Startup-Machine
Uniting Machine Engineering and Startups

Startups transform trending topics into new technologies and products that will be of importance in the future of mechanical engineering. Startups employ novel work practices which mechanical engineers should be aware of.
Conversely, mechanical engineering represents a huge user industry for startups. With VDMA Startup-Machine, we have created a platform that brings both of these parties together - matchmaking which is relevant to the mechanical engineering industry. We invite you to join us!

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At the Mechanical Engineering Summit 2025 in Berlin, we will be presenting the Startup Award to the startup that paves the way to more efficient and intelligent production with AI technologies in robotics and automation.
It is right to combine the topic of startups and scaleups with an EU strategy. After all, startups drive Europe's innovative strength and future viability.
On May 28 and 29, 2025, an inspiring conference program on startup solutions awaits you on the LIGNA.Stage in Hall 12 - be there live!
Berlin becomes hotspot of the European tech scene: VDMA Startup-Machine is official community partner of GITEX EUROPE 2025 - a new, important event for technology, startups and digital innovation.
With the VDMA Startup-Machine we are once again a cooperation partner of the VDW and together we are organizing the EMO Startup Area. Innovative startups will meet established market leaders in production technology here from September 22-26, 2025.
As a VDMA member, Kohnle GmbH Hartmetall-Werkzeug-Fabrik will be demonstrating at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025 what networked and sustainable woodworking looks like today - with smart tool solutions made in Germany.
Thinking tools digitally - that is the guiding principle of iBlade®. At LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025, the specialist from Kolbermoor will be demonstrating how intelligent tool management can be used to efficiently manage almost all (cutting) tools.
The Startup Area @ LIGNA.FutureSquare is entering the next round. From May 26 to 30, 2025, 13 startups from four countries will present their pioneering solutions for the industry at LIGNA, the world's leading trade fair for woodworking and wood processing.
Under the title "Towards Autonomous Robot Collectives Delivering Collaborative Tasks in Dynamic, Unstructured Construction Environments", the EIC is looking for pioneering technologies for the use of autonomous robotic collectives in the construction industry.
At LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025, the startup improvem from Austria shows how the digital twin makes wood processing more transparent, efficient and sustainable - for smarter production processes and future-proof companies.
Revolutionizing intralogistics with intelligent wood-based materials - that is ligenium's mission. The startup, which was already nominated for the 2023 Mechanical Engineering Summit Startup Award, is presenting itself for the first time at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025.
After a successful debut at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2023, Polish startup Deeplai will exhibit again at the Startup Area this year. Deeplai brings state-of-the-art AI technologies to the wood industry.
In 2023, EMO Hannover attracted numerous company representatives from the production technology sector. It will take place again from September 22 to 26, 2025 and will further expand the focus on matchmaking between startups and corporates in the Startup Area.
Once again, the Innovation World Cup Series will take place at Hannover Messe 2025 to honor outstanding techpreneurs. 17 startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs will pitch live on April 1.
2025 will be a highlight year for mechanical and plant engineering companies and startups. VDMA Startup-Machine connects young companies with established players in mechanical engineering at the leading industry events.
At bauma 2025, startups showed how pioneering technologies and creative solutions can transform the construction industry.
More efficient project management, autonomous robots and AI-supported innovations for a sustainable construction industry.
Voodin Blades celebrates its premiere at LIGNA.FutureSquare 2025. CEO Tom Siekmann shares his goals and explains why participation is an important step for the Hessian startup.
bauma 2025 highlighted startups that are pioneering the transition to zero-emission and sustainable practices in the construction sector.
At bauma 2025, startups played a key role in the transformation of the mining industry towards greater efficiency, safety and sustainability.
At bauma 2025, startups presented their innovative drive concepts tailored to the specific requirements of the construction industry.
LIGNA.FutureSquare 2023 offered startups like Strong by Form a stage to present their solutions. VDMA Startup-Machine supports young entrepreneurs who are advancing the industries with fresh ideas and new technologies.
Growth and cutting-edge technological solutions characterize the world's leading trade fair for machine vision / Record number of exhibitors and strong increase in visitors in 2024
The conditions for growth and innovation capital in Germany are to be significantly improved - an important step towards promoting start-ups.
Startups from all sectors, gather round: At this year's Start-up Summit, young companies with new ideas once again met potential business partners and investors.
VDMA bundles its activities in the area of "Research and Innovation" and establishes a new joint office. Research and innovation processes can thus be further optimized. Dr. Eric Maiser and Martin Nitsche take over from Dietmar Goericke.
New perspectives in the changing startup ecosystem: VDMA Startup-Machine and prototype.club presented their new cooperation on July 4, 2024 to make open innovation accessible to VDMA member companies in a new format.
The DWNRW hubs are five regional centers for the digital economy in North Rhine-Westphalia. They are contact points for start-ups and established companies looking to collaborate with them.
VDMA Startup-Machine and prototype.club are promoting innovation in mechanical engineering with a new innovation format. Find out more about successful projects and how you can benefit from them as a member company.
VDMA Mining is driving collaborative innovation, and talent attraction with a view to futureproofing the mining industry.
From September 18-23, 2023, 60 innovative startups from 12 countries presented themselves at EMO Hannover 2023, shaping the future of production technology with fresh ideas.
For the Berlin startup AdaptX Systems, participation in the EMO Hannover Startup Area 2023 was worthwhile. Tim Bornemann, Co-Founder, shares his experiences with us and why an early trade fair presence is worthwhile for startups.
On 8 November 2023, the VDMA Startup-Machine and Production presented the Startup Award to Ucaneo. The startup impressed with its innovative approach of opening up new paths for the future of production through the biologisation of industry.
Visitors experienced innovative startups in the EMO Hannover Startup Area 2023 and took a look into the future of machines and manufacturing processes that challenged existing physical limitations.
Visitors were able to discover innovative startups in the EMO Hannover Startup Area 2023 and gained insight into the possibilities promised by more sustainable production methods.
Visitors discovered innovative startups in the EMO Hannover Startup Area 2023 and took a look into the future of AR/VR and its innovative applications.
Visitors discovered innovative startups in the EMO Hannover Startup Area 2023 and took a look at the future of automation solutions that led them into the world of Industrie 4.0.
Visitors discovered innovative solutions and inspiring startup personalities in the EMO Hannover Startup Area 2023 and took a look into the future of AI-based e-commerce, which is revolutionizing automation in business.
Discover startup contacts and trends for mechanical engineering worldwide? The digital startup search platform helps you get started with startup scouting and find suitable partners.
Tracking down startup trends and contacts for mechanical engineering worldwide - this is the mission we pursue with our startup scouting services. This is made possible by the Startup Radar project. Find out here how we can help you keep an eye on international startup activity and identify suitable partners.
Cooperation between mechanical engineering companies and start-ups is still in its infancy. But it offers enormous market and future opportunities. The summer forum provided insights and promoted exchange.
From 15 to 19 May 2023, visitors were able to discover groundbreaking innovations from start-ups in the Startup Area at Ligna.FutureSquare. Emerging companies brought fresh ideas and innovations that had the potential to shape the future of the industry.
When it comes to future topics, we at Future Business and Startup-Machine are exactly the right people to talk to.
Israel is a source of innovation and a startup hotbed for the mechanical engineering industry. The VDMA Innovation Tour Israel project introduces VDMA members to the Israeli innovation ecosystem.
An unparalleled concentration of expertise - that's what the world's largest presentation forum for machine vision stands for. At the Industrial VISION Day you will find out about the latestes cutting-edge developments in the machine vision industry.
Services in mechanical engineering: The focus is already on people, digitization and sustainability. Will everything be new, will everything be different in the next decade? Around 120 guests discussed future scenarios and received new impetus on applications, training and new business models at Campus Buschhütten.
List of planned experience exchange events ("ERFA") from the North, VDMA Regional Association North and the Marine Equipment and Systems (MES) working group.
The exclusive follow-up event to our sixth Future Business Summit took place live in Geneva and brought the future to life. Photos, video interviews and presentations are available now.
Gaining inspiration and starting points for startup innovation, building networks and exchanging ideas: That was the Ecosystem Journey "Startup Innovation" 2021 in Munich.
Discover startup contacts and trends for mechanical engineering worldwide?! The new digital startup search platform helps to find suitable partners.
Events
What does the future store floor in mechanical engineering look like and which success stories can my company benefit from today? How can I make my production more competitive with startup cooperations?
Discover startup contacts and trends worldwide?! The new digital startup search platform for mechanical engineering makes it possible. By participating in the web seminar, you will receive an introduction to the possibilities of the new dashboard as well as your personal access so that you can use the tool to search for startups yourself.
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