SPRIND HOFFEST 2.0

This fall, the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation turns six. SPRIND just celebrated this milestone in the very place where so much of what happens here begins: in Leipzig's Lagerhofstraße, at the second Hoffest on September 11, 2025.

After a welcome by Commercial Director Berit Dannenberg, Clemens Schülke, Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Digitalization of the City of Leipzig, and Dr. Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz, the new Head of Department at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, also addressed the approximately 230 guests at the courtyard festival. Both emphasized the special role of SPRIND, the good cooperation, and that they looked forward to the future with curiosity and anticipation.

Afterwards, founding director Rafael Laguna de la Vera updated the audience on the latest developments at SPRIND. Challenge Officer Jano Costard looked back on 13 challenges and sparks – in all phases from just started to successfully completed. Meanwhile, a challenge team from Funken Fully Autonomous Flight 2.0 demonstrated the innovation it had developed in the challenge and impressively launched its drone into the Leipzig sky. In numerous short presentations, SPRIND innovation managers also presented potential breakthrough innovations in areas such as energy and the environment, life sciences, artificial intelligence, and society.

At the same time, interested visitors were able to visit an exhibition of selected SPRIND projects in the offices and talk to the founders on site about their inventions and experiences. The program was far from over after the official program. The evening ended with good music and even better conversations – proving once again that pessimism is a waste of time.