Support for Start-ups

The Founder Initiative Ruhr was established in 2017 as a joint UA Ruhr platform for coordinating start-up support initiatives, the transfer of knowledge and technology as well as initiating new projects.The aim is to increase the visibility of the Ruhr area as a region for start-ups and transfer, and to establish a network that connects researchers, businesses and investors.

UA Ruhr Transfer GmbH was founded at the beginning of 2025 to promote cooperation and the transfer of knowledge and technology between the universities of the UA Ruhr, research institutions and industry. Its aim is to strengthen the exchange between business, science and social stakeholders, particularly in the Ruhr region. As a first step, UA Ruhr Transfer GmbH has actively participated in BRYCK Startup Alliance GmbH. Together with the other two shareholders, Initiativkreis Ruhr and BRYCK GmbH & Co. KG, the aim is to break new ground in the promotion of start-ups and develop transfer projects and business areas. The Managing Director is Marc Seelbach, who is the Managing Director of the Worldfactory at Ruhr University Bochum.

Since 2023, the UA Ruhr has been cooperating with the BRYCK start-up and innovation hub initiated by the RAG-Stiftung foundation, whose support programs have already helped numerous start-ups in fields such as energy, health and hydrogen. The BRYCK network connects researchers, founders and businesses. The collaboration between the UA Ruhr and BRYCK is intended to strenghten the start-up ecosystem and increase the number of new enterprises in the Ruhr area.