Once Upon a Time ... “Jobs Through New Ideas”
In times of economic transformation, this slogan sounds more relevant than ever. But the project it represents—MAFINEX, a Mannheim-based program supporting innovative startups with involvement from the University of Mannheim—actually began forty years ago.
In November 1995, the University of Mannheim made history as the first university in Baden-Württemberg to host an entrepreneurship seminar. Titled “My Boss? That’s Me!” and attended by then-Minister President Erwin Teufel, the event aimed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills to start and run their own businesses. Among the exhibitors was the City of Mannheim, showcasing its MAFINEX initiative at an information booth.
The seminar was developed by the Institut für Mittelstandsforschung, or Institute for Research on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ifm), founded in 1989. Over the course of a semester, participants attended six lectures and six hands-on workshops covering the fundamentals of launching and sustainably managing a business.
Building a strong network
The connection between the University of Mannheim and MAFINEX, however, dates back even further—by a full decade. On 3 April 1985, under the headline “Jobs through new ideas,” the newspaper Mannheimer Morgen reported about the founding of MAFINEX in the local news section. A year earlier, a MAFINEX advisory board had been established, and at the city’s request, the university appointed a representative.
At the time, then-University President Gerd Roellecke described MAFINEX as “a worthwhile and promising initiative—not despite its realistic modesty, but precisely because of it.” His priority was fostering strong partnerships between universities and industry. Over the next ten years, a far-reaching network took shape, strengthening collaboration between the city, businesses, and universities—a partnership that remains successful today. The goal: to support the growth of small and medium-sized technology-driven companies.
Since its founding, more than 170 tech-focused startups developing innovative, future-oriented products and services have successfully entered the market with the help of MAFINEX. Today, the University of Mannheim remains an integral part of this entrepreneurial network—particularly through its Mannheim Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MCEI).
Text: Dr. Sandra Eichfelder / April 2025