If a green-grey cleaning robot will soon be doing its rounds autonomously in a shopping center or in an industrial and logistics hall, then it will be the CR700. The eye-catching vehicle with lubrication- and maintenance-free plain bearing technology from Igus on board is a technical innovation from Adlatus Robotics. The Ulm-based start-up successfully entered the market in 2017 - thanks to a financial injection from the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), a joint fund of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, KfW Capital and private investors.

"Germany is the European leader in the number of patent applications. The market needs this innovative strength and we want to help new ideas reach market maturity and then continue to grow," says Igus Managing Director Frank Blase. The Cologne-based company is therefore participating in the new Fund IV as an investor. "For us, this commitment is an excellent opportunity to build proximity to founders, to be involved in a supporting role in disruptive technologies at an early stage and to strengthen Germany as a location for innovation."

Igus operates worldwide and is no longer a stranger to the start-up scene. Many high-performance plastics are used in its innovations. The company is also in constant contact with creative founders through internal start-ups such as 3D printing and low-cost robotics.

Exciting new ideas are promoted with products and supported with Igus know-how. One example is the igus:bike presented at the Hannover Messe as the world's first urban bike made from recycled plastic. The start-up MTRL, which has already successfully put 400 bicycles with plastic frames and wheels on the road in the Netherlands, will be the first partner to start production and sales by the end of this year. The market launch in Germany will start at the beginning of 2023, with further versions, such as an e-bike, planned for the future. The all-plastic bike will be available in both a version made from new plastic and a version made from 100% recycled material. MTRL is planning local production facilities around the world near plastic landfills.

HTGF has already supported over 670 start-ups

The investment in HTGF makes Igus part of one of the most successful and strongest investor and start-up networks in Europe. The HTGF IV seed fund will focus on the areas of digital tech, industrial tech, chemicals and life sciences. As an industry and technology expert, Igus will play an active role in the evaluation and development of start-ups.

The HTGF was born in 2005, when representatives of the Federal Ministry of Economics, industry and sector experts founded a working group. Their goal: to revive the market for start-up financing, which had been completely dormant. They were successful. Today, the HTGF supports young companies with a volume of 895.5 million euros spread across three funds. Fund IV will now add another 400 million euros. In addition to BMWK and KfW Capital, investors include companies such as Altana, Bosch, Haniel and SAP. Together, the investors have supported over 670 start-ups since 2005. It's not just about money. Start-up experts and experienced investment managers support the founders with know-how and passion. HTGF success stories include the online eyewear retailer Mister Spex, the software producer 6Wunderkinder and the virtual power plant operator Next Kraftwerke.