LMU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center

LMU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center serves as a dynamic hub fostering interdisciplinary and international dialogue on innovation and entrepreneurship at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich. The center's mission revolves around inspiring brilliant minds to generate positive societal impact through entrepreneurial ventures. With comprehensive educational programs, the IEC equips participants with essential skills and mindsets required for successful innovation journeys. Their approach combines academic rigor with practical application, creating an environment where transformative ideas can flourish within one of Germany's most prestigious academic institutions.

At the heart of the center's activities is the LMU Innovation Incubator, which harnesses the transformative potential of scientific research to create viable business ventures. The incubator provides startups with crucial resources, mentorship, and infrastructure to convert promising concepts into market-ready solutions. Complementing this is the IEC Impact Readiness Program, which guides entrepreneurs in developing business models that generate holistic value across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. This comprehensive support system enables founders to navigate the complex journey from ideation to sustainable enterprise creation.

The center adopts a research-driven approach to innovation, examining the entire innovation lifecycle from creation and transfer to value capture and impact assessment. This holistic perspective informs their methodologies and programs, ensuring they remain at the cutting edge of entrepreneurship education and support. The IEC has cultivated an extensive network comprising leading scientists, established entrepreneurs, corporate innovators, and ambitious students, creating a vibrant ecosystem for collaboration and knowledge exchange. This community represents one of the center's most valuable assets, providing startups with access to diverse expertise, potential partnerships, and funding opportunities.

A flagship initiative of the center is the Munich Global Impact Sprint, which specifically targets technology-based ventures addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This program has established itself as a key component of Munich's regional innovation ecosystem, connecting purpose-driven entrepreneurs with necessary resources and support networks. Both the Impact Readiness Program and the Global Impact Sprint receive funding from the EXIST-Potentials program of Germany's Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, demonstrating the government's recognition of the center's contribution to the national innovation landscape. Through these initiatives, the LMU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center continues to strengthen Munich's position as a leading European hub for sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship.