NUSX and UnternehmerTUM Join Forces to Expand Presence in Munich

NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial hub of the National University of Singapore (NUS), is strengthening its global connections with the launch of NUSX, a new partnership with UnternehmerTUM.

This collaboration aims to bridge the Singapore and Munich innovation ecosystems, providing NUS DeepTech ventures with enhanced access to European partners, investors, and market opportunities, while also opening doors for Munich-based ventures to explore opportunities in Singapore and Asia.

Munich, recognized as one of Europe’s top technology and innovation hubs, holds a prominent position in the Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2026, ranking among the top five in Europe and 11th globally for AI. With its strong focus on research, technology, and venture creation, Munich serves as a strategic gateway for NUSX ventures seeking to tap into partners, capital, and markets across Europe.

The partnership between NUSX and UnternehmerTUM will focus on three key areas: reciprocal outposts, investment, and talent development, with an initial emphasis on biotech, AI, and semiconductors.

A significant aspect of this partnership is the establishment of NUSX’s second global outpost in Munich, located at the Munich Urban Colab, an 11,000-square-meter innovation center co-founded by UnternehmerTUM and the City of Munich. This outpost will serve as a hub for connecting NUS DeepTech ventures with the broader UnternehmerTUM and TUM Venture Labs ecosystem, facilitating access to industry partners, technical expertise, and opportunities to validate technologies in the European market.

In return, TUM Venture Labs, a collaborative initiative of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and UnternehmerTUM, is exploring the possibility of establishing a representative presence at the NUS i³ building in Singapore, where NUSX is headquartered. This reciprocal arrangement aims to provide Munich-based ventures with direct access to Singapore’s innovation ecosystem and broader connections across Asia.

The collaboration between NUS Enterprise and TUM builds upon their longstanding partnership through the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) program. The NOC Munich initiative, established in 2017, has facilitated exchanges between nearly 120 NUS students and over 90 TUM students, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Dr. Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise), expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting its potential to enhance global venture-building networks and create new opportunities for students and startups.

The partnership will also focus on deepening investment links, with NUS engaging in advanced discussions with a Munich-based venture capital firm associated with UnternehmerTUM to join the €102 million NUS VC Programme as its fifth VC partner. This move aims to expand the network of international investors supporting NUS-affiliated ventures and provide founders with stronger connections to European capital.

Furthermore, the collaboration will offer new avenues for NUS students to gain hands-on experience in venture-building in Munich. NOC students will have the opportunity to intern with portfolio companies of the Munich-based VC partner, gaining valuable insights into technology ventures in Europe.

The partnership will also provide selected NUS students with access to UnternehmerTUM programs focused on IP-based venture creation, including Startup Launchpad, Digital Product School, and the UnternehmerTUM Incubator. These initiatives aim to broaden students’ exposure to research commercialization, venture creation, and technology businesses in Europe.

Professor Helmut Schönenberger, CEO of UnternehmerTUM and Vice President of Entrepreneurship at TUM, emphasized the significance of the partnership in connecting two dynamic innovation ecosystems. He highlighted the importance of providing DeepTech ventures with access to research, capital, and industry partners across continents to facilitate their growth on a global scale.

In conclusion, the collaboration between NUS Enterprise and UnternehmerTUM represents a significant step towards fostering innovation and entrepreneurship on an international level. By creating reciprocal outposts, deepening investment links, and nurturing talent development, the partnership aims to support the growth and success of DeepTech ventures from Singapore to Munich and beyond.