The BHT Startup Hub had the opportunity to contribute to the programme at the Transferale, the science and transfer festival of the ‘Zukunft findet Stadt’ project.

The first event, which was part of the A-B-Circular project of the Masterplan Industriestand Berlin, focussed on ‘New Building’ and offered the opportunity for a lively exchange with experts from science and industry. The construction industry continues to be characterised by high CO2 emissions and large amounts of waste – but there are signs of change that can be seen in various aspects. Whether through building in existing buildings, which Prof Matthias Haber from the BHT showed with the project ‘A Building Life’, which convincingly demonstrates the qualities of reuse in the construction industry, or the ‘House of Transformation’, which Prof Sebastian Feucht from the HTW presented – it is becoming increasingly clear that the construction industry is undergoing change and that the time is ripe. In a panel discussion with Sofia Ceylan, architect and founder of TOMAS Transformation of Material and Space, and Simon Kimmel, project manager for the Urban Tech Republic at Tegel Projekt GmbH, it became clear that one of the challenges standing in the way of change is still the cost. Traditional construction methods are still more cost-effective. However, this should not prevent us from creating space for experimental projects and thus paving the way for sustainable realisations.

The second event brought together the BHT Startup Hub, HTW Startup, HWR Startup Incubator Berlin and Impact Hub Berlin. All incubators had the opportunity to present themselves to interested participants and provide an insight into their funding opportunities for founders. There were also six start-up teams who, despite their different subject areas – from sustainability in the skilled trades to a fertility care platform and a type 1 diabetes platform – all have one thing in common: They want to make a difference with their solution.

We are delighted to have been part of this exciting and inspiring event and look forward to further opportunities to make a difference together. This provided an opportunity for a lively exchange with experts from science and industry.