Black Lion Business Prize 2025: Focus on craftsmanship!

Black Lion Business Prize 2025: Focus on craftsmanship!

In 2025, the Black Lion Business Prize will be awarded for the fifth time. This prize aims to make the economic appeal of the Baden-Württemberg economy visible. This year, for the first time, a new, changing industry category will be introduced that focuses on crafts. Loud Stuttgart News Herbert Dachs, CEO of Medienholding Süd, emphasizes the essential role of crafts for the regional economy.

When the Black Lion is awarded, registered craft businesses are recognized that impress with special achievements, creative offerings or a sustainable focus. There are a total of six categories in which companies are honored:

• Innovation: Unternehmen, die mit neuen Produkten, Dienstleistungen oder Prozessen aufwarten.
• Gründung: Junge Unternehmen und Start-ups, die in den letzten fünf Jahren gegründet wurden.
• Nachhaltigkeit: Firmen, die ökologische, ökonomische und soziale Verantwortung miteinander verknüpfen.
• Wohnen: Unternehmen und Kommunen mit innovativen Konzepten zur Bekämpfung des Wohnraummangels.
• Soziales Engagement (Publikumspreis): Firmen, die durch ihr gesellschaftliches Engagement auffallen, gewählt durch ein Online-Voting der Leser.

Application deadline and award ceremony

Applications for the Black Lion Business Prize are possible until August 15, 2025. Applications can be made via the website www.schwarzerloewe-bw.de be submitted. The participants are pre-selected in cooperation with the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) Stuttgart, followed by an evaluation by an independent jury.

Three winners will be awarded from each category, with the exception of the Audience Prize, the winner of which will be determined through online voting. The celebratory award ceremony will take place on November 19, 2025 in the Roman fort in Stuttgart. The award is becoming increasingly popular: more than 150 companies applied last year and the trend is increasing, they said Stuttgart News.

LOEWE program as support

To promote entrepreneurial innovation, the LOEWE funding line 3, initiated by the state government of Hesse, offers important support. The LOEWE funding line, which stands for “State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence”, focuses on research and development projects and promotes outstanding scientific collaborative projects by universities and research institutions in Hesse.

These projects must be implemented in close cooperation between at least one company and one university or research institution. It is also possible to integrate additional network partners such as developers or users. An innovative character, a high technological risk and a recognizable proximity to the market and customers are also decisive criteria for funding. The LOEWE funding line 3 is open to all sectors and technologies, which underlines its flexibility and relevance in today's economy, as shown on the website Innovation promotion in Hesse is described.