Innovation and funding programmes

We close the gap between research and application: Helmholtz supports knowledge and technology transfer through a variety of programmes. Discover what we have to offer, such as networking meetings for spin-offs, funding for founders and idea workshops for cooperation with industry.

Start-up Days 2025

The Start-up Days 2025 will take place in Berlin from October 15 to 16, 2025. Be there, discover inspiring workshops and network with entrepreneurial researchers.

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Helmholtz Enterprise

Helmholtz Enterprise (HE) is the internal program for spin-offs from the Helmholtz Association. The overall purpose of the program is to support scientists to work entrepreneurial and start a well-thought-out business.

Innovation Platforms

Our innovation platforms make a sustainable and structure-building contribution to enhancing transfer and innovation within the Helmholtz Association.

Validation Projects

Validation is the decisive step in technology transfer: new products or services leave the laboratory and prove themselves in practice.

Co-Creation Projects

Our Helmholtz Co-Creation Projects aim to promote exchange between actors in research and application by establishing innovative forms of cooperation with external practice partners in order to achieve breakthroughs together.

Helmholtz Transfer Academies

Helmholtz Transfer Academies are part of our transfer campaign, which is designed to sustainably strengthen the transfer of our research into practice.

Helmholtz Innovation Labs

In our Innovation Labs, science and industry work closely together with the aim of bringing innovative technologies with great future potential to application quickly and efficiently.

Knowledge Transfer Projects

Our knowledge transfer projects deliver sound knowledge and customized information to public authorities, companies and the general public.

Innovation Fund of the Helmholtz Centers

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) promotes knowledge transfer at Helmholtz: It provides the transfer offices of some Helmholtz centers with additional budgets for innovation projects.

Proof-of-Concept-Initiative

We want our innovative drugs and therapies to reach patients as quickly as possible.

Helmholtz Validation Funds

Validation is the decisive step in technology transfer: new products or services leave the laboratory and prove themselves in practice.

Transfer Barometer

The Transfer Barometer is a joint initiative of the Helmholtz Association and the Stifterverband. Its goal is to support universities and research institutions in systematically documenting and presenting their transfer achievements and cooperative relationships.

Interactive Online Tool (GER)