The network

Baden-Württemberg: Connected e.V., or bwcon for short, is the top business initiative promoting Baden-Württemberg as a high-tech location. As one of the most successful European technology networks, bwcon connects more than 480 companies and research institutes. Currently more than 4,600 experts are benefiting from systematic networking via the bwcon hub. The added value generated by bwcon is to be found in the possibilities offered by new cooperation projects and connections.

Main activities

With its fields of activity bwcon: ICT network, bwcon: creative and bwcon: Health Care, bwcon is creating a base for the cross-sectoral usage of technologies and an interdisciplinary cooperation which is unique in Baden-Württemberg.

The network promotes young and growing companies via the bwcon: CyberOne High-tech Award and the extensive counselling and coaching programme Coach&Connect plus+ in the Network for Business Excellence. This includes an extensive range of counselling and coaching, events and workshops.

The technological focus

With its fields of activity bwcon: ICT network, bwcon: creative and bwcon: Health Care, bwcon is creating a base for the cross-sectoral usage of technologies and an interdisciplinary cooperation which is unique in Baden-Württemberg. 

The network promotes young and growing companies via the bwcon: CyberOne High-tech Award and the extensive counselling and coaching programme Coach&Connect plus+ in the Network for Business Excellence. This includes an extensive range of counselling and coaching, events and workshops. 

The network's bwcon: Coaching group consists of top-level entrepreneurs and top-notch managers who offer the knowledge gained in the course of their successful careers to young and medium-sized companies. These 26 active or former executives and managers in the high-tech sector possess a combination of experience and know-how which is of great value for young and medium-sized companies. Their services focus on the evaluation of business concepts, project-related coaching, support in the acquisition of funding and temporary management functions.

Highlights

The bwcon: CyberOne High-tech Award is the business sector's most important technology award in Baden-Württemberg. bwcon awards this trophy to trend-setting business concepts of all high-tech sectors, such as industrial technologies, systems and applications in the fields of the information technologies, telecommunications, media, medical technologies, environmental and energy technologies and life sciences/biotechnologies. CyberOne offers the unique opportunity of having one's business concepts checked by experienced business experts, venture capitalists and scientific professionals. The winners receive prizes amounting to 35,000 euros and a year's mentoring by an experienced manager. To date, more than 200 million euros of venture capital have been mobilised by the CyberOne award. With its annual award, bwcon reaches young companies, the innovative business concepts of which give impulses and set new standards. The award ceremony is a summit of over 500 representatives from business, science and politics.