How Thuringia systematically enables innovation – Innovation support activities 2022–2024

Innovation is a key factor for competitiveness, value creation, and sustainable economic development. With the implementation of the Regional Innovation Strategy Thuringia (RIS Thuringia) The Free State of Bavaria aims to strengthen future-oriented sectors, accelerate knowledge and technology transfer, and systematically expand the innovative capacity of companies. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should have easier access to knowledge, infrastructure, and partners.

RIS monitoring accompanies this process and makes R&D activities and innovation-supporting measures in the Free State visible. The factsheet “Innovation Support Activities 2022–2024” This shows that Thuringia has specifically further developed and sustainably strengthened the framework conditions for innovation.

Key findings at a glance:

• Around €78 million The Free State of Thuringia has, within the framework of the guidelines of the funding program for the promotion of research, technology and innovation (FTI-Thuringia), in the Development and expansion of innovation and research infrastructure (Innovation centers and equipment) are being invested to make it easier for SMEs to access large-scale equipment and testing environments.

• 83 Innovation Vouchers-Projects were approved at the state level (> €3.1 million) for financing feasibility studies, prototypes or intellectual property rights. 

• 11 Consulting and Transfer Centers for Artificial Intelligence (AI) They support companies in the application of AI – with demonstrators, training programs, and individual consulting. These centers have been actively networked since 2024. 

• More than 50 specialist events They fostered exchange between business and science – from flagship events like InnoCON to thematic series such as InnoLOG and InnoMEET by Innovativ Thüringen. About 600 participants are involved in 15 clusters and networksSeveral carry excellence labels from the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (including Gold for OptoNet).

• Numerous Business start-ups, Site expansions and New settlements This underlines the attractiveness of the location; among other things, 11 start-ups were founded that are based in Thuringia.

• The promotion of skilled workers and internationalization was specifically expanded. Overall 109 SMEs were with approx. €5.5 million Supports innovative personnel.More than 280 players used the Foreign trade promotion, in order to open up new markets – supported by trade fair appearances and delegation trips.

Conclusion

Between 2022 and 2024, the framework conditions for innovation – infrastructure, knowledge transfer, networks, skilled workers, and internationalization – were further expanded and more closely integrated. This gives companies the opportunity to systematically develop innovation projects from the initial idea and to implement them more quickly.

Further information

The detailed results are published in the factsheet:

RIS Monitoring: Innovation Support Activities 2022-2024