Techniker Krankenkasse intensifies start-up support
With almost 11 million members, the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is the largest German statutory health insurance company (GKV). From the time it was founded in 1884 until the health reform in 1996, it was the health insurance company for technical professions and thus had its finger on the pulse for innovations and new technologies. In 1996, TK was one of the first GKVs to go online. At the Regensburg location, TK found its way to the university campus early on and leased an office in BioParkI as early as 1999. In 2017 it moved into its new premises in BioPark III and from here in the two technology and start-up centers of the City of Regensburg, BioPark and TechBase, supports start-up teams and start-up companies in their implementation from the innovative idea to the application in healthcare. "Especially here, the start-ups often lack the right contact person for the question of how a health insurance company can support them in this phase”, explained BioPark Managing Director Dr. Thomas Diefenthal. Furthermore, the TK is also an important contact for the start of self-employment. Founders not only have to insure themselves, but also take the first steps towards social security as an employer. In recent years, TK, as a partner of the BioPark, has set up a joint company health management system (BGM) at the site and recently helped to implement the campus trail, a 4.5 km long fitness route from the BioPark to the university campus.
Especially in the age of digitization and rapid technological development, new and innovative offers can help to improve healthcare. But how do you succeed in accessing the German healthcare system? With first measures such as the TK InnovationsPortal, the TK Accelerator or the Health-i Award, the Techniker Krankenkasse has tracked down and promoted the best talents in the field of health and health management throughout Germany. "When it comes to the call for applications, we are clearly in competition with other start-up events," explained Michael Reinhold, Head of "Die Techniker Regensburg". "In recent years, it has also proven useful to expand the network at the regional start-up events on-site and to approach interesting founders directly," added Reinhold. TK has been a long-term partner at the Start-Up Factory in Regensburg. With this experience, TK is now expanding its network throughout Bavaria. Michael Reinhold is now responsible for start-up support throughout Bavaria and can draw on the existing Bavarian networks of BioPark and TechBase.
