Innovation meets transformation

When challenges become potentials

© Mediaserver Hamburg

Anyone who seriously wants to live sustainability cannot avoid the topics of innovation and start-ups. Innovations can catalyse development and progress – be it in the areas of deep tech, AI, blockchain, robotics or mobility. As early as 2008, the “InnovationsAllianz Hamburg” was founded in Hamburg, which focuses on people with the vision “Together for a liveable city with innovations” and provides innovative solutions for important social challenges by focusing on Hamburg’s future topics. Furthermore, our city was named an “Innovation Leader” by the European Commission in 2016. In addition, a “Regional Innovation Strategy” for health, climate and energy, mobility, data science and digitalisation, material sciences and new materials was developed in 2018. In the meantime – and we are a little proud of this – Hamburg is the smartest city in Germany according to the digital association Bitkom.

© Mediaserver Hamburg / Ingo Boelter

A smart port

The Port of Hamburg is an important hub for sustainability. At first glance, you might think that Hamburg’s best-known industry has nothing whatsoever to do with sustainability. But if you think around a corner, you will realise that between high cranes and large containers, this is also where the greatest potential for development and innovation lies dormant: the Port of Hamburg is considered the centre of transformation. Our plan is to develop the Port of Hamburg into the centre of a sustainable and green hydrogen economy in Europe and to play a major pioneering role here.
© Mediaserver Hamburg / Christian Brandes

Startup City Hamburg – where innovation meets business

Hamburg has always been a place for people who dare to try new things—long before the word startup became a buzzword. Many inventions we take for granted today originated right here: from chip cards and water wings to adhesive tape, band‑aids, baby pacifiers, sparklers, and even dynamite.

That spirit of invention still defines the city. It makes Hamburg a powerful hub for innovative entrepreneurship and a place where ideas can quickly turn into reality. A tightly connected ecosystem of research institutions, businesses, and creative minds helps founders push their projects forward and gain visibility in Hamburg’s thriving startup scene.

Startup City Hamburg delivers orientation, insights & connections

Startup City Hamburg provides a comprehensive overview of the local startup landscape. Whether you’re exploring your first business idea or already scaling a company, the platform keeps you up to date with what’s happening in the ecosystem and highlights the most relevant events for founders and innovators.

It also bundles key information on funding opportunities, showcases support programs for startups and scaleups, and offers an investor‑matching tool tailored to your industry, stage, and capital needs. On top of that, you’ll find insights into coworking spaces, connections to ecosystem players, and a steady stream of news and event highlights.

Beyond the platform itself, Startup City Hamburg offers guidance from experienced startup advisors. In personal sessions, they help founders navigate the wide range of support options, connect them with the right contacts, and provide practical direction. This makes Startup City Hamburg a reliable compass within the city’s diverse startup ecosystem—helping founders access knowledge, networks, and resources even faster.

Learn more here: Startup City Hamburg

Sustainable experience

We do not see sustainability as a trend or something that is “in” at the moment. Sustainability is a process for us and our city. It is a path that we have chosen and that we pursue stringently. Many of our service providers see it the same way.

Hamburg offers you ideal sustainable solutions for your event. You will also find equally exciting solutions in the tourism sector. Hamburg Tourismus GmbH has drawn up a wonderful guideline for this, which makes it possible to experience Hamburg sustainably in the private sector as well – from fair shopping and sustainable accommodation to time out in the countryside.