The MakerSpace, UnternehmerTUM's prototype workshop, looks back on ten years of development and innovation. Since its founding in 2015, over 33,500 people have used the infrastructure to transform ideas into tangible products. The workshop has established itself as a central element in the UnternehmerTUM ecosystem and has become a catalyst for numerous startup successes.
“Prototypes can be realized quickly and cost-effectively in the workshop,”
explained Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, Founder and CEO of UnternehmerTUM.
"Today, the MakerSpace serves as the central infrastructure for the entire UnternehmerTUM ecosystem and is the breeding ground for success stories such as Isar Aerospace, Allunderground, and Hyperloop, which once created their first innovations here as student teams."
The first MakerSpace opened in 2015 in the Entrepreneurship Center on the research campus of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Users have access to a wide range of machines and tools – from 3D printers and laser cutters to electronics, textile, wood, and metal workshops. Support from an experienced team ensures that even complex projects can be implemented professionally.
In 2021 a second one came Location in Munich Urban Colab This focuses particularly on sensor technology and urban technologies for the city of the future.
Innovation location for startups and industry
The MakerSpace isn't just interesting for young entrepreneurs. Established companies and industry partners also make use of the workshop. For example, BMW used the infrastructure to convert 20 BMW i3 Urban Suite concept cars for the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Well-known startups such as Angsa Robotics, Kewazo, Olive Robotics or AirUp began their development here. The ideas ranged from robotic solutions for urban cleaning and innovative construction aids to novel sensors and beverage bottles with scent technology.
It's not just startups that benefit: Master craftsmen and DIY enthusiasts from Munich and the surrounding area also work on their own projects in the MakerSpace. Over the years, this has created a vibrant, interdisciplinary community.
The MakerSpace exemplifies the combination of technological infrastructure, entrepreneurial support, and creative energy – a model that has proven to be a fertile ground for innovation over the past decade.
