3.10 Promotion of entrepreneurship culture
On this page
Address
IJAB – International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany
Godesberger Allee 142-148
DE-53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 9506-141
E-Mail: info@ijab.de
Website
On this page
Special events and activities
The Federal Ministry for Economics and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, BMWE) supports exemplary achievements relating to the development of innovative and viable business ideas and start-ups with the German Founders' Prize (Deutscher Gründerpreis).
The start-up competition – digital innovations (Gründungswettbewerb – Digitale Innovationen), which is also funded by BMWE, is aimed at young entrepreneurs and start-ups with innovative business ideas in the field of information and communication technology. See also the section 3.9 Start-up funding for young entrepreneurs.
With the Start-Up Week Germany (Gründungswoche Deutschland), BMWE and its partners aim to create a new start-up culture and a more start-up-friendly environment in Germany. During the nationwide campaign week, Start-Up Week partners organise workshops, seminars, business games, competitions and other events relating to self-employment.
On its business start-up portal, the Federal Ministry for Economics and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energy) offers a wide range of information to support women entrepreneurs. BMWE also launched the Women do Business (FRAUEN unternehmen) initiative to encourage self-employment among women and inspire more girls to become entrepreneurs. Woman entrepreneurs from the Women do Business initiative attend regional events on a voluntary basis and pass on their experiences and inspire women to start their own businesses.
BMWE, media organisations, businesses and associations support the German student entrepreneurship award Deutscher Gründerpreis für Schüler:innen. In the online competition, students from year 9 upwards can turn their ideas into fictional business concepts, including a business plan and marketing strategy. The business game aims to foster the start-up environment in Germany.
According to the definition of the European Commission, social enterprises pursue social or socially beneficial goals. Although they previously played a niche role in Germany, a recent study has identified around 1,700 such enterprises. There is still no official government definition of social enterprises that could form the basis for public funding. To date, financial support comes primarily from private foundations and initiatives. One notable exception is Sozialinnovator Hessen, a Hesse-wide funding programme for social entrepreneurs.
Networks and partnerships
The German Children and Youth Foundation (Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung) coordinates a network of experts known as STARTUP FUTURE for pupil-run companies, which is active in eight federal states. Entrepreneurial projects in schools help pupils develop the kind of skills and competencies they will need in the future. The foundation provides teaching materials, such as a guide to setting up a business, offers advice on how start pupil-run companies and also oversees individual projects if required. It regularly hosts workshops on current topics and helps pupil-run businesses develop professional contacts.
Information on partnerships to promote entrepreneurial expertise in formal education is also available in the section Development of entrepreneurship competence.