Youth-led initiatives creating impact in the Rhine-Neckar region and beyond. Each one is designed and run by Shapers.
A student-led initiative bridging academic life and the biotech startup world — connecting life-science, business, AI, and engineering students with real startups through curated events and a hands-on venture program.
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Equipping Baden-Württemberg's small and mid-sized companies with practical AI skills to stay competitive — powered by peer-to-peer learning, where local businesses share concrete use cases with others their size.
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Direct dialogue between young leaders and security experts — through interactive online sessions on transatlantic and cybersecurity, and side events at the Munich Security Conference.
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Have an idea for Heidelberg or the Rhine-Neckar region? As a Shaper you get a team, partners and the Global Shapers network behind it.
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The Heidelberg Biotech Simulator bridges the gap between academic life and the biotech startup world. It connects students in molecular biology, business, data science, chemistry, and engineering with real biotech startups — giving them practical exposure, mentorship, and the chance to contribute meaningfully before they even graduate.
The initiative runs two core programs: a series of Events & Experiences (company visits, lab tours, expert webinars, and networking), and a flagship Venture Program that matches students with startups based on their skills and interests to work on real projects. Learn more at biotechsimulator.com.
Baden-Württemberg's economic strength rests on its Mittelstand — the small and mid-sized companies that power the region's industry, exports, and jobs. As AI reshapes how businesses operate, many of these companies lack the time, expertise, or clear entry points to adopt the tools that could keep them competitive. AI x Mittelstand closes that gap.
Through hands-on workshops and practical training, we help SMEs across the region understand and apply everyday AI tools — from automating routine tasks to improving customer service, marketing, and production. The goal is simple: make AI accessible and useful for companies that don't have a dedicated data-science team.
At the heart of the project is peer-to-peer learning. Rather than lecturing from the outside, we invite companies that have already implemented concrete AI use cases to share what they built, what worked, and what they learned — with other businesses of a similar size and sector. This "Mittelstand teaching Mittelstand" approach builds trust, lowers the barrier to entry, and keeps the region's know-how circulating locally.
Global Shapers and young professionals need access to real security dialogue to build expertise and drive local impact. Young Security Leaders creates direct spaces for dialogue between young leaders and security experts, making security topics accessible and bringing youth viewpoints into decision-making spaces.
Since April 2024, the project has run an interactive online security series, since expanded to cybersecurity, alongside side events at the Munich Security Conference. Participants build knowledge, confidence and networks so they can actively join global security debates, and gain a platform to articulate youth perspectives ahead of the conference.
Around 200 participants mobilized through our presence and events at the Munich Security Conference, 20–30 active participants in each online session, and 1,000+ people reached through social media campaigns.
Run together with the Global Shapers Munich Hub and Washington DC Hub, with the Lviv Hub joining the first session. Learn more on the World Economic Forum project page.