futureSAX – starting up and growing through innovation

Project for the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport on structuring the “futureSAX” scheme

Within the scope of a three-month project, Fraunhofer MOEZ advised the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport (SMWA) as an external specialist regarding the assessment and reorientation of the contents of the scheme “futureSAX – Gründen und Wachsen durch Innovation” (futureSAX – starting up and growing through innovation). The goal of “futureSAX” is to support knowledge and technology-based business start-ups in Saxony and to inspire new innovative ideas for the successful growth of existing companies by means of ideas competitions, events and networking activities.

Against the background of the innovation strategy of the Free State of Saxony, Fraunhofer MOEZ carried out expert interviews within the context of the project. On the basis of these interviews, the next phase involved assessing the “futureSAX” activities carried out by Sächsische Aufbaubank GmbH (SAB) and through Businessplan-Wettbewerb Sachsen GmbH (BPWS). In this way, alongside scientifically substantiated proposals for the strategic focus of futureSAX – including various measures for further brand development and how to make use of the know-how of former participants – alternative courses of action were developed for the SMWA. Likewise, as part of the final report, Fraunhofer MOEZ submitted recommendations for an improved organization of the “futureSAX” instrument with regard to the further development of the contents of the follow-on programme for 2013/2014. The project results were presented to the SMWA within the context of an expert workshop in Dresden on 27 July 2012.