{"id":36246,"date":"2026-06-10T21:18:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T19:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highest-darmstadt.de\/?p=36246"},"modified":"2026-06-10T21:26:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T19:26:32","slug":"vdma-startup-machine-joins-the-highest-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/highest-darmstadt.de\/en\/news\/news-en\/vdma-startup-machine-joins-the-highest-club\/","title":{"rendered":"VDMA Startup-Machine Joins the HIGHEST Club"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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\n The newest member connects mechanical and plant engineering with young tech teams and shows what the HIGHEST Club offers companies. <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
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Welcome to the HIGHEST Club, VDMA Startup-Machine! HIGHEST is glad to welcome its newest member. The VDMA Startup-Machine is an initiative of Europe\u2019s largest industry association. It connects established companies, founders and research. It supports machinery and plant manufacturers in working with tech startups: strategic, hands-on and backed by a strong network. In this way it opens access to markets, to pilot customers and to valuable industry know-how.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n

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A partnership that has long been growing<\/h2>\n

That the membership fits so well surprises no one. HIGHEST and the VDMA Startup-Machine have shared their goals and many common interests for some time. Now both sides are deepening their cooperation.<\/p>\n

Max Stein, project manager of the VDMA Startup-Machine, puts it in a nutshell: they have known and valued HIGHEST for a long time. With the membership, they want to bring young talent and industry together, strengthen the exchange with founders and researchers, and set fresh impulses for innovation, startup support and technology transfer.<\/p>\n

We are happy to have you in the network. We look forward to many shared ideas, strong collaborations and successful technology transfer.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n

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You too can become a HIGHEST Club member<\/h2>\n

What the VDMA Startup-Machine finds in the club is open to you as well. The HIGHEST Club brings companies together with researchers, founders and young firms. HIGHEST calls it a symbiosis: a connection that benefits both sides.<\/p>\n

As a member, you are right in the middle when ideas turn into companies. That gives you:<\/p>\n

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  • Early access to ideas and talent. <\/strong>You are among the first to learn of new inventions and work directly with the minds behind them.<\/li>\n
  • Free use of the FabLab. <\/strong>You test prototypes and develop them together with researchers, right on site.<\/li>\n
  • Exclusive club evenings. <\/strong>Twice a year, founders present new business ideas. You sit in the front row.<\/li>\n
  • Advice on intellectual property. <\/strong>HIGHEST supports you when you want to acquire IP from research.<\/li>\n
  • Visibility and image. <\/strong>On request, TU promotional materials carry your logo. You show that innovation matters to you.<\/li>\n
  • You take part in the events, build contacts and have conversations that move things forward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How you can get involved<\/h2>\n

    A membership is more than a logo on a list. You can:<\/p>\n

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    • present your company and inspire students and researchers,<\/li>\n
    • mentor young teams,<\/li>\n
    • build prototypes and run projects together in the FabLab.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Becoming a member, simply by email<\/h2>\n

      The way into the club is short. Send HIGHEST an email with your preferred start date. You will receive an invoice for the annual fee of 2,500 euros. That is all it takes.<\/p>\n

      You are in good company anyway. Club members include Merck, Helaba, Bankhaus Metzler, Schunk, HessenMetall, Sparkasse Darmstadt and the City of Science Darmstadt. And now the VDMA Startup-Machine.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n

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      Contact: leitung@highest.tu-darmstadt.de<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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      \n Bleib auf dem Laufenden mit dem HIGHEST-Newsletter <\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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