How do skilled trades and startups fit together? For any hardware-focused startup, the path from the first prototype to series production is a challenge. This is precisely where Upper Bavarian skilled trades companies come in: With their high manufacturing expertise, regional proximity, and flexible structures, they are ideal partners for high-tech startups. This allows them to solve complex tasks together, directly on-site, without language barriers or time differences.
To promote this cooperation, the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria together with the AZO Space of Innovation and its ESA BIC Bavaria program The "Space meets Crafts" format has been running since 2018. Early on, Munich-based unicorn Isar Aerospace secured valuable partners, including model-making specialist Schröter – a collaboration that continues to this day.
Meanwhile, “Space meets Handwerk” is “Startup meets craftsmanship” an integral part of Munich's innovation ecosystem. In 2025, craft companies from electronics, precision mechanics, mechanical engineering, and prototype construction once again met with startups from ESA BIC Bavaria.
Following the traditional approach, an initial round of introductions from all participating companies was followed by speed dating. Each startup met with each trades business for ten minutes to explore potential areas of common interest. A convivial networking session concluded the event.
On the startup side, Dromni, Sitegeist, Eighth Dimension, Hypersonica, Augusta Space and Project-SWhether these encounters will lead to new collaborations will become clear over the course of the coming year – the chances are good.
