LOVEDIS wins "Emerging Excellence" at the Open Innovation Award

We Won!

Big stage, clear message: Innovation doesn't need a megacity. At IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026, LOVEDIS won the Open Innovation Award in the "Emerging Excellence" category. The award recognizes our accelerator model, which permanently brings together startups and industry in Central Hesse through 1:1 matching.

The Problem: Startups and industry rarely connect in the region

Outside of the major tech hubs, a strong Mittelstand (SMEs), global market leaders, and excellent universities form the backbone of the German economy. Despite this, startups and regional industry rarely come together efficiently. Startups lack access to machinery, production environments, and test sites. Mid-sized companies and corporates lack structured formats to test external technologies quickly and with low risk. In the end, efforts often stall at pitch events and showcases—real implementation remains rare.

Our Approach: The Two-Stage 1:1 Accelerator

This is precisely where LOVEDIS comes in. Our program operates in Construction, Industry, and Life Sciences. It brings startups and regional industry together on equal footing around concrete challenges defined by our partners.

• Stage 1, Base Accelerator: Together, we refine the challenge, align strategy, and develop a transparent roadmap for the partnership.

• Stage 2, 1:1 Accelerator: Qualified startups are directly matched with an industry partner. This gives startups access to real infrastructure where they can execute a pilot project.

A strong network powers this model: 22 corporate and Mittelstand partners alongside three Central Hessian universities—Justus Liebig University Giessen, Philipps-University Marburg, and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM).

The Results: THE MISSION Construction

What this looks like in practice is demonstrated by our first batch of THE MISSION Construction Accelerator. The key areas of focus are data-driven sustainability, lifecycle management, and the circular economy:

• 14 startups screened and supported across recent cohorts.

• 12 startups matched with 5 corporate partners.

• Pilots lead directly into procurement processes via a Venture Client approach.

Why This Award Means So Much to Us

This award confirms what we work toward every day: regional industrial ecosystems have everything it takes to help shape technological disruption. All that's missing is the bridge. With us, startups get real proof of market traction, and industry gets low-risk access to new technologies.

Want to join the next cohort or come on board as a partner? Get in touch today!