The Center for Digital Technology and Management (CDTM) in Munich is a joint interdisciplinary institution of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU). Established in 1998, it offers the “Technology Management” add-on study program, focusing on the intersection of digital technology, management, and entrepreneurship.
Curriculum:
The program spans 1.5 to 2 years and is designed to complement students’ primary studies. It comprises three core courses:
- Trend Seminar: Students analyze emerging trends and develop business ideas in collaboration with industry partners.
- Managing Product Development: Focuses on the research, design, and development of new products and services, guiding students through the entire value chain from ideation to deployment.
- Entrepreneurship Laboratory: Teams work on real-world business challenges presented by project partners, acting as consultive entrepreneurs.
Additionally, students can choose from various electives covering topics like design thinking, hardware prototyping, and data science. A term abroad is mandatory, with partner institutions including UC Berkeley, Columbia University, and MIT.
Admission Process:
Each semester, CDTM selects up to 25 highly qualified and motivated students from a pool of over 300 applicants. Applicants should be enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program at TUM or LMU, having completed at least three semesters of their undergraduate studies. The selection process values characteristics such as motivation, involvement, interpersonal skills, entrepreneurial aptitude, leadership quality, creativity, analytical skills, and open-mindedness.
Influence and Reputation:
CDTM is recognized as a member of the Elite Network Bavaria, underscoring its commitment to excellence in interdisciplinary education. The program’s emphasis on practical experience, combined with its strong industry connections, has established it as a leading institution for nurturing future innovators and entrepreneurs.
Leadership:
The program is supported by a board of professors from TUM and LMU, including Andreas Butz, Klaus Diepold, Dietmar Harhoff, Thomas Hess, Dieter Kranzlmüller, Wolfgang Kellerer, Tobias Kretschmer, Alexander Pretschner, Martin Spann, Isabell Welpe, Hana Milanov, Jelena Spanjol, Jörg Claussen, Reiner Braun, and Albrecht Schmidt.
Notable Alumni:
CDTM boasts an extensive network of over 900 graduates, with more than 230 companies founded by its alumni. Notable founders include:
- Armin Bauer: Founder of Amiando and IDnow.
- Julian Blessin: Co-founder of Tier Mobility.
- Julia Bösch: Co-founder of Outfittery.
- Joshua Cornelius and Mehmet Yilmaz: Founders of Freeletics.
- Hanno Renner, Ignaz Forstmeier, Roman Schumacher, and Arseniy Vershinin: Co-founders of Personio.
- Thomas Pischke: Co-founder of Trade Republic.
These successes highlight CDTM’s role in fostering entrepreneurial talent and its significant impact on the startup ecosystem.
Sources:
https://www.cdtm.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Digital_Technology_and_Management
