Reciprocal outposts in Singapore and Munich connect ecosystems, deepen venture creation and create transcontinental pathways for talent and startups
Singapore / Munich, 24 September 2026 – NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial heart of the National University of Singapore (NUS), is deepening its global links as NUSX, through a new partnership with UnternehmerTUM, ranked Europe’s leading startup hub for the third consecutive year. The collaboration will connect the Singapore and Munich innovation ecosystems, giving NUS deep tech ventures more direct access to European partners, investors and market opportunities, while opening Singapore and Asia to Munich-based ventures.
Munich is one of Europe’s leading technology and innovation hubs, ranking among Europe’s top five in the Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2026 and 11th globally for AI. Its strengths in research, technology and venture creation make it a strategic base for NUSX ventures looking to access partners, capital and markets across Europe.
The partnership spans three areas: reciprocal outposts, investment, and talent development. At its centre, NUSX will establish its second global outpost in Munich, while TUM Venture Labs, a joint initiative of Technical University of Munich (TUM) and UnternehmerTUM, is exploring a representative office in Singapore focused on venture creation and connecting the two ecosystems. Beyond the outposts, the collaboration will deepen investment ties and create more experiential learning opportunities for NUS students in Munich.
The collaboration builds on NUS Enterprise’s longstanding partnership with TUM through the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme, with NOC Munich established in 2017. Since then, NOC Munich has connected nearly 120 NUS students and more than 90 TUM students through exchanges between Singapore and Munich, with alumni going on to build fast-growing ventures such as Factorem. The new partnership with UnternehmerTUM further deepens these innovation links between Singapore and Munich.
Anchored in this foundation, the partnership advances NUSX’s integrated approach across the venture journey, from talent development and research commercialisation to investment and global market entry. Initial efforts will centre on biotech, AI and semiconductors, drawing on strengths across the Singapore and Munich ecosystems. TUM ranks first in Germany in the subjects of data science and AI, while its School of Life Sciences is home to 10 of the university’s 17 most-cited researchers. These focus areas align with NUSX’s innovation priorities and Singapore’s RIE2030 strategy, which commits S$37 billion over five years to research, innovation and enterprise, including flagship programmes in semiconductors and health.
Connecting the Singapore and Munich ecosystems
NUSX’s Munich outpost will be based at the Munich Urban Colab, an 11,000-square-metre innovation centre jointly established by UnternehmerTUM and the City of Munich. From there, NUSX will connect NUS deep tech ventures to the wider UnternehmerTUM and TUM Venture Labs ecosystem, giving them access to industry partners, technical expertise and opportunities to validate their technologies in Europe. Insights gained from these markets can also strengthen education, research and commercialisation pathways in Singapore, creating a virtuous cycle that benefits startups in Singapore and beyond.
The connection will work both ways. UnternehmerTUM via TUM Venture Labs is exploring a presence at the NUS i³ building in Singapore, where NUSX is based, giving Munich-based teams a direct entry point into Singapore’s innovation ecosystem and connections across Asia.
Deepening investment and venture support
The partnership will also strengthen investment links between the two ecosystems. NUS is in advanced discussions with a Munich-based venture capital (VC) firm closely affiliated with UnternehmerTUM to join the S$150 million NUS VC Programme as its fifth VC partner, expanding the network of global investors supporting NUS-affiliated ventures.
Building venture-capable talent across borders
The collaboration will create two new avenues for NUS students to gain hands-on venture-building experience in Munich. NOC students will have opportunities to intern with portfolio companies of the Munich-based VC partner, gaining direct exposure to building and growing technology ventures in Europe. Selected NUS students will also gain access to UnternehmerTUM programmes focused on IP-based venture creation, including Startup Launchpad, Digital Product School and the UnternehmerTUM Incubator.
These opportunities build on NUS Enterprise’s existing engagement in Munich and broaden students’ exposure to research commercialisation and technology ventures in Europe.
“This collaboration with UnternehmerTUM builds on our longstanding ties with the Technical University of Munich as NUSX deepens its global venture-building network,” said Dr. Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise). “Through reciprocal outposts, deeper investment links, and new opportunities for our students and startups, we are bringing talent, research and capital closer together. This gives founders greater access to the partners, expertise and markets they need to validate, build and scale deep tech ventures from Singapore.”
“With this partnership, we open a direct gateway between two of the world's most dynamic innovation ecosystems,” said Professor Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, CEO, UnternehmerTUM and Vice President, Entrepreneurship, TUM. “Deep tech ventures need more than one home market to grow — they need access to research, capital and industry partners across continents. By connecting Munich and Singapore through reciprocal outposts, we give founders on both sides exactly that: a direct path from an idea to a global venture. This is a natural next step in our long-standing collaboration with NUS, and we look forward to building it together with NUSX.”
About National University of Singapore (NUS)
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education, research and entrepreneurship, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. We have 15 colleges, faculties and schools across three campuses in Singapore, with more than 40,000 students from 100 countries enriching our vibrant and diverse campus community. We have also established around 15 NUS Overseas Colleges entrepreneurial hubs around the world.
Our multidisciplinary and real-world approach to education, research and entrepreneurship enables us to work closely with industry, governments and academia to address crucial and complex issues relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers in our faculties, research centres of excellence, corporate labs and more than 30 university-level research institutes focus on themes that include energy; environmental and urban sustainability; treatment and prevention of diseases; active ageing; advanced materials; risk management and resilience of financial systems; Asian studies; and Smart Nation capabilities such as artificial intelligence, data science, operations research and cybersecurity.
For more information on NUS, please visit nus.edu.sg.
About NUSX
NUSX is the entrepreneurial heart of the National University of Singapore (NUS), where breakthroughs become advantage. As NUS’ integrated venture-building and research commercialisation platform, NUSX forges entrepreneurial talent, creates market-ready opportunities in the field and extends its reach through global outposts. Together, these capabilities help turn discoveries into ventures and connect them to the industry, capital and markets needed to scale.
Since its establishment as NUS Enterprise in 2001, NUSX has nurtured 10 unicorns, more than 3,000 startups and 5,500 students. Our ambition is to build ventures that create lasting economic and societal impact, improving the lives of one billion people by 2035.
For more information on NUSX, please visit nusx.edu.sg.
Personal Contact
UnternehmerTUM – Europe’s leading Center for Innovation and Business Creation
UnternehmerTUM is a unique platform for the development of innovations. UnternehmerTUM actively identifies innovative technologies and initiates new business through the systematic networking of talents, technologies, capital and customers. UnternehmerTUM offers founders and start-ups a complete service from the initial idea to IPO. A team of over 500 experienced entrepreneurs, including scientists and investors, supports start-ups with business creation, market entry and financing – also with venture capital. For established companies, a team of experienced consultants offers access to the UnternehmerTUM ecosystem. UnternehmerTUM has many years of expertise in the development of innovation strategies and the implementation of technology-driven business ideas. Founded in 2002 by the entrepreneur Susanne Klatten, the non-profit-oriented UnternehmerTUM GmbH is the leading center for innovation and business creation in Europe with more than 120 high-growth technology start-ups every year - including Celonis, Konux and Isar Aerospace.