Harnessing The Power of Disruption

With a projected height of 300 meters, the tallest wind turbine in the world is currently under construction in the eastern German region of Lusatia. When finished, it will be the second tallest structure in Germany. This massive turbine is poised to set new standards for efficiency in sustainable energy production. Wind speeds at that height are greater and more consistent, enabling large amounts of energy to be produced more reliably with the same footprint on the land. Supersized turbines can also be integrated into existing wind farms.

Markets Germany 02/25 | © GTAI

 

 

This article was published in issue 2-2025 of the Markets Germany Magazine.  Read more articles of this issue  here

This project is just one of many supported by the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND), headquartered in Leipzig, also in eastern Germany. Its mission is to promote products, business models and technologies with the potential to become breakthrough innovations and bring about transformative social or economic advancements. “We create spaces where innovators can take risks and think radically differently,” says SPRIND Innovation Manager Olav Carlsen.

From laser-driven nuclear fusion and nanorobots for cancer therapy to the development of holodecks, SPRIND supports a wide range of projects. In so doing, it provides internationally active companies, research institutions and start-ups with unique opportunities to establish groundbreaking innovations in the German market.

The selection process

Any organization, whether start-up, established company, university, or research center (or even an individual with a disruptive idea and the ambition to develop it in Germany or the EFTA states of Iceland, Liechten­stein, Norway and Switzerland) can apply for support. The key criteria: The idea must have breakthrough potential, must align with European and humanistic values of freedom, self-­determination and democracy, and must not serve military purposes.

One successful applicant is the German start-up Oliment, which is developing a sustainable alternative to cement. Cement production is a major contributor to climate change, accounting for around eight percent of global CO2 emissions. “Our goal is to establish a CO2-neutral binding agent for concrete applications in construction,” explains Frank Bellmann, founder of Oliment. Instead of limestone, the company uses the greenish mineral olivine, which absorbs rather than releasing carbon dioxide. That eliminates the need for an energy-intensive firing process. SPRIND is supporting Oliment at a critical stage, funding a pilot plant to scale the process from the laboratory to industrial production and advance regulatory approval.

Flexible funding options

SPRIND operates differently from traditional funding institutions. It focuses on projects where high development risks make private investment difficult. “We aim to bridge the gap between world-class research and market viability to bring promising ideas to market,” says Carlsen. SPRIND’s funding model is flexible and streamlined — an advantage over conventional government structures. With an annual budget of up to EUR 250 million, the agency provides financial support through grants, the creation of SPRIND subsidiaries and equity investments. The ultimate goal is to transition funded projects into private-sector financing once they reach market readiness.

Beyond funding, innovators benefit from SPRIND’s extensive network of experts, partners and private investors. The agency also organizes various innovation competitions, including the SPRIND Challenge, which invites companies from across Europe, in collaboration with international partners, to develop solutions to pressing challenges such as deepfake detection or autonomous flight. Applications can be submitted at any time via the form on SPRIND’s website (sprind.org). A panel of experts evaluates each submission through a multi-stage process, with final funding decisions made within approximately twelve weeks.

Germany’s Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND) is driving the development of groundbreaking technologies through flexible financing, expert advice and a supportive ecosystem. It offers innovators a unique opportunity to bring disruptive ideas to the German market.