Humboldt Innovation

What they do

The Humboldt-Innovation (HI) is the dedicated knowledge and technology transfer office of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. As a 100% subsidiary enterprise of the University, Humboldt-Innovation acts as comprehensive interface between university and industry, between science and business. In its organisation as a GmbH, Humboldt-Innovation is a professional private-sector company, which can operate more flexibly, more independently and with higher speed, expertly positioning itself, as such, in the demanding worlds of business and academia. Humboldt-Innovation is presently active in three major fields: the area of research covers scientific services, contract research and research co-operations; the area of spin-offs coaches and supports research-based spin-off enterprises and the area of marketing conducts traditional merchandising for the Humboldt Store, the shop within the Berlin Museum of Natural History and Humboldt-Excursions, among others. The Humboldt-Innovation has a proven track record of 27 successful spin-offs and over 500 successfully developed research projects since its foundation in 2005.

What they look for

HI’s mission is to translate cutting-edge academic research into viable commercial enterprises. They focus on Deep Tech and Science-Based innovations where the university has strong research output, particularly in AI, materials science, and sustainability. They primarily target students, alumni, and researchers from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin or the broader Berlin University Alliance, looking for startups based on proprietary technology, patents, or deep scientific know-how developed at the university, with high growth potential.

Stage

Ideation, Pre-seed, Seed

Sectors

AI, Healthcare, Climate, Deeptech, Edtech

Based

Berlin, DE