Projects

Advancing Technology Transfer and Innovation in the Capital Region of Berlin

The BHT Startup Hub, as part of the Technology Transfer Unit of the Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT), supports projects that promote technology transfer and innovation within the capital region of Berlin. These initiatives actively involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the adoption and implementation of emerging technologies and advanced production methods derived from academic research, startup developments, and applied science projects.

By fostering collaborative research frameworks, systematic knowledge exchange, and multi-stakeholder cooperation among universities, research institutions, and industry partners, the BHT Startup Hub serves as an interface between science and the regional economy. Its activities contribute to enhancing the innovative capacity of SMEs, accelerating the commercialization of research results, and strengthening the competitiveness and sustainable industrial development of Berlin as a leading technology and innovation region.

A-B-Circular: Promoting Climate-Neutral Production “Made in Berlin”

The A-B-Circular project aims to advance climate-neutral production of Made in Berlin products in the fields of design, fashion, and architecture & construction. From April 2024 to October 2025, innovative collaboration and networking formats are being developed to foster the exchange and implementation of circular economy principles across these industries.

Key activities include the creation of two practical toolkits (“Circularity Builder” and “Circularity Designer”), a series of workshops and events, and presentations at relevant industry forums. The project connects research outcomes from the Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT) and its partners (f.e. Circular Berlin, VORN – The Berlin Fashion Hub, HTW, Impact Hub) with social and ecological entrepreneurship.

Its goal is to establish a network of solution providers in the capital region and to promote digital solutions that enable sustainable practices and business models.

Implemented under the Masterplan Industriestadt Berlin and funded through the Circular Economy program by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, the project contributes to Berlin’s ecological, digital, and industrial transformation—enhancing resource efficiency, digital innovation, and circular economy knowledge to strengthen Berlin’s role as a leading center of innovation and education.

Both tools together form an AI-powered digital platform for the circular economy in the construction and textile industries.

  • The Circular Designer focuses on the planning and development of sustainable solutions.
  • The Circular Builder focuses on implementation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.

The overall goal is to create a vibrant, collaborative ecosystem that enables small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to practically implement circular economy strategies and develop new business models.

The database for both tools was developed in cooperation with Circular.Berlin, with the latest update completed in August 2025.

🧱 Circular Builder

The Circular Builder is designed for actors in the architecture and construction sector.
It serves as an interactive industry map and collaboration platform, providing an overview of the entire value chain. The aim is to connect architects, construction companies, and planning offices to easily access sustainable materials, technologies, and partners.

Key Features:

  • Industry Map: Visualizes actors, materials, and infrastructures across the construction value chain.

  • Collaborative Ecosystem: Enables sharing of resources, knowledge, and best practices.

  • Central Data Management: Provides access to information on circular building materials, technologies, and regulatory frameworks.

Goal:
To support architecture and construction companies in transitioning to circular building practices through improved information access, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.

👗 Circular Designer

The Circular Designer is tailored for actors in the textile, fashion, and design industries.
It functions as a creative planning tool that helps companies develop sustainable materials, products, and business models based on circular economy principles.

Key Features:

  • Material Database: Access to circular, recycled, and sustainable materials.

  • Design Recommendations: AI-driven suggestions for eco-friendly designs and production processes.

  • Evaluation Tools: Assessment of environmental and resource efficiency of materials and design choices.

Goal:
To empower designers and textile companies to create circular products and make sustainable design decisions early in the development process.

Cooperation partners

The Business Angels Club Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. supports young companies with experience, contacts and capital.

By granting guarantees, BBB Bürgschaftsbank zu Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH supports profitable and promising projects where standard bank collateral is not available to a sufficient extent.

The IBB bank supports young, growth-oriented enterprises (focused particularly on the technology and creative sectors) by providing financing options for customised coaching and a wide portfolio of seminars and workshops.

180 Degrees Consulting is the world’s largest social impact consultancy for non-profits and social enterprises.

The Berlin Startup Unit sees itself as a collaborative project to improve the framework conditions for young and fast-growing companies.

The Berlin-Brandenburg Business Association (UVB) is a registered association and represents the interests of the business community in the self-governing bodies of the social insurance institutions.