Following JLR’s launch of the ‘Innovative incubator’ project in the US, German carmaker BMW has taken steps to tap into innovative start-ups for urban mobility solutions. Armed with venture capital company BMW I Ventures, the German carmaker has launched the BMW Start-up Garage, with an aim to harness the potential of start-ups developing innovative solutions for urban mobility.

BMW has also joined forces with the Centre for Innovation and Business Creation at Munich’s Technical University, to set up the ‘TEchFounders’ Accelerator Programme for technology start-ups. The Accelerator Programme introduces BMW to innovative technologies, products and services at a very early stage, and will give the carmaker the option of working with the start-up teams for further development.

The BMW Start-up Garage will allow for swift and flexible collaborative projects and will also explore more start-ups and integrate them rapidly. Any interested start-up can apply to the BMW Start-up Garage online, which will select companies after close consultation with the innovation management team and the relevant departments of BMW.

The selected start-ups will then be put through a special programme spanning several months, with the main aim of creating a working prototype relevant to the German carmaker. The start-ups will also get a chance to built their own network within the company and develop business plans.

The scheme is not restricted only to the automotive sector but also spans to technologies that can be transferred to automotive engineering applications.