NRW impresses as an attractive location for startups: This is the conclusion of the annual nationwide survey conducted by the German Startups Association and the auditing firm PwC. 74% of the companies surveyed in the German Startup Monitor rated the ecosystem in NRW as excellent or good. This puts NRW well above the national average of 58% and ahead of major cities such as Berlin, Munich and Hamburg.
In particular, the good connection to universities and the knowledge transfer from research to industry were praised: Almost three quarters of NRW startups with university support emphasized these location factors. In addition, almost nine out of ten startups (88%) value the proximity to universities, and the strong mutual network was also rated positively by 80% of those surveyed.
The high level of satisfaction is also reflected in a clear commitment to NRW as a business location: According to the survey, 90% can imagine setting up a business again, and 72% would do so in the same location. This is also due to the comprehensive range of support programs and economic policy initiatives, as 76% of those surveyed emphasized.
Startups in NRW see room for improvement in terms of access to capital and cooperation with established companies. Both scores are slightly below the German national average.
