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Recent news on knowledge and technology transfer

HE Alumni Synera Closes $40M Series B Funding Round

April 17, 2026

The Helmholtz Enterprise Alumni spin-off Synera (AWI) – originally founded under the name ELISE (Evolutionary Lightweight Structure Engineering) – has successfully closed a Series B funding round of $40 million (approximately €35 million). The round was led by Revaia, with participation from Capgemini through ISAI Cap Venture, alongside all existing Series A investors including UVC Partners, BMW iVentures, Cherry Ventures, Venture Stars, and Spark Capital.

Founded in 2018 in Bremen by Dr. Moritz Maier, Sebastian Möller-Lafore, and Daniel Siegel, the company develops an agentic AI platform that simplifies complex engineering workflows in industrial product development. The platform integrates with more than 80 existing engineering tools – including solutions from Siemens, Autodesk, and Altair – enabling AI agents to autonomously handle tasks spanning design, simulation, cost analysis, and reporting, without replacing existing IT infrastructure.

Synera today serves more than 60 enterprise customers across 15 countries, including NASA, BMW, Airbus, Volvo Trucks, and Hyundai. In 2025, the company doubled its revenue. With the new capital, Synera plans to further expand internationally across the US, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

The successful growth from ELISE to Synera is a powerful example of how Helmholtz research can give rise to internationally scaling deep-tech companies.

To Synera →

[Translate to English:] © Synera

Seed-Financing for DLR-Spin-off: ISPTech Revolutionizes Satellite Propulsion

March 4, 2026

The HE startup InSpacePropulsion Technologies (ISPTech) has secured €5.5 million in seed funding. A spin-off of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the company develops innovative propulsion systems designed to make satellite movement in orbit more agile and sustainable.

The focus is on "green" technologies such as the HyNOx system (for small satellites) and HIP_11 (for larger spacecraft). These utilize non-toxic propellants like nitrous oxide and ethane instead of highly hazardous chemicals like hydrazine. ISPTech thus provides a safe and efficient alternative for precise evasive maneuvers and course corrections in increasingly crowded Earth orbits.

With fresh capital from investors including Join Capital and HTGF, the team (founded in 2023) plans to build its own testing facility and scale up series production. The first space mission is already scheduled for 2026, marking a significant step for the sustainable commercial use of space.

Helmholtz Tech & Industry Day 2026: Bridging Top-Tier Research, Industry, and Politics

February 13, 2026

How does cutting-edge research make its way into industrial application? On June 9, 2026, the innovation platforms Hi-Acts and Solar TAP invite you to the DESY campus in Hamburg to explore exactly this interface. The event provides a platform for exchange with high-level stakeholders from science, industry, and politics.

The focus will be on practical insights into successful innovation partnerships and networking within the fields of Deep Tech, AI, Big Data, and energy technology. It is an ideal opportunity to gather information on-site and establish new professional contacts:

Information & Transfer: Practical insights into partnerships between research and industry.
Networking: An opportunity to engage with representatives from industry and politics regarding current trends and demands.
Deep Dive: On the following day (June 10), the 3rd Hi-Acts Network Meeting offers the chance to strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration within the research network.

DLR Spin-off Nunos Brings Space Technology to the Field

January 16, 2026

Founded in 2024, Nunos—a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR)—has developed a process that converts liquid manure into a more efficient, odourless fertiliser within 24 hours. The approach significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and ammonia while making nutrients more readily available for plants. The underlying system was originally designed for space applications, enabling the biological conversion of human urine into fertiliser for soilless cultivation on space stations. Initial plant trials indicate potential yield increases of up to 20 percent, which Nunos plans to validate in field tests on two farms in 2026. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is supporting the company with €125,000 to further assess environmental impacts and optimise the process.

For the Helmholtz Association, support for the project is a strong sign of the effectiveness of its transfer instruments: Citrapeutics already received Helmholtz Enterprise spin-off funding in 2023, which has significantly advanced the establishment of the spin-off and the further development of the technology. We congratulate them on this success.

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Start-up Days

Networking for founders: The Start-up Days take place in Dresden and Bonn, alternating annually. The event is aimed at scientists who want to start their own company with an innovative idea from research. With lectures and workshops, we provide knowledge and tips for your own start-up. Start-up personalities share their experiences and report on obstacles, challenges and successes. We organize the Start-up Days together with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Leibniz Association and the Max Planck Society.

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CTO Circle

Top-level meeting: In the CTO Circle, leaders from science and industry exchange ideas. The heads of our research units meet regularly with the management boards of companies that are active in research and with leaders from universities and other non-university research institutions.

The work of the CTO Circle centers on debates on key issues in the field of research and development. The most important event is the "Falling Walls" conference.

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