Start-up Collaboration as an AI Booster?
AI Development: Every second company in Germany plans co-innovation with start-ups. However, implementation often proves difficult.
Fifty-one per cent of companies in Germany intend to develop their AI strategy jointly with start-ups in future. This is the finding of a study conducted by Sopra Steria, Ipsos, and the INSEAD Business School, which surveyed 1,643 companies and start-ups across twelve European countries.
According to the study, Germany, alongside France, holds a leading position in Europe when it comes to the role of start-ups in AI strategy. However, when it comes to the practical implementation of open innovation initiatives, companies are falling short of their ambitions. The study further reveals that only 22 per cent of companies in Germany have actually carried out an open innovation project with start-ups over the past two years.
The European average is even lower, at just 14 per cent. A closer look at the overall distribution shows, however, that many companies in other countries are already taking a more systematic approach: 60 per cent of the companies surveyed stated that they had established between two and five partnerships with start-ups during the same period. Against this backdrop, the German results appear rather reserved.
Start-ups as the Key to AI Transformation?
Nevertheless, expectations towards start-ups remain high—especially with regard to the use of artificial intelligence. Seventy-five per cent of German companies that have already cooperated with start-ups regard them as key partners for their AI strategy.
Across Europe, seven out of ten companies consider start-ups a fixed component of their innovation strategy. Corporations with more than 5,000 employees are particularly likely to collaborate with young technology enterprises. Within this group, 72 per cent of AI projects recently involved start-ups. The focus, according to the study, is primarily on generative AI.
“Generative AI, in particular, demonstrates how heavily companies rely on the speed and technological expertise of start-ups,” says Darius Selke, Head of Marketing, Corporate Affairs & Ventures (pictured). “They bring agility to processes that often take far too long in large corporations.”
Lack of Structures
Whether collaborations with start-ups succeed depends largely on internal conditions, according to the study. In Germany, 64 per cent of companies surveyed have a dedicated open innovation department responsible for cooperation with start-ups—this is the second-lowest figure in Europe. The average stands at 69 per cent. Without clearly defined responsibilities, open innovation often remains an isolated occurrence, the study authors note.
The probability of success increases significantly when clear operational models are in place, according to the study: companies with specialised open innovation units achieve a success rate of 73 per cent, compared to 51 per cent among companies without defined responsibilities.
“Open innovation must not be a by-product,” says Darius Selke. “The willingness to collaborate alone is not enough—what matters is the specific added value that start-ups provide and how this is systematically integrated into the organisation. This requires a clear venture strategy—ideally with a partner who acts as an extended arm into start-up ecosystems: from scouting to matching to concrete implementation. What is decisive is that this partner does not merely act as an intermediary but also takes responsibility—with industry knowledge, technological expertise, and a deep understanding of corporate requirements.”
Background Information
For the study, 1,643 companies and start-ups from twelve European countries were surveyed, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Both private and public sector organisations were included in the survey. The study was conducted in cooperation with Ipsos and the INSEAD Business School.
