Current status and success stories
Transfer strategies
Knowledge and technology transfer within the Helmholtz Association takes various forms, such as “outward transfers” (e.g. a Helmholtz Centre scientist going to work in a commercial enterprise), political consultancy, the dissemination of socially relevant findings (e.g. in published studies or at events), and collaborative projects and licensing agreements with companies. The association has a successful track record of transferring research findings into commercial applications. Impressive figures attest to the success of knowledge transfer into companies, license agreements and spin-offs, but there are also numerous examples that illustrate the success of the work being done by scientists and transfer experts at the Helmholtz Centres.
Collaborations and strategic partnerships
Forms of cooperation include shared use of infrastructure, provision of services such as construction work, and joint research projects. One form of collaboration of particular value for both sides is the strategic partnership, which constitutes a long-term research alliance on certain topics or technologies. In 2010 alone the Helmholtz Association realised almost 2,800 collaboration projects with companies. These generated external revenue of €160 million from commercial activity.
Examples of successful collaborations and strategic partnerships
Licencing
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Another way to transfer findings and exploit technologies is to conclude licencing agreements or to secure trademark options. These rights are usually industrial property rights like patents or registered designs. These rights are held by the Helmholtz Centres, as, under the German Employee Invention Act, scientists’ inventions are usually the property of the research institute where they work. Once a Helmholtz Centre decides to register a patent after an invention has been reported, the trademark rights granted can then be sold or licenced. Inventors are always given a share of the profits. In 2010 income from a total of more than 1,000 licence agreements at the Helmholtz Centres came to over €16 million. Each year, around 400 trademark applications are made and a similar number of patents are granted. In 2010 the Helmholtz Centres had a total of around 12,500 trademark rights in over 4,000 different areas.
Spin-offs
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Spin-offs represent a further strategy for transferring research findings into commercial applications such as new products and services. New technology-oriented businesses that are based on knowledge constitute a particularly valuable channel for knowledge and technology transfer as they allow the commercial use of research findings to stimulate positive growth and employment opportunities. Employees at Helmholtz Centres often spin off new businesses on the basis of their know-how and licence agreements. These spin-offs often sign user agreements that enable them to make use of the Centres’ large-scale infrastructure to work on further product development. Sometimes the respective Helmholtz Centres get involved in the new companies. This enables spin-offs to save money on licences and the use of equipment and lets the Centre participate in the company’s growth and commercial success. Between 2005 and 2010 there were 58 Helmholtz Centre spin-offs.
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