to meet, establish networks and initiate partnerships.
Member Coaching
Startup methods and collaboration - in a close exchange with mechanical engineering companies and startups, we develop and communicate methods and strategies.

More expert and focus topics

More expert and focus topics
Future Business
Trendscouting - Foresight - Startups: We are tracking the future of mechanical engineering. Well structured and across all sectors within VDMA, in the almost infinite variety of complex topics for the next 10-15 years. Our goal: to identify trends and disruptions relevant to machine makers at an early stage and make them usable, to point out new business opportunities and to build networks.
Culture of innovation
Increasing the ability to innovate in times of digitalization and "VUCA" has been in the spotlight of companies in our industry for several years. Especially following a crisis, it is crucial to be ready and prepared with the right business models as well as suitable systems and structures, and to break away from old habits. The culture of innovation is an important basis and prerequisite for all efforts. If you want hard successes, you should start soft.
Corporate Foresight
Corporate Foresight means conducting futurology from a corporate perspective in order to „manage“ the future. It is a vision-building process which complements classical innovation management and prepares for all kinds of change – achieving resilience no matter what kind of trend or forecast will become real.
Innovation and transfer networks
Research, innovation and transfer networks allow us to reach a broad range of companies with offers suited for practical application. Key success factors include networking and maintaining a dialog with the parties involved, consolidating a wide range of competencies and quickly transferring research results to companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector.
Industrial collective research
Industrial Collective Research (IGF) serves as a unique innovation platform for small and medium-sized enterprises. Being a thematically open and industry-driven program, IGF represents an important building block in pre-competitive research for the mechanical and plant engineering sector.
Research Funding
In order to support long-term and future-oriented research and development, innovative projects are granted financial backing. In addition to collaborative and joint research, companies may also benefit from tax-based research funding.
Artificial Intelligence
Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence and machine learning. At VDMA, there are already many organizational units that are examining the topic more closely. Here, you can gain some insight into all the activities that the VDMA is conducting on the topic of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
OPC UA
As an open interface standard, OPC UA is a central prerequisite for the successful introduction of Industrie 4.0 in production. OPC UA ensures the interoperability of machines and systems, which can be linked and redesigned as required via Plug & Work - platform-independent and cross-manufacturer.
Cybersecurity
When it comes to security at the VDMA, everything revolves around protecting machines and systems in production, manufacturing or intralogistics from attacks and disruptions. The aim of these organizational and technical protective measures is to develop cyber-resilient machines and systems and trustworthy services while reliably maintaining their permanent operation.
Data Economy
Data is becoming a key value driver and asset for companies. Mechanical engineering is successfully shaping the digital transformation—so far mainly in production. In the future, however, data-driven business models will increasingly take center stage.
Production
In manufacturing and assembly outstanding machines and plants become reality. This is where information and material flow together, not always according to plan. However it is important to meet the high demands in terms of quality, time and costs every day.
The INDUSTRY PODCAST of the VDMA
Exciting and informative discussions on the trending topics of mechanical and plant engineering

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