At VivaTech 2026 in Paris, France, Siemens announced that European start-ups can now access its leading industrial software through the Siemens for Start-ups Program. Building on the existing global program, Siemens has put together three start-up-specific software collections to make industrial software more accessible for early-stage companies in Europe. These collections are preconfigured for common product development needs and are tailored to start-up budgets and speed while scaling as companies grow.
The largest challenge facing start-ups is the step from lab result to industrial application. While universities and incubators lay the critical groundwork in this regard, they often hit barriers – due, for example, to a lack of reference customers, limited growth capital and still insufficient market integration. At this point, Siemens is playing a key role. As an established industry actor, the company can be a partner in technology transfers at an early stage, enable pilot projects in the real world and provide start-ups with access to industrial applications and networks. Through targeted software and collaboration offerings, Siemens helps close the gap between innovation and scaling and makes the path to the market easier for young companies over the long term.
“Collaborations between industry and start-ups have become a strategic competitive factor. We see ourselves primarily as a partner and accelerator. Start-ups contribute speed while Siemens contributes industrial depth and trusted global customer relationships,” explained Peter Koerte, member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategy Officer.
Access to the Xcelerator Marketplace
Siemens also provides start-ups with growth opportunities through the Siemens Xcelerator Marketplace, giving them early access to an international audience and increasing their visibility from the start. Entry barriers are also significantly reduced since young companies are integrated into an established technology ecosystem in which potential customers are already working. Combined with significantly discounted industrial software collections, this integration enables start-ups to focus on product and market development early on instead of investing valuable time and resources in building up basic tool landscapes.
By using integrated software solutions, companies can accelerate their development processes and bring their products to market readiness faster and more efficiently. The Siemens for Start-ups Program offers digital consistency that seamlessly interconnects design, simulation, manufacturing and lifecycle management.
Latitude, a French space technology company, is using the Siemens for Start-ups offering to develop, simulate and validate its Launcher and its additively manufactured rocket engine, Navier. By leveraging the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, Latitude has been able to advance complex aerospace designs in a virtual environment, helping to reduce development risk and accelerate progress from concept to testing.
“In space, every kilogram of launcher and every engineering hour counts. Siemens Xcelerator, together with the support of Siemens and its partners, allows us to design, simulate and validate our launcher and our Navier engine with speed and precision, without cutting corners, and without waiting until we have the budget of a large prime. That is exactly what an aerospace start-up needs to execute fast without taking unnecessary risks,” said Kevin Monvoisin, Co-founder of Latitude.
More than 7.000 participants to date
The Siemens for Start-ups Program has currently worked with more than 7,000 start-ups to date. Built around three core pillars – Connect, Collaborate and Empower – the program provides start-ups not only with the same industrial-grade technologies trusted by many of the world’s leading manufacturers. But also opens access to markets and real-world industrial collaboration.
Eligibility criteria and further information regarding the Siemens for Start-ups Program and the related application process are available at www.siemens.com/startup-software-collections
