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With a hoodie for start-ups: Robert Habeck promises benefits for the start-up scene
Photo: INA FASSBENDER / AFP
Cars, chemicals, mechanical engineering: Germany is known worldwide for many sectors of the economy, but the local start-up scene is not one of them.
This is also due to politics, which for decades has neglected the start-up scene as a nice accessory for the young image instead of as an investment in the future of the country.
Almost all parties announced during the election campaign that this should change, above all the Greens and FDP successfully campaigned for money, attention and votes in the industry.
Accordingly, the start-ups also appeared in the coalition agreement - including a promise: For the first time, a "start-up strategy" would be developed in a comprehensive process.
A draft from the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, which is available to SPIEGEL, now shows what it could look like.
On 28 pages, Robert Habeck's house presents a number of possible measures that are to be implemented in the current legislative period.
Capital stock for retirement provision
This applies to
financing
, for example, where there has been a lot of catching up to do in Germany for a long time, especially with regard to late growth phases.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, what has long been reality in other countries should now also happen in Germany: Insurers and pension funds should be able to invest in start-ups via detours.
Habeck even provides for a “minimum investment quota” in venture capital funds.
In addition to the numerous funds and financial instruments that the coalition had already announced, the federal government should also reserve its own funds for climate and sustainability technologies in the future.
From mid-2022 to 2025, at least one-fifth of new investments under the European Investment Fund should flow into companies that deal with green innovation, sustainability or social impact.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs also wants to revitalize the INVEST program, which had recently expired to the annoyance of many founders.
The corresponding funding guideline is aimed for »January 1, 2023«.
On the other hand, the requirements for future IPOs are vague: Habeck wants to relax and make things more flexible, and a working group at the Financial Services Authority should take care of the details.
More immigration and participation
Germany's start-ups need capital, but above all they lack
talent
, who often comes from abroad.
If the Ministry of Economics has its way, immigration law should be further developed and existing hurdles should be lowered, especially when it comes to the recognition of degrees.
Habeck wants to lure foreign students, for example, with offers for language acquisition - and help the local students with IT compulsion.
According to the draft, the federal government should work to “ensure that computer science classes are introduced as compulsory from secondary level I”.
Schoolchildren should also “come into contact with start-ups as early as possible”.
Habeck also wants to finally implement a long-cherished wish of the scene, employee participation, with the help of improvements in income tax law - so that future liquidity is actually taxed, not on the so-called "dry income", i.e. the pure participation in the company.
The announced talent acquisition program is "in the right direction," says Christian Miele, head of the start-up association, "and the necessary political measures remain to be seen."
More empowerment for women
It's no secret that women are underrepresented in the start-up industry.
In 2021, the proportion of
female founders
was just 17.7 percent.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs now wants to counter the situation with subsidies.
A new funding line called "EXIST Women" is intended to specifically address female founders in the future.
And female professors at universities should even be given a financial incentive to get involved as a mentor.
In return, their employers benefit from a higher network flat rate if they coach and support "various teams".
The declared goal: "more role model entrepreneurs" everywhere, so that the numbers don't differ that much in the future.
More access to data and funding
One thing is clear: if Germany's start-ups have so far perceived the state as a block on the leg, this perception should change in the future.
Habeck wants to become the best friend of the founders.
According to the draft,
access to subsidies, government contracts, laboratories and data
should be much easier in the future, for example with online portals and a new transparency law.
However, many of the benefits sound suspiciously like cosmetics: For example, the Ministry of Economics wants to organize a (unspecified) "Start-up Summit Germany" for the first time and set up a "network of contact points" for founders in all federal ministries and subordinate authorities.
The draft even promises a »campaign for the international marketing of Germany as a start-up location«.
It is unclear what all this will look like.
According to SPIEGEL information, the draft is to be coordinated with the other ministries on Friday, and there may be a need for talks with Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).
With him, the comprehensive new programs must be equipped with financial resources.