The Silicon Valley spirit becomes a competitive advantage for German companies
Mannheim/Darmstadt, March 12, 2026 -
Silicon Valley Europe / DHBW Mannheim -- Digital Media Program
The European matchmaking platform Silicon Valley Europe and the Digital Media – Media Management and Communication (MMK) program at the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) Mannheim are entering into a strategic partnership. Under the leadership of entrepreneur Prof. Dr. Gerald Lembke, today Program Director and Head of the Steinbeis Transfer Center for Digital Media and Communication at DHBW Mannheim, the innovative program “The Valley Mindset Program – Think Like the Valley. Act Like a Doer.” is being created. The goal is to bring the innovative spirit from Silicon Valley to Europe for German companies and translate it into tangible business results.
The Problem: Digital Transformation Fails Not Due to Technology – But Due to Implementation
According to recent studies, 81 percent of German executives want to generate more revenue with artificial intelligence, yet only 25 percent know how to achieve this goal. In 79 percent of companies, basic AI skills are lacking, and the measurable EBIT contribution from AI initiatives is close to zero for 83 percent of firms. The cause is not a technology problem – it is an implementation problem.
"Companies buy tools, but they don’t build craftsmen. That’s exactly what we’re changing now—together with Silicon Valley Europe,” explains Prof. Dr. Gerald Lembke.
The solution: A joint program for doers, not theorists
The new collaboration combines two complementary strengths: Silicon Valley Europe brings together a Europe-wide matchmaking platform for digital transformation, uniting a network of IT providers, users, startups, and SMEs that focuses on real-world practice, honest dialogue, and solutions that drive progress. The DHBW Mannheim, with its Digital Media/MMK degree program, provides the academic foundation, a strong theory-to-practice transfer, and research and implementation expertise in digital marketing, sales, e-commerce, and AI applications.
The result is a program that doesn’t just impress companies with glossy presentations but advances them with concrete projects—sometimes using trial-and-error methods, but always delivering practical solutions.
What the program means for companies in concrete terms
The collaboration between Silicon Valley Europe and DHBW Mannheim offers companies a unique package of benefits that goes far beyond traditional university partnerships. At its core is an approach designed not for elite academia but deliberately on equal footing with entrepreneurs and their employees.
Prof. Lembke and his team personally guide entrepreneurs and students. As an experienced project coach, he supports companies in designing and implementing digital media projects and AI integrations in everyday operations—from the initial idea to implementation. His approach is based on trial and error: test quickly, learn, adapt, and implement. He consistently thinks in economic terms and solves concrete problems in the use of digital media and AI in companies faster than most service providers—and with significantly lower financial effort.
Massive theory-practice transfer every semester. Students in the Digital Media/MMK degree program work on real-world projects from business practice every semester. The spectrum ranges from social media strategies and AI chatbot development to corporate design overhauls and SEO optimization, as well as creating landing pages, podcast productions, social media campaigns, and AI automations. Companies in this program gain direct access to these project capacities.
Learn to use AI tools smartly and effectively. Students are not only trained in conceptual design but also learn how to implement digital projects efficiently using the latest AI tools. This expertise is directly applied to company projects.
Close ties to research—practical solutions for your business. Companies in the program benefit directly from Prof. Lembke’s research on digital media in marketing, sales, and e-commerce. The research findings are not confined to academic journals but are translated into practical solutions that work in day-to-day business operations.
The Steinbeis Transfer Center as a sustainable implementation platform. The Steinbeis Transfer Center for Digital Media and Communication, headed by Prof. Lembke, ensures that project results do not end up gathering dust in a drawer. A professional team supports the transfer and integration of the developed solutions into business practice — sustainably and in the long term.
Access to the Silicon Valley Europe network. Participating companies simultaneously gain access to Silicon Valley Europe’s Europe-wide network of IT providers, users, and start-ups. The platform’s matchmaking brings together the people who fit together professionally, personally, and strategically. In addition, Silicon Valley Europe’s CEO University offers high-quality training formats — including the format "Digital Leadership and Digital Transformations" with Prof. Dr. Gerald Lembke as a lecturer.
Events, matchmaking, and community. The combination of Silicon Valley Europe’s real and virtual events with the practical projects of DHBW Mannheim creates an ecosystem in which companies not only learn but can also take direct action, build contacts, and realize business opportunities.
The advantages at a glance
Advantage for companies
Description
Personal project support
Prof. Lembke supports companies individually in digital projects — practically, solution-oriented, and on equal terms
Real-world practical projects
Each semester, students work on concrete company assignments in marketing, sales, e-commerce and communications
AI implementation expertise
Students and the transfer centre implement projects using cutting-edge AI tools – not just concepts, but ready-made solutions
Research transfer
Direct access to current research in digital media, marketing and AI – translated into practical business solutions
Sustainable implementation
The Steinbeis Transfer Centre ensures the long-term integration of results into company practice
European network
Access to the Silicon-Valley-Europe ecosystem with IT providers, start-ups and SMEs from across Europe
CEO University
High-calibre continuing education formats on digital leadership, AI and transformation
Matchmaking
Targeted matching of companies, experts and solution providers via the SVE platform
Trial-and-error culture
Fast testing, learning and adapting instead of lengthy planning processes
No ivory tower mentality
Business-oriented mindset that solves problems instead of producing theories
Feedback on the cooperation
"Silicon Valley Europe" stands for real-world practice, honest dialogue and solutions that make a difference. With Prof. Lembke and DHBW Mannheim, we have found a partner that shares this spirit -- and combines it with academic excellence and an impressive network of practical projects.
Michael Mattis, Founder and CEO Silicon Valley Europe
"If you want to achieve something you haven’t achieved yet, you need to do something you’ve never done before. That’s exactly what we’re doing with this program: We’re bringing the implementation mindset of Silicon Valley to German companies -- not as a buzzword, but as a concrete action program with measurable results."
Prof. Dr. Gerald Lembke, Program Director Digital Media/MMK, DHBW Mannheim
About the partners
Silicon Valley Europe is a European initiative by AMC MEDIA NETWORK GmbH & Co. KG based in Darmstadt. As a Europe-wide matchmaking platform for digital transformation, it connects IT providers, users, startups, SMEs and enterprises across national and industry borders. The company has been established in the IT industry for over 20 years and is known as the organizer of the DIGITAL FUTREcongress and the dikomm - Zukunft digitale Kommune. The initiative also includes the CEO University, a digital training platform for executives. Further information: silicon-valley-europe.com
The Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) Mannheim offers the Digital Media – Media Management and Communication (MMK) dual bachelor's degree program, which trains academically qualified digital and media professionals. In cooperation with around 2,000 dual partners, DHBW Mannheim combines theory phases on campus with practical phases in companies. The degree program, led by Prof. Dr. Gerald Lembke, is characterized by intensive theory-practice transfer with numerous real company projects. Further information: mannheim.dhbw.de/studium/wirtschaft/medien/digitale-medien/schwerpunkt-mmk
The Steinbeis Transfer Center for Digital Media and Communication, led by Prof. Dr. Gerald Lembke, focuses on the digital transformation of SMEs. It develops customized strategies and projects for digital media in corporate communication and marketing and supports sustainable implementation through organizational development, personnel development and corporate culture. Further information: https://marketingtransfer.de/
Contact for companies and media
Companies interested in participating in the program or seeking further information should contact:
Prof. Dr. Gerald Lembke Head of the Digital Media / Media Management and Communication program DHBW Mannheim Coblitzallee 1-9, 68163 Mannheim E-mail: gerald.lembke@dhbw.de Phone: +49 621 4105-1304
Silicon Valley Europe ℅ AMC MEDIA NETWORK GmbH & Co. KG Otto-Hesse-Str. 19, 64293 Darmstadt E-mail: office@silicon-valley-europe.com Phone: +49 (0) 6151 -- 957577 -0
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