Social Impact Campus (EXIST)

Project Description

The EXIST team
The project team: Martin Hellmann (University of Erfurt Gründerservice), Juliane Corredor Jiménez (Brandt School), Prof. Dr. Heike Grimm (Brandt School) and Martina Karl (project staff) (from left to right)

In 2019, Prof. Dr.Heike Grimm received around 700,000 Euros in federal grants for implementing a social and international start-up campus at the University of Erfurt. The grant is part of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology‘s (BMWi) national initiative “EXIST Potentiale”, specifically addressing the pillar “Poteniale heben” (Unlock Potential) of the “EXIST Gründungskultur” (Exist Start-up Culture) program. The successful applicants and project team of four led by Prof. Grimm submitted a convincing proposal which aims at promoting the entrepreneurial spirit of students and to further support ideas from international and interdisciplinary start-up teams.

This project is now being continued by the University of Erfurt’s Start-up-Service.  

Please visit their website for more information.

Sponsors

Förderlogos

News

How is AI transforming the work of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)?

Several weeks ago, students from the Artificial Intelligence project group at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, had the chance to explore this question during a presentation at the International Civil Society Centre in…

Read more
Reflections on the Winter School on Corruption and Anti-Corruption Efforts

From February 12–14, 2025, the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt, in partnership with the Aspen Institute Germany, hosted an inspiring and dynamic Winter School on Corruption and Anti-Corruption Efforts. This three-day…

Read more
Brandt School Social Innovation Lab: a catalyst for transformative change

In an era where pressing social challenges demand innovative solutions, the Social Innovation Lab at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy provides a collaborative space where diverse stakeholders—from academia, business, government, and civil…

Read more
From NGO to Social Business - the Case of Kiron Open Higher Education

Dr. Tobias Ernst took the Social Entrepreneurship students on a journey through the various development phases of Kiron, from an NGO to a self-sustaining social business, and explained why updates to one’s theory of change and regular impact analyses…

Read more
New Publication on "Lessons Not (Yet) Learned: What African Countries Could Teach the Global North about One Health during the Pandemics."

Cases of entrepreneurial and exemplary implementation of the intersectoral and bottom-up One Health policy in Africa can be a chance for the Global North to enhance pandemic preparedness under a changing climate, argue Prof. Heike Grimm and…

Read more
Job Offer as Research Associate (f/m/d) for Entrepreneurship

At the Faculty of Political Science/Aletta Haniel Professor for Public Policy and Entrepreneurship at the University of Erfurt, the temporary position as Research Associate (f/m/d) with 20 hours per week is available as of 01.09.2023:

Read more
Brandt School Expertise on Social Innovation in Africa for Federal Ministry of Education and Research

The Brandt School was honored to participate in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s maiden event for promoting social innovation in Germany, dubbed, “Social Innovation International: Focus Africa”.

Read more
MPP Project Group Presents Ideas on a Sustainable and Regenerative Economy to Federal Ministry and BMW Foundation

On January 27th, students from the Project Group, Incentivizing Social Entrepreneurship, had the privilege of visiting the Berlin offices of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the BMW Foundation. However, more…

Read more