News Archive

Ocean data from commercial ships: Cooperation between SOOP and HX Hurtigruten Expeditions

May 16, 2024

The Helmholtz Innovation Platform "Shaping an Ocean Of Possibilities" (SOOP) and HX Hurtigruten Expeditions—a company specializing in sea expeditions to remote regions—have launched a cooperation to improve ocean observation. The goal is to conduct marine research not only from specialized research vessels but also from commercial ships. This project aims to help close data gaps in sparsely navigated ocean regions and enhance our understanding of the oceans. Additionally, passengers will gain unique insights into marine research and better understand its vital role in protecting our environment.

As part of this collaboration, various measuring devices have been installed on the expedition cruise ship MS FRIDTJOF NANSEN. During voyages from Hamburg to Reykjavik and across Norway, as well as the Shetland and Faroe Islands, these devices collect important data on sea temperature, oxygen content, salinity, microplastics, and CO2 levels. Furthermore, the project investigates how phytoplankton and eDNA (genetic traces in the water) can be used to assess biodiversity.

Dr. Toste Tanhua, coordinator of SOOP, emphasizes the importance of simple and standardized instruments for data collection to enable more comprehensive ocean monitoring. The cooperation with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions is a crucial step in testing and optimizing data collection on commercial ships.

Press Release →
SOOP Website →

Knowlege Transfer with SoftWert

April 4, 2024

The BMBF (Federal Ministry for Ecucation and Research) funded SoftWert project offers transfer agents a toolkit of methods for the commercial and non-commercial exploitation of scientific software. This toolkit addresses the tangible need of scientific organizations to establish suitable procedures for these exploitation processes.

In the project of the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in cooperation with Saarland University and Atrineo AG, a transfer consulting and support provider, the project partners share their experiences, best practices and newly tested methods in an illustrative booklet and via the website softwert.org (only GER).

DLR spin-off Lumoview receives 2.5 million euro EIC Accelerator Grant

March 11, 2024

As one of 42 funded projects from a pool of 1083 applicants, the spin-off of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) was awarded funding from the European Innovation Council. With its EIC Accelerator Grant, the young company aims to expand further and make it easier for property owners to operate their buildings more energy-efficiently.

Lumoview Building Analytics GmbH manufactures measuring devices that can be used to measure and analyze individual rooms and entire buildings quickly and cost-effectively.

Website of Lumoview →

TherVacB - Helmholtz Munich's therapeutic vaccine against chronic hepatitis B enters the clinical phase

February 29, 2024

The therapeutic vaccine TherVacB against chronic hepatitis B, a liver disease that can lead to tissue damage and even liver cancer, developed under the leadership of Helmholtz Munich in the framework of a Helmholtz Proof-of-Concept Project, has reached the first clinical phase. Current treatments for chronic hepatitis B can reduce the viral load, but do not provide a cure for the approximately 296 million people infected worldwide.

The newly developed vaccine now has the potential to do just that: initial safety and immunogenicity tests have already been carried out in a phase 1a study on healthy volunteers in collaboration with the LMU Klinikum München and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. In a phase 1b/2a first-in-patient study, the safety and efficacy in patients with chronic hepatitis B will soon be tested in several EU countries.

Helmholtz Munich Press Release→

Three Helmholtz Enterprise Alumni Spin off from GFZ in 2023

February 2, 2024

In 2023, the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) recorded three new spin-offs, all of which are alumni of the Helmholtz Enterprise spin-off program: GreenGate Genomics, FOMON and fluxtec. The spin-offs underline the continuing positive trend towards start-ups at the GFZ, which has produced a total of 13 successful founding teams in the last six years. The spin-offs use technologies and patents developed at the GFZ and receive support from the GFZ Transfer Office.

GFZ press release with further information on the spin-offs →

Networking Event for Helmholtz Enterprise Spin-off Teams in Berlin

January 25, 2024

12 spin-off teams currently being funded by our Helmholtz Enterprise spin-off program from seven Helmholtz Centres met in Berlin on 23 January. They used the networking event to share their successes, challenges and best practices that have shaped the course of their spin-off projects so far. The event additionally gave them the opportunity to refine their sustainability strategies under the guidance of experts from ImpactNexus GmbH.

DLR Executive Board member Karsten Lemmer puts the spotlight on the testing of heat storage at DLR's large-scale Test Facility for Thermal Energy Storage in Molten Salt (TESIS)

January 7, 2024

In 2023, Germany achieved over 50% renewable electricity for the first time, a significant step forward for the energy transition. In order to be able to use electricity specifically when it is needed, research is now focusing in particular on storage technologies. Salt storage systems have the potential to store energy safely, efficiently, cost-effectively and over a long period of time. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) operates unique large-scale research facilities such as TESIS in Cologne, where molten salt storage systems are being tested on a megawatt-hour scale. In November 2023, DLR, and its partners Siemens Energy and Alfa Laval, received a grant of 6 million euros from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

Projects such as TESIS show how Helmholtz, with the support of industrial partners and policy-makers, is putting research into practice in order to meet the challenges of climate change and secure Germany as a location for business.

LinkedIn post of Karsten Lemmer (Member of the DLR Executive Board) (only GER) →

The Pocketknife Transfer by SPRIND

November 28, 2023

SPRIND presents the pocketknife transfer for start-up teams at universities and research institutions. It offers various tools with which the teams can prepare for discussions and negotiations on the evaluation and protection of intellectual property in the context of their spin-off. For example, the IP Wahl-O-Meter is designed to help them familiarize with different types of application models. The IP scorecard is designed to support them in IP evaluation and a database with model contracts for different IP transfer scenarios will serve as a reference point for participation agreements.

The Pocketknife Transfer →

Helmholtz Enterprise Alumus Priavoid receives approval for a Phase II study of its drug candidate to combat Alzheimer's disease

November 28, 2023

The drug named PRI-002 has received approval for a Phase II trial from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The study, called PRImus-AD, is being conducted by Priavoid, a Helmholtz Enterprise Alumus of Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) and PRInnovation and it is funded by SPRIND. PRI-002 dissolves neurotoxic aggregates without immune system involvement. The Phase II trial aims to demonstrate efficacy in early Alzheimer's disease. Results are expected for 2026.

SPRIND press resealse →
 

Helmholtz Enterprise spin-off Marmorkrebs Bioproducts from DKFZ wins "German Food Startup Award"

November 25, 2023

On November 25, the Helmholtz Enterprise-funded spin-off Marmorkrebs Bioproducts from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) won the "German Food Startup Award" at the innovate! Convention in Osnabrück. In the finale of a pitch competition, the team, consisting of Dr Vitor Carneiro, Prof Dr Frank Lyko, Dr Sina Tönges and Dr Ranja Andriantsoa, prevailed against their competitors.

More →

Venture Capital Fund Sustainable & Invest - Investment in Cybersecurity at CISPA

October 24, 2023

For the first time, seven startups from the Incubator of the CISPA - Helmholtz Center for Information Security applied for funding from the CISPA Venture Capital Fund during a Pitch Day. CISPA emphasizes that investments should not only aim for financial returns, but also for sustainable benefit to society. Cybersecurity in particular is crucial for this in an increasingly connected world.

Peter Memminger, Managing Director of Sustainable & Invest GmbH gives the following outlook after the event: "We will discuss our impressions and then seek talks with the particularly promising startups. This is about a long and hopefully successful journey together, where both sides need to feel comfortable with their partner. To that end, the Pitch Day was an important first step, followed by getting to know each other in more detail and due diligence."

The goal of the CISPA ecosystem is to create a strong community of research, startups and investors in the fields of cybersecurity and AI, to which the venture capital fund represents a further important building block.

CISPA press release →

Companies Receive the Opportunity to Test New AI Service Catalog at KIT for Free

August 21, 2023

The Smart Data Innovation Lab (SDIL) offers companies a service catalog for AI projects. Companies can select current AI methods and infrastructure from this catalog to support their innovations. SDIL, led by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), brings together AI experts from research and industry. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the development of the catalog until 2024.

Interested companies can apply with innovative AI project ideas in a total of three tender rounds. The prerequisite for application is that they can profitably exploit the "Innovation Services" offered - from the areas of large-scale language models, image recognition, embedded as well as data-saving AI - in their own products or processes. The application deadline for the second round of calls is September 20, 2023.

The projects selected by the SDIL steering committee will then be eligible for transfer services worth up to 50,000 euros, funded by the BMBF. In addition, there will be the use of up to 10,000 GPU hours on a high-performance GPU cluster operated by KIT, as well as cloud offers from industry partners.

More Information on the offer and the application process (only GER) →
KIT press release →

Helmholtz Enterprise Team InSpacePropulsion Technologies Pushes Sustainable Space Fuel Further Towards Market Maturity

August 21, 2023

Felix Lauck and Lukas Werling from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are working on environmentally friendly alternatives to hydrazine (N2H4), which is used as a fuel for satellite engines in space travel. With their spin-off project InSpacePropulsion Technologies, which we support as part of Helmholtz Enterprise, the duo now aim to bring two promising alternative fuels to market:

One of the two fuels, HyNOx, has comparatively strong performance, is safe to handle and is inexpensive. The second technology, HIP_11, consists of a self-igniting fuel mixture. Both developments complement each other: "HyNOx is suitable for small and light satellites or spacecraft. HIP_11, on the other hand, offers advantages for larger and heavier spacecraft," explains Lukas Werling.

To the DLR press release (only GER) →

2.Helmholtz Innovation Summit "Climate and Food Tech for Global Impact" in Israel

July 24, 2023

On July 18, numerous innovators and representatives from science and politics met in Tel Aviv for the second Helmholtz Innovation Summit. Three Helmholtz teams - Helmholtz Enterprise Alumnus Marmorkrebs Bioproducts (DKFZ), Phytonics (KIT) and the Valdiation Project Sorted! (AWI) - and three Israeli teams presented their work. The particular focus for the German teams was their existing or emerging collaborations with partners in Israel. A representative of the Consulting Office for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BAIP), one of our Helmholtz Innovation Labs, was also on site to meet with Israeli partners.

In addition, a discussion was held in the presence and with the active participation of the Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the President of Tel Aviv University (TAU) Prof. Ariel Porat and the Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) Dr. Ami Applebaum about the tools that governments and science organizations can use to better support sustainable innovation and collaboration between science and industry in the future.

About the innovators

• Marmorkrebs Bioproducts (DKFZ) →
• Phytonics (KIT) →
• Sorted! (AWI) →
• BAIP (HZB) →
• CHICKP (Israel) →
• SUFRESCA (Israel) →
• Kinoko Tech (Israel) →

To the summit webseite →

HIPS and Saarland University Establish PharmaScienceHub

July 20, 2023

The Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Saarland University (UdS) are strengthening their collaboration with the newly founded PharmaScienceHub. The goal is to accelerate the development of new drugs against infections, cancer and age-related diseases. The platform also promotes collaboration with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries at national and international level. With an investment of 70 million euros by the federal and state governments, knowledge and technology transfer will be accelerated and pharmaceutical research in the region will be strengthened.

To the HIPS press release →

Leopard Biosciences about to spin off with innovative point-of-care test

July 17, 2023

Leopard Bioscineces from the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) at HZI receives more than one million euros to support the commercialization of their innovative diagnostic technology. The platform is based on groundbreaking research results in the field of the CRISPR system and enables the simultaneous detection of multiple RNA and DNA biomarkers in a single point-of-care test. Funding is provided by the Helmholtz Enterprise Program and the Helmholtz Validation Fund. The technology holds the potential to optimize medical decision-making processes and could have particular application in resource-constrained settings. The team, led by Chase Beisel, will spin off in the coming months. Their goal is to become a leading player in point-of-care molecular diagnostics.

To the HIRI press release →

Nunos Impresses the Audience at the AgriFood Network Summit

July 12, 2023

The Helmholtz Enterprise spin-off Nunos from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) was able to convince the audience of the Growth Alliance's AgriFood Network Summit on July 6 of its natural farm manure treatment and was awarded €5,000 for it.

Further information →

DKFZ and Beiersdorf Establish Joint Innovation Lab for Enhanced Skin Cancer Prevention

July 10, 2023

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and skin care products manufacturer Beiersdorf established a Joint Innovation Lab on July 1, 2023 to research the epigenetic clock of skin cells. The interdisciplinary collaboration between skin biologists and cancer researchers will enable molecular approaches to prevent skin cancer. By exploring epigenetic changes and developing targeted active agents, the Lab aims to develop innovative strategies for skin cell rejuvenation and cancer prevention. The Joint Innovation Lab is supported with a budget of 4.8 million euros for four years and offers a promising platform for pioneering research in the field of skin aging and cancer prevention.

To the press release of DKFZ →

HZDR and Semiconductor Manufacturer GlobalFoundries Strengthen Partnership for Knowledge Transfer and Welcome Culture

June 30, 2023

On June 28, the Scientific Director of Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Prof. Sebastian M. Schmidt, and the Managing Director of GlobalFoundries Dresden, Dr. Manfred Horstmann, signed a memorandum of understanding. In it, both parties agree on a series of measures to strengthen joint knowledge transfer, technology development and the promotion of young scientists. In the future, for instance, there will be more joint training courses and networking events, as well as closer exchange in joint research on memory and information technologies and, in particular, on neuromorphic chips (i.e. chips modeled on the human brain). By the time the agreement expires at the end of 2025, both parties intend to transform the memorandum of understanding into a long-term cooperation agreement.

To the HZDR press release →

4Investors - Four big research organizations host joint Investors Day

30 March 2023

This year, the four major non-university research organisations in Germany - Helmholtz, Fraunhofer, Max Planck and Leibniz - organised a joint investor event for the first time. On 29 March, a total of 40 spin-off teams from all organisations had the opportunity to show an audience of about 90 investors in Munich's Kohlebunker how their innovations will influence all of our lives in the future. For this purpose, they first stood on the big stage for pitches, before meeting personally with individual investors.

Helmholtz was represented by eleven teams, who showcased both their innovative research and their entrepreneurial successes in the fields of medical technology, materials development and energy storage, among others:

•    Alteva (DLR)
•    CARTemis Therapeutics (MDC)
•    FastCast Ceramics GmbH (KIT)
•    fuse.space GmbH (CISPA)
•    GreenDelta (DLR)
•    Holy Technologies (DESY)
•    Leopard (HZI)
•    MACROCARBON (AWI)
•    neomento GmbH (DZNE)
•    TRYPTO Therapeutics (MDC)
•    ViroCas13 (Munich)

In addition to the financial boost for our teams, we are particularly excited about the new contacts and the resulting partnerships that will contribute to solutions for the major problems of our time.

KIT Spin-off Phytonics receives million-euro funding

17 March 2023

Phytonics, a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has secured a seven-figure sum in a financing round. The company has developed a coating for photovoltaic modules that, in addition to a ten percent increase in energy production compared to conventional coatings, also has the advantage of being glare-free. This makes it possible to open up new areas for photovoltaic modules, such as the surroundings of airports and railway tracks, where they were previously undesirable or prohibited due to their strong reflection of incoming light.

Further information →

HE alumnus Myopax receives seven million euros for cell therapy treatment

1 March 2023

Myopax, a start-up based in Berlin and Copenhagen, is researching cell and gene therapy treatments for muscle diseases. The Helmholtz Enterprise alumnus of the Max Delbrück Center was able to secure strong support for the transfer of its research into application with seven million euros from the German Ministry of Education and Research, the Helmholtz Validation Fund (HVF) and the Danish Bioinnovation Institute. The team is currently planning a human trial in which their new treatment method for bladder exstrophy-epispadias, a rare disease of the bladder sphincter, is to prove itself. Stem cells from the patient's muscle tissue are multiplied outside the body and then injected into the diseased area in order to specifically build up the muscle there. The team's goal is to scale the process up to industrial production. The resulting reduction in costs should make the procedure interesting for profit-oriented companies, among others, and thus more accessible to patients.

OPTSAL camera system supports situational awareness in earthquake zone

7 February 2023

Two employees of the DLR Institute of Optical Sensor Systems traveled to Turkey together with their cooperation partner I.S.A.R. Germany to support the emergency forces in the earthquake area with aerial image data. The camera system used for this purpose, which is installed in a drone, was developed by the Helmholtz Innovation Lab  OPTSAL of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

CISPA Transfer Team shares insight about their work

19 January 2023

The Transfer Team at Helmholtz Center for Information Security (CISPA), represented by Max Wolf and Nicole Ziesche, presents a selection of their transfer activities. They give insights into the transfer mindset at the centre in Saarbrücken and proudly present the CISPA Innovation Campus. It will allow founders and researchers, in addition to the Centre's traditional support, to receive target-oriented training and to get in touch with investors and companies in order to strengthen individual and demand-oriented cooperation between science and business in the region.

CISPA press release (DE) →

Gérard Krause (HZI) honoured for his contriburtion to SORMAS

17 January 2023

Epidemiologist Gérard Krause of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) receives the Translational Infection Research Award of the German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF). With his work on the epidemic management system SORMAS, he and his colleagues have contributed significantly to the fight against Lasse fever, monkeypox and COVID-19. In Germany alone, more than 130 health authorities are already using SORMAS.

SORMAS is being supported by our Spin-off Programme (HE).

Press release of HZI →
Website of SORMAS Foundation →

Helmholtz-INERATEC e-Fuels win 1st prize at the EARTO Innovation Awards

17 October 2022

In cooperation with INERATEC, a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Helmholtz was awarded the first prize in the "Impact Delivered" category of the Innovation Awards of the European Association of Research and Technology Organizations (EARTO). The award was given for sustainable e-fuels and chemicals that are both compatible with existing infrastructures and vehicles as well as modular (and thus easily scalable). As sustainable substitutes for fossil fuels, they are already contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions.

Knowledge Transfer of the SECUSO Research Group at KIT Awarded Federal Prize for Consumer Protection

12 October 2022

The SECUSO (SECurity, USablility, and SOciety) research group of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) helps citizens identify which apps and web offers can be trusted to handle their data. On their website, they provide free information material and digital tools for protecting data and privacy online. On September 26, German Consumer Protection Minister Steffi Lemke honored them with the award of the German Foundation for Consumer Protection (DSV) for their services.

ELISE secures 14.5 million euro investment

12 September 2022

The team of ELISE GmbH of the Alfred Wegener Institute was able to convince a number of investors of the merits of their project and secure a 14.5 million euro investment for their company. The Helmholtz Enterprise Alumni have made their vision of "connected engineering" a reality: With the help of an intuitive programming language (low code), they are already enabling engineers to save up to 90% of the time needed to develop all kinds of technical components via their platform. Their goal is now to further expand it to become the low-code standard in engineering.

More about ELISE on their website and in this AWI press release