Start-ups create momentum – upscaling creates value.

A dynamic start-up and growth environment is decisive for innovation to emerge and then remain in the region, generating economic drive as a result.

A strong start-up culture is the key to economic dynamism and social progress. lt not only promotes the founding of new companies, but also the development of innovative solutions to current and future challenges. A positive attitude towards entrepreneurship, combined with support from networks and infrastructure, is decisive for motivating people to put their ideas into practice and take risks in doing so. A vibrant start-up culture also creates an environment in which creativity, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking can flourish, all essential factors for the competitiveness of a city like Linz.

The city's wide-ranging initiatives to support earlystage start-ups and foster a start-up culture in Linz are strengthening the ecosystem and inspiring people to take an interest. That is why we are stepping up our efforts to expand our networks and to create spaces and opportunities where new ideas, collaborations and communities can flourish. There is special potential here in involving women, international talent and migrant communities more closely in the innovation and start-up ecosystem. At the same time, we need to raise the profile of social innovation and social entrepreneurship.

Strengthening the early stages

The "Linz hACkT" hackathon format and the City of Linz's "Founders Scholarship" are excellent opportunities to gain hands-on experience in developing start-up ideas and to make initial contacts with mentors and experts in the field. The aim is to strengthen these formats even further. lt is important to support the efforts of local universities and universities of applied sciences to encourage students keen to start their own businesses to set up spin-offs and start-ups..

• Strengthening the start-up culture and opportunities for students to experiment: further developing experience- based innovation formats such as Linz hACkT and the start-up grat, in consultation with universities and universities of applied sciences. Creating opportunities for students to earn ECTS credits for taking part in Linz hACkT.
• Expanding the network of experts within the city's economic affairs department to connect potential start-up founders with relevant expertise.
• Strengthen dialogue with educational institutions to establish, on a wider scale, experience-based innovation formats that promote entrepreneurial thinking.
• Closer links between universities, universities of applied sciences, business incubators and the business community.
• Use of trial formats such as pop-up-stores or pilot projects with local businesses and the local authority.