Two new projects to advance Hamburg's innovation strategy

The Chamber of Skilled Crafts provides SMEs with contacts to start-ups, universities and innovative companies as part of "Innovation Handwerk". Hjalmar Stemmann, President of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts, noted: "This is important because in their turbulent day-to-day business, craft enterprises often do not have the time to remain technologically up-to-date and to continuously establish and maintain the necessary networks." He added: "We will help to raise dormant potential and further strengthen the spirit of innovation in the skilled crafts sector." Workshops will instruct companies about innovation methods and provide opportunities to work on new products, services and business models.

The non-profit educational "Futurepreneur" scheme aims to stir up enthusiasm for social entrepreneurship among young people aged over 14 years. Around 250 Hamburg school pupils will be able to develop their own social entrepreneurial business ideas and to put them into practise in the next school year. "We must ensure as early as possible that we get talented young people on board and that we keep our finger on the pulse of the times," said Michael Westhagemann, Senator for Economics. Passed in May 2021, the RIS strategy fosters a "bold culture of innovation" in Hamburg by highlighting health, climate and energy, mobility, data science and digitalisation as well as material sciences and new materials. 

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