Social and sustainable: regional universities establish impact start-up cluster

The project "SoNaR - Sozial gründen, nachhaltig wirken: Impact Cluster Region Bonn-Rhein-Sieg" is being funded with almost 1 million euros by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). On 22 May 2025 from 3:30 pm, the association invites you to the public kick-off event "Future Founders - Networking for a better future" at the Digitalhub Bonn. Applications are requested.

"With SoNaR we are creating an ecosystem for social innovation and sustainable start-ups. By providing impetus to promote innovation, advisory services and peer-to-peer learning, we are helping those interested in starting up a business and founders to maximise their social and ecological impact," explains Prof. Dr Martin Sieber, Co-Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Innovation and SMEs (CENTIM) at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. "Such companies play an important role in social change processes, particularly in view of the diverse global challenges of our time. With the Impact Cluster, we are creating a network that drives the socio-ecological transformation in the region and beyond," emphasises Sandra Speer, Head of the Transfer Centre enaCom at the University of Bonn. And according to Prof Dr Stephan Hankammer, Professor of Sustainability Management at the Department of Business at Alanus University, the aim is to "encourage young entrepreneurs in particular to anchor the common good in their business model and thus fulfil their role as forward-looking game changers".

Social and sustainable business

SoNaR strengthens the region's start-up culture, opens up new opportunities for social and sustainable business and promotes a future-proof, climate-friendly business landscape. The project offers practical formats for those interested in setting up a business and existing companies. The project partners already have strong expertise in research and teaching, particularly in the areas of green economy, sustainability and circular economy, which will be incorporated into the consulting services. Topics for the funded start-ups could include sustainable supply chains, the transition to a circular economy or sustainable construction and renewable raw materials. The project thus also makes a decisive contribution to the implementation of key climate targets and strengthens the regional economy in terms of a sustainable transformation.

Games and accessibility: playful interaction and social participation

The two areas of "Games" and "Accessibility" are being established as further thematic priorities with corresponding networks. "Both of these are currently particularly dynamic areas of innovation with great potential for social innovation," says Prof Dr Adrian Hermann, who conducts research in both areas at the Forum for International Science at the University of Bonn and is a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) "Individuals and Societies". In close partnership with the Bonn Lab for Analogue Games and Imaginative Play (LAGIP), business ideas from game development are promoted and the playful aspects of social business are strengthened. With a focus on accessibility, start-up projects with an integrative approach that aim to include underrepresented groups in social life are supported. These may be people with disabilities, people with a migratory background or people from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.

Alliance of Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, University of Bonn and Alanus University

The Impact Cluster is being implemented by three universities that are already intensively involved in the areas of entrepreneurship and sustainability: Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS), the University of Bonn and Alanus University in Alfter. This interdisciplinary collaboration creates a strong network that benefits from the different areas of expertise. H-BRS coordinates the network and contributes its extensive experience in business start-up counselling. The University of Bonn provides in-depth advice on the specific focus topics of "Games" and "Accessibility". Alanus University strengthens the network with its special focus on sustainability. It has long been intensively committed to sustainable and social transformation, including through the integration of social and ecological focal points in teaching as well as the resident Institute for Regenerative Economy (REGWI).

Funding via federal government and EU

The project "SoNaR - Social Founding, Sustainable Impact: Impact Cluster Region Bonn-Rhein-Sieg" is funded under the funding guideline "Nachhaltig wirken - Förderung gemeinwohlorientierter Unternehmen" of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) and co-financed by funds from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus) of the European Union.

Event note

The public kick-off event "Future Founders - Networking for a better future" will take place on Thursday, 22 May 2025, from 15:30 at the Digitalhub at Bonn Central Station. The event will be opened with a keynote speech by Jonathan Kümmerle from VEMO Logistik GmbH. He won the Bonn Climate Prize 2025 with his company and was honoured for his contribution to an urban mobility turnaround through the use of cargo bikes powered by green electricity as delivery vehicles.

All interested parties are cordially invited and can register here.

Further information can be found on the SoNaR website: https://www.h-brs.de/en/centim/sonar

+++ This is a joint press release from Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, University of Bonn and Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences +++

Contact:

Karoline Noth, Project Manager SoNaR
Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
E: karoline.noth@h-brs.de
T: 02241 865 9850

Sandra Speer, Transfer Centre enaCom
University of Bonn
E: speer@verwaltung.uni-bonn.de
T: 0228 7362006

Paul Ziegler, Project Manager SoNaR
Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
E: paul.ziegler@alanus.edu
T: 02222 9321 1530