- The Ilmenau Technology and Start-Up Centre (TGZ), an instrument of economic and technology promotion of the Ilm district and the city of Ilmenau, forms a location community of approx. 25 technology-oriented start-ups in Ilmenau. Together with its local partners, the TGZ has been supporting, promoting and accompanying the founder from the initial idea to the successful company since 1991.
- Strong integration of start-ups into regional and supra-regional networks of business and science (location advantages: Campus location to Ilmenau University of Technology and an environment of technology-oriented companies in areas such as sensor technology, ICT, production, automotive, energy and environment, software development and glass manufacturing; use of state-of-the-art infrastructure of university and TGZ as well as the availability of students and scientists).
- TGZ is the regional partner for start-ups for the implementation of start-up ideas, which can be realised in the first own company premises, on almost 4000 m² of office, laboratory or production space at TGZ. Direct support is also possible by passing on cold rent exemptions. (The project is supported by the Free State of Thuringia under the number 2017 TZ 0007 and co-financed by funds of the European Union within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). - The initiative auftakt. was launched in 2011 in cooperation with Gründerforum Ilmenau e.V. and the Technical University of Ilmenau in order to give new impetus to the start-up landscape. This initiative bundles the activities of committed students, entrepreneurs, scientists and partners in the field of business start-ups. Since then, the auftakt. Basis located in TGZ Ilmenau has turned into the central starting point for business start-ups in the region.
