TUM ranks among the top European universities for start-ups!
TUM ranks 4th among very large universities for the number of start-ups founded by researchers (38 in 2025), trailing only the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and the University of Cambridge. With 235 start-ups founded by students and alumni, TUM ranks 8th overall—and is the only very large German university in Europe’s top 20.
TUM stands out due to its strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, which combines excellent research, industry collaboration, and targeted support programs for founders (such as UnternehmerTUM).
A key factor in TUM’s high ranking is the large number of successful companies founded by its students, researchers, and alumni. Many start-ups have grown into internationally active businesses, contributing to economic growth and technological advancement.
“Over the past few years, we have implemented numerous initiatives at TUM specifically designed to strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit in our university’s research and teaching,” says TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann.
We are very proud of our students, alumni, and researchers!
