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When working with start-ups, companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector rely on flexible, dedicated and easy-to-establish cooperation models that bring immediate benefits. Project-based cooperation (75%) and the customer-supplier relationship (56%) are currently used the most by companies in the mechanical engineering sector. Equity-based cooperation and innovation models such as in-house accelerators, incubators and venture capital units are increasingly being implemented by large companies. For small and medium-sized companies, they are not (yet) a viable option due to the high level of resources required.