Ready to Team Up?
STARTUP AUTOBAHN is an innovation platform that opens its doors to entrepreneurs from the high-tech sector. As STARTUP AUTOBAHN team at Mercedes-Benz, we mediate between startups and Mercedes-Benz AG, combining specific technological expertise with comprehensive automotive expertise. The aim is to find out within a short period of time whether Mercedes-Benz and start-ups can join forces to form collaborations and partnerships. The strategic fit at Mercedes-Benz and the maturity level of a start-up technology are decisive here.
We are looking for innovative technologies and use cases
Innovation has always been a fundamental part of the Mercedes-Benz DNA: Whether quickly implementable or disruptive, we are convinced that the collaboration with startups will contribute to the transformation to the mobility of the future.
Our goal is to create a fully electric, software-driven and sustainable luxury experience. In our search for innovation partners, we therefore focus on the following topics. However, we are generally interested in all innovative technologies and use cases that can create added value for our customers.
STARTUP AUTOBAHN
At Mercedes-Benz we want to actively shape the future and therefore turn visions into reality. We constantly identify and implement new potential for innovation. With STARTUP AUTOBAHN, we have created a strong platform that combines the best of two worlds: Here, startup spirit meets engineering expertise and enables the rapid integration of technological innovations - for the most desirable vehicles in the world.
Eileen Böhme Director Innovations & Future Technologies Mercedes-Benz AG
STARTUP AUTOBAHN is Europe's most successful open innovation platform for startups in the field of mobility. The innovation driver was founded in 2016 by Mercedes-Benz in cooperation with the innovation platform Plug and Play, the research factory ARENA2036 and the University of Stuttgart. Since then, a growing number of industrial partners and startups from all over the world have benefited from the STARTUP AUTOBAHN.
To shape the future of the automotive industry and to be able to secure competitive advantages in the dynamic market environment, the industry constantly needs new solutions. Mercedes-Benz uses the STARTUP AUTOBAHN platform to discover, evaluate and quickly implement relevant start-up innovations. New products, technologies and solution-oriented applications relating to the future of the automobile, services and sustainable production are being developed.
The STARTUP AUTOBAHN concept at Mercedes-Benz has also established itself globally. The network was further expanded internationally to Korea and India. This enables global scouting and cooperation management with start-ups.
STARTUP AUTOBAHN program
More on the program of the innovation platform co-founded by Mercedes-Benz on the STARTUP AUTOBAHN website
Mercedes-Benz as a partner for startups
Mercedes-Benz regards startups as an important source of innovation. That is why we are approaching startups on an equal footing and offer them as potential business partners the opportunity to provide our customers with their technology. Both sides benefit from this: Mercedes-Benz benefits from the start-up technologies and Startups benefit from the advantages that a cooperation with a globally operating industrial partner such as Mercedes-Benz brings.
How does our partnering process work?
The decision to cooperate with a start-up depends on whether a strategic fit exists, the technology of the start-up is mature enough and can also be applied to an automotive use case. The use case suitability of the start-up ideas is tested in pilot projects, so-called proof of concepts: In a pre-defined period of time, Mercedes-Benz specialist experts are working intensively with the startups to jointly develop promising approaches in the form of concepts and prototypes. At the end of the project, the cooperation will be assessed on both sides and a decision will be made as to whether and how the cooperation will continue.
Why cooperate with Mercedes-Benz?
With Mercedes-Benz, start-ups have the opportunity to win over a globally operating group as a business partner and to prove their idea with a proof of concept. The startups benefit from the company's global network and the development of expertise in the automotive sector-with the prospect of a firm partnership and implementation of their technology in series production vehicles of the brand.
STARTUP AUTOBAHN offers startups the advantage of finding the right contact person at Mercedes-Benz more quickly and launching a pilot project. In doing so, start-ups benefit from the network of the STARTUP AUTOBAHN team within the Group as well as from a fast lane thus enabled for the initiation and implementation of the project.
Working towards the goal
The integration of start-up technologies into series applications is the overriding goal of our STARTUP AUTOBAHN program at Mercedes-Benz. The successful collaboration of our specialist units with startups is of great importance to us. A selected project - of about 150 in total already carried out - is UBQ material that stands for sustainable innovations.
Mercedes-Benz identified the innovative value of UBQ and was the first automotive company to implement the novel material. Showcasing the possibilities of a successful proof of concept with such a significant partner has had exponential impact, opening doors across industries.
Sophie Tuviahu
Vice President of Sales and Business Development UBQ Materials
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