Maschinenraum cooperates with EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht

EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht (EBS), one of the leading private business universities in Germany, becomes a cooperation partner of the shared innovation ecosystem Maschinenraum.

EBS trains talented students and professionals to become highly qualified and critically reflective experts, managers and entrepreneurs so that they can actively take on leadership roles in an environment characterised by uncertainty and change. The university is characterised by research and teaching with a high level of application, the optimal interplay of science and practice, the close academic interlocking of economic and legal topics, and a comprehensive network of international partner universities, companies and alumni.

The Maschinenraum Alliance, consisting of around 35 Mittelstand and family-owned companies as well as university partners and other innovators, works together on the digital transformation of German Mittelstand. The focus of the cooperation with EBS is the exchange between scientific theory and entrepreneurial practice as well as the identification of career paths in Mittelstand for students and alumni. The aim is to increase the future viability of Mittelstand as the backbone of the German economy.

Sustainable connections between family entrepreneurs and students

"Family businesses play an essential role for EBS – which is why we founded the Entrepreneurship & Family Firm Institute (EFFI) this year. A triad of practice, research and teaching brings together students, academics and practitioners from companies. The heart of the institute is the 'Family Business Club', which aims to get our students excited about the topic of family businesses. To this end, we invite, among others, exciting personalities who give us insights into everyday business life and regularly implement joint practical projects. The cooperation with Maschinenraum offers us a great opportunity to make our research and learning activities even more practically relevant and to cooperate with exciting companies. At the same time, we want to use our research results and projects to support Maschinenraum and its members in current challenges and future transformations," says Institute Director Prof. Dr. Matthias Waldkirch.

Students should thus be shown the diversity and possibilities of family businesses – both as successor or as manager and employee.

An exciting joint project is already taking place in cooperation with the Maschinenraum member company Viessmann: As part of a field project, EBS Master's students are developing and presenting market analyses and strategic plans for two Viessmann subsidiaries. Another promising collaboration will take place at the beginning of next year: Christian Gref, Director Corporate Innovation Lab at Maschinenraum member company K.D. Feddersen, will give a guest lecture and discuss the innovative power and future viability of the plastics industry with students.

"Sustainable connections between family entrepreneurs and students are a great opportunity to overcome one of the biggest challenges in digital transformation – namely the lack of access to top talent. That's why I'm delighted that we've been able to partner with EBS to create even more visibility for the many exciting family businesses in our ecosystem," says Tobias Rappers, Managing Director of Maschinenraum.

About Maschinenraum:

Maschinenraum, a shared innovation ecosystem from Mittelstand for Mittelstand, unites German SMEs and family businesses to boldly shape the future. Already around 35 family businesses – including Viessmann, Fiege Logistik, Dussmann Service and Paracelsus Kliniken – have joined Maschinenraum to jointly drive the digital and sustainable transformation of Mittelstand.

About EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht:

EBS University is one of the leading private business universities in Germany. Around 2,200 students and doctoral candidates are currently studying and researching at the Wiesbaden and Oestrich-Winkel campuses. EBS Business School, the oldest private business school in Germany, has been educating leaders with an international perspective since 1971. EBS Law School, the youngest law school in Germany, has been offering a fully-fledged, classical law degree programme since 2011, with the final goal of a state examination and business law focus areas as well as an integrated Master in Business (M.A.). With its continuing education programme at the EBS Executive School, the university supports specialists and managers from the business world. Since July 2016, EBS University has been part of the non-profit foundation SRH, a leading provider of education and healthcare.