Bernd, it seems that many startups in Saarland participated in the survey. How would you explain this year's high level of participation in the German Startup Monitor (DSM)?
Bernd Pohl: All of the people in Saarland who support startups promoted this edition of the DSM heavily. Carolin Ackermann and I, as spokespersons for the association here in Saarland, were also particularly active. The reason for this is that a regional evaluation specific to Saarland will soon be available. Therefore, it was important to motivate a sufficient number of startups. The more data we have, the better we can argue with politicians about the framework conditions for startups in Saarland.
Dusty desert or green meadow – if the Saarland startup ecosystem were a real landscape, how would you describe it?
Bernd Pohl: We have a fundamentally fertile landscape here with many existing roads that can be used to navigate to various institutions, support services, and outstanding research institutes conducting excellent basic research. However, the necessary tools to cultivate this landscape are not available everywhere. The needs of real startups differ significantly from those of traditional startups. Additionally, there is often a lack of entrepreneurial spirit in Saarland, which is naturally due to a 200-year tradition of large-scale industry.
What makes Saarland attractive to startups, and how does it stand out compared to Berlin or Munich?
Bernd Pohl: "The Saarland's tradition can also be an opportunity. Innovative transformations in the industrial sector are best implemented where industry is located. Another aspect is the mentioned aboved research landscape. It is the basis for technology transfer, which needs to be expanded. It is also an advantage that the startup scene here is smaller and less competitive than in Berlin or Munich. Of course, there is much more capital there, but there are also many more people with good ideas. We have a few good prerequisites, but we need to focus more on implementation.
