Introducing entrepreneurship in the
university’s institutional strategies –
The case of RWTH Aachen
University
October 17, 2013
RWTH Aachen is one of the leading technical universities
in Germany and across Europe
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
1Source:

465 professorships, 262 institutes, 16 An-institutes, 4 Fraunhoferinstitutes, 10 DFG-Graduate colleges

Promising research areas addressing the global challenges

RWTH Aachen Campus

37.900 students – ~80% in the areas of engineering and natural sciences

Excellent teaching reviews with top rankings across Europe

More than 600 businesses were fromed at the RWTH during the past 30
years -of which ~ 200 were formed between 2005 and 20091

"Exist Gründerhochschule" – government founded initative
„Technologieorientierte Unternehmensgründungen in der Region Aachen“, IHK Aachen, June 2010
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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Leadership position to be furthered by the development of
the RWTH Campus 2020
• One of the largest technology clusters in
Europe
• A total of 19 research clusters with more
than 10,000 employees planned
• Formation of up to 250 technology oriented
companies on campus
• Companies benefit from the joint research
as well as advanced education
opportunities
• Positive externalities will bring other
industries to Aachen and the region
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
Central Institutes
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The approach towards entrepreneurship combines
teaching, research and practice
Teaching
Research
Chair
Chair
&
Network
Internal & external
national & international
Practice
Entrepreneurship
Center
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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New findings in the entrepreneurial research stimulate teaching
methods and leads vice versa to new stimuli in the research area
Entrepreneurship at RWTH Aachen University – creating the synergies
Teaching
Research
Synergies between teaching and research
Teaching  Research
Interactive project work and discussions during teaching sessions lead to new perspectives
and new topics in the research area
Research  Teaching
New theories from the entrepreneurship research are applied to teaching and further
developed (e.g.effectuation in teaching and practice)
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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Intense cooperation between teaching and practice enhances
the entrepreneurial spirit at the RWTH and in the Aachen area
Entrepreneurship at RWTH Aachen University – creating the synergies
Synergies between teaching and practice
Teaching
Teaching  Practice
The teaching modules impart critical knowledge to the
practitioners in various fields of the start-up process and could
be seen as the theoretical background for the successfull
entrepreneurs
Benefits for founders: creation of product concepts
(Entrepreneurship I) or the development of business plans
(Entrepreneurship II) by student teams
Practice
Practice  Teaching
Business cases and entrepreneurial challenges being
discussed in the teaching sessions are coming „live“
from the entrepreneurial practice
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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Practical challenges of entrepreneurs stimulate the research
agenda and new findings are applied to the practice
Entrepreneurship at RWTH Aachen University – creating the synergies
Synergies between research and practice
Research  Practice
New findings from the entrepreneurship research are tested in
project groups (e.g. team tests) and getting further developed
within the practice
Research
Practice  Research
Practical challenges lead to increased research efforts in
specific fields (e.g. initial customer analysis or pricing)
Practice
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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The Aachen Entrepreneurship center supports every phase of
the business start-up process via coaching, events, workshops etc.
Entrepreneurship at RWTH Aachen University – creating the synergies
Pre-Seed phase
Technology
Idea
Local
Heros
Concept
Creation
Team
ATEC*
Idea generation
I2P idea
competition
Idea evaluation
Business model
Funding
Operations
Prepare!
Workshops
Start-up
training
BP
Workshops
BP
Competitions
Matchingpool
Personality
test
Matching
workshops
Governmental
Support
Programs
Funding
Network
Seed
Technology
Expert
Patent
agent
Market
Expert
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
Business
Angel
(BA-Day)
Business
Consultant
Venture
Capitalists
Tax
Consultants
Lawyers
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To advance entrepreneurship at the RWTH a 5-year
program has been developed
EXIST IV is endorsed and financed by the government
University
Faculties and institutes
Center for
entrepreneurship
Community and network
Establishment of auxiliary
conditions for setting up a
business as a student or
researcher
Mobilization of students and
researchers across all
faculties
Developing a one-stop-shop
for all services
Building, developing and
using the founder
community in the region
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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Those interested in entrepreneurship can choose from a
variety of events across the all phases of entrepreneurship
Overview offerings to (potential) entrepreneurs
Mobilizing
From Idea to founding
Post-founding support
Education
Siemens Entrepreneur Cup
Entrepreneurial
Marketing & Finance
Introduction to
business
Entrepreneurship I &
Entrepreneurship II
Consulting
Extra-currcicular
service offerings
Presentation &
negotiation
Aachen Technology
Entrepreneurship
Conference
EXIST Prime Cup
Idea to Product
(international idea
competition)
Founder training
(1 week seminar)
3 Day Startup
AC2 (business plan
competition)
TRACE
Founder roundtable/
Workshops
Info-Pack
Starter-KIT
Prepare!
(Workshop with
WHU)
Ideascouting
Erfinderberatung
Business-Angel Day
Coaching
Financing
(fund and Investor
network1)
EXISTScholarship
Workshops about
IP-Management
IP
AixHighTIng
CO:Forward
(Incubator)
Matching
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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A clearly designed coaching process has been developed
Entrepreneurs find us by a
variety of routes…
Referrals
… but the standard coaching process starts on the website
Website
Coaching
report
Screening and
assignment
Contact point
and description
of service offered
Sums up all
necessary
information
Evaluation of
coaching requirements and
decision on own
vs. coaching
through partners
Website
Lectures
Local Network
IHK (trade and commerce
chamber)
Coaching
Start with first
call and meetings
depending on
coaching
requirements
Business Angels
...
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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Exemplary entrepreneurship event: The Founder Training of
the is supported by a variety of external speakers
Portrait of Founder Training
Founder Training

4 days training covering all topics relevant to
the foundation of a company (law, financing,
marketing, business model generation,
brainstorming, social media,...)

Twice a year, each time ~45 participants
(students, scientist, professionals)

Applications > capacity at the training

Supported by a variety of partners

Highly attractive due to low costs and strong
support by the RWTH PhD program

About 30% of the participants are
entrepreneurially active
Partner
Business Angels/ Venture
Capitalists
Founders
(Regional) enterprises and
entrepreneurs
Professors
Recruitment agencies
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
Lawyers
Exemplary entrepreneurship event: Prepare! combines technical
ideas of RWTH students with Germany’s top business school students
Portrait of Prepare!
 Cooperation between RWTH Aachen and WHU in
Vallendar (top business school in Germany)
 Business plan development in interdisciplinary teams
of RWTH scientists and WHU business students
Executive MBA students with
work experience
PREPARE! – The
Entrepreneurs Academy
 In addition to teamwork, presentations by experienced
practitioners and professors enrich the program
 Teams are supported by one coache from the Aachen
incubator (“Gründerzentrum”)
Scientists with their own
business idea or technology
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
Exemplary entrepreneurship event: 3-Day-Startup – In 3
days from an idea to a business model
Portrait of 3DS
• 40 creative students from all over Germany
• Establish a company in 60 hours
• Professional jury with investors
Develop a start-up
in 3 days
• Already twice at the RWTH, 2011 for the first time in
Shanghai and in 2012 for the first time at WHU
Vallendar
• Organized by the student organization AC.E
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
3DS produces enthusiastic students around the world and
impressive 14 new startups out of 12 events
Portrait of 3DS
3DS – an international event
2011 for the first time “exported“
from Aachen to Shanghai
12 3DS-events (USA and Europe)
14 Companies
USD 4 M funding
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
Meet Entrepreneurship in a relaxed atmosphere
Aachen Entrepreneurship Team e.V.
student organization
Gründungsfieber
RWTH and FH start-ups introduce themself
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
Aachener Founder Round-Table
Discuss with other founders
Idea Recognition Night
Develop new ideas
The program shall take effect along all phases of the startup funnel
Mobilization
Founding
Objectives
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5,000 students and
researchers to be
reached each year
Management & growth
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60 start-ups shall be
formed each year
© 2013 Gründerzentrum der RWTH Aachen
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20 teams shall be
coached for growth each
year
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