VDMA studyMachine builders and start-ups grow together
What role do start-ups play in German mechanical and plant engineering? What are the motives and goals that companies pursue with this collaboration and what strategies do they use? The VDMA provides answers by means of a member survey.
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.