The profound change in the automotive industry primarily affects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the supplier sector. To support them during this phase, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, together with e-mobil BW, the state agency for new mobility solutions, and Automotive Baden-Württemberg, has implemented the SME Mobility Initiative. This comprised a package of targeted measures to strengthen the innovative power of SMEs.
These included the High-Tech Mobility Innovation Voucher, which closed gaps in the promotion of technology and process innovations, and the ‘Innovative Mobility Technologies’ technology transfer programme, which strengthened the transfer of knowledge and technology between SMEs and research with ten projects. The New Mobility Academy was a training initiative that prepared SMEs and suppliers in particular for the transformation of the automotive industry and highlighted new value creation potential. The content is now permanently integrated into the work of the State Pilot Office. The focus continues to be on the topics of drive electrification, automated driving and connected mobility, as well as their impact on business models. The programme is supplemented by the areas of in-vehicle software and the circular economy.
In addition, the SME initiative opened up access to international markets for companies: SMEs were able to participate more extensively in the Baden-Württemberg pavilion at the Hannover Messe trade fair thanks to a discount on participation costs. Delegation trips, contact and cooperation exchanges as part of incoming delegations, and networking opportunities at conferences and trade fairs rounded off the programme.
With the conclusion of the SME initiative, key findings and structures were transferred to the state pilot office Transformationswissen BW. This office is continuing parts of the programme and will continue to serve as a permanent point of contact for companies in Baden-Württemberg in the future.
