Heike Freund’s Post

The world needs fusion energy! ✨ Tomorrow, I’ll be speaking at FUSION24 in London, discussing the critical role of supply chain and ecosystem development on the pathway to a commercial fusion power plant. Join me as we explore the future of fusion energy and its breakthrough potential. Learn more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/gADa_NQm

🚀 Excited to share that Marvel Fusion has been selected to join the Technology Pioneers 2024 Cohort! The World Economic Forum selects 100 companies globally each year, and we are thrilled to be one of the 7 German companies, with 4 based in Munich! This highlights Munich’s vibrant and strong tech ecosystem. 🌟 Fusion Energy will transform the future. Its development enhances energy security, drives economic growth through technological innovation, and reduces long-term energy costs. Being part of the #TechPioneers24 of the World Economic Forum is an incredible honor and a fantastic opportunity to bolster support for fusion energy. If you'd like to read more about this year’s cohort and cutting-edge tech start-ups, continue here: wef.ch/techpioneers24 💡 #WEF #FusionEnergy #TechPioneers2024 #MunichTech

Danke, liebe Verena Pausder, für diesen tollen Gastbeitrag in der WirtschaftsWoche! ✨ Wir können viel von Frankreich 🇫🇷 lernen: „Präsident Emmanuel Macron hat mit seiner „France 2030“ Strategie deutlich gemacht, dass Start-ups ein essenzieller Bestandteil der wirtschaftlichen Transformation sind. Die Strategie baut auf der Erkenntnis, dass von Start-ups getriebene Innovationen entscheidend sind, um die Wirtschaft zu beschleunigen, zu erneuern und den zukünftigen Wohlstand zu sichern.“ ➡️Eine klare Vision muss der Startpunkt jeder Strategie und Transformation sein. Nur mit einem klaren Zielbild kann der Weg dorthin abgeleitet und beschrieben werden. „Eine der größten Herausforderungen für Start-ups ist der Zugang zu Kapital. In Frankreich hat sich in den letzten Jahren eine beeindruckende Dynamik entwickelt. 2023 wurden dort pro Kopf 107 Euro in Start-ups investiert, während es in Deutschland nur rund 85 Euro waren. Frankreichs Erfolg in diesem Bereich ist auch dem „Plan Tibi“ zu verdanken, der erfolgreich Versicherungen und andere Kapitalsammelstellen mobilisiert hat, um in Venture Capital-Fonds zu investieren. Das führte in Frankreich zu Investitionen von sechs Milliarden Euro in Start-ups und Innovationen.“ ➡️Der „Plan Tibi“ ist eine tolles Beispiel, wie Versicherungen und Kapitalsammelstellen in das Start-Up Ökosystem eingebunden werden und damit auch größere Kapitalrunden gestemmt werden können. Hiervon müssen wir in Deutschland lernen, damit die Start-Ups hier nicht nur entstehen sondern auch wachsen können!   „Ohne mehr Investitionen in Innovationen verliert Europa nicht nur technologisch den Anschluss an die USA und China, wir verbauen uns auch unsere wirtschaftlichen Wachstumsperspektiven und verlieren unsere (digitale) Souveränität. Ein dynamischer Kapitalmarkt und attraktive Exit-Kanäle sind notwendig, um dauerhaft ein starker Start-up-Standort zu bleiben. Wenn Europa den regulatorischen Aufwand verringert und die Kapitalmarktunion vorantreibt, wird die EU als Finanzplatz attraktiver.“ ➡️Wir sollten in Deutschland mutiger mit Deep Tech Innovationen umgehen und groß denken. Dann entstehen die nächsten Deep Tech Champions in Deutschland! Wir haben die idealen Vorraussetzungen dafür!

🌟 It’s a Wrap! 🌟   Last week, I had the opportunity to discuss Marvel Fusion and the boundless potential of fusion energy at this year's OMR festival!   In discussion with Robert Habeck, Germany’s federal minister for economics and climate, he acknowledged fusion energy as a CO2-free, safe, and dependable energy source. I underscored the steps needed to propel this technology to market and foster the emergence of more deep tech champions, 'Made in Germany’. Watch my part (in German) here: https://lnkd.in/dgRPjSMy   In the following panel discussion, led by Florian Rinke and joined by Jan Henrik Leisse from eleQtron GmbH, we discussed how to build more deep tech champions in Germany. In essence, our conversation highlighted three imperatives:   1) Closing the Funding Gap: Despite the global investment of 6 billion USD in private fusion companies, less than 2% has been directed toward EU-based enterprises. This disparity underscores the urgent need for larger funding pools in Germany, investors with a deep tech mindset, and the utilization of insurance and pension funds to go into venture capital.   2) Adopting an Innovation-Friendly Regulatory Approach: While the US and UK establish clear regulatory frameworks for fusion power plants, distinct from those for fission, Germany still lacks definitive regulatory certainty. We must establish an environment that fosters innovation and provides the necessary clarity for companies.   3) Fostering Strong Partnerships: Challenges as monumental as fusion energy demand collaboration. We must forge robust partnerships spanning academia, startups, corporations, and governmental entities. Additionally, we must redefine the state's role, e.g., as an anchor customer for emerging technologies.   🚀 I’m convinced Germany possesses all the requisite ingredients to build the next deep tech champions. Let's surmount the present challenges and build the next wave of deep tech champions with our wealth of talent and strong industrial ecosystem – proudly 'Made in Germany'.   Thanks, Philipp Westermeyer, Florian Rinke, and the OMR team, for having me!

Today, I’ll be speaking at the 53rd St. Gallen Symposium on “Confronting Scarcity”. Topic of my panel will be, how we can overcome the funding gap in Europe that currently aggravates European scale-ups and how we can leverage existing funds and structures to become an innovation powerhouse again. Catch my panel with Julian Kölbel and Fridtjof Detzner Detzner of Planet A Ventures at 4:30 pm. The St. Gallen Symposium is the world's longest lasting and most important platform for intergenerational dialogue and aims to promote long-term and responsible leadership for the next generation. More on the symposium at https://symposium.org Hashtags: #53SGS #stgallensymposium #confrontingscarcity #leaderoftomorrow

I am excited to join the extended board of the German Startup-Verband! Teaming up with some of the brightest minds in the German ecosystem, we're on a mission to shape the startup landscape and make Germany even more startup-friendly ✨ I am particularly excited to contribute my experience from the deep tech ecosystem and my journey with building Marvel Fusion. I strongly believe that Germany possesses all the ingredients needed to nurture and propel the next generation of deep tech champions 🚀 Thanks for your trust, Verena Pausder! I am looking forward to working with you and the rest of the team on this exciting journey! Here's to the future of German entrepreneurship!💡 #StartupEcosystem #DeepTech

Yesterday, I had the great honor of discussing Europe’s journey towards building the first fusion power plant with Ursula von der Leyen, Dr. Markus Söder, and Markus Blume. We have all the necessary resources for laser fusion right here in Europe, particularly in Bavaria, and we are fully committed to making the world’s first fusion power plant a reality. Our conversation focused on strategies for forging international and public-private partnerships, restructuring EU funding programs, and establishing regulatory frameworks tailored to fusion technology. I was particularly pleased with the Commission President’s dedication to fusion energy and her announcement of the formation of an EU fusion alliance. Special thanks to Dr. Markus Söder and Markus Blume for once again bringing fusion to the forefront of the political stage and their backing from day one.   Photo: ©StMWK/Axel König

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💡 “For a new energy system collaboration is key”.   🌍 Discussing the Future of Energy Generation and Consumption at the Münchner Management Kolloquium 2024 was very insightful. Moderated by Gunther Friedl, I shared the stage with Bernhard Osburg, CEO of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG, Jochen Eickholt, CEO of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A, and Thorsten Kramer, CEO of LEAG.   🏭 The urgency of transitioning to a sustainable energy system requires collective action. Talking to heavy industry and the providers of tomorrows clean energy encouraged me that we are on a good track to a sustainable future regarding energy, economy and innovation.   🫱🏽🫲🏻No single solution or player can bear the responsibility of transformation alone; everybody still needs to contribute. By pooling our resources and expertise, we can create innovative solutions that illuminate and accelerate the path to decarbonization. This approach not only expands the solution space but also spreads the burden of necessary innovation across multiple shoulders, enabling a more dynamic and resilient future.   💡 Investing heavily goes hand in hand with binding (regulatory) frameworks in place: Clarity on expectations fosters bold action and facilitates fruitful partnerships, paving the way for transformative innovation. By sharing the responsibility across multiple stakeholders, we cultivate a more dynamic and resilient ecosystem poised for sustainable growth. 🚀 The latter is a matter of heart to me: Germany is the land of physics and engineering; we have some of the best research institutes, like the Technical University of Munich, and the brightest minds. It's time to embrace our heritage of excellence and seize the opportunities before us with conviction. What was your highlight from the MMK? Thanks for the great event Dr. Ricarda Engelmeier Franziska Deecke