Identifying ideas, facilitating support, supporting start-ups

At the University of Würzburg, ideas with potential emerge every day: in research projects, in final-year dissertations, in the laboratory, through interdisciplinary collaboration, or simply as a by-product of everyday academic life. Starting a business is not always the immediate focus. Much more often, the aim may be to further develop research findings through collaborations or to validate their practical applicability with the help of suitable funding.

However, between a good idea and the next concrete step, there is often a crucial question: what can actually be achieved with it, and who can support me in this?

This is precisely where the Service Centre for Research and Technology Transfer (SFT) comes in. It supports university staff at this interface between research and application. Its expertise in the field of inventions and patents is complemented by support for spin-offs and funding advice, which provides an ideal foundation for the transfer of research findings. The aim is to raise the profile of scientific ideas at an early stage, assess their potential and open up suitable avenues for further development.

New at the SFT: Innovation Scouts

New to the team are the Innovation Scouts, who complement the SFT team as the first point of contact for innovative ideas. Dr Thorsten Zacher (Life Sciences) and Dr Eike F. Schwier (Software, Physics & AI) have been on hand since last year to support all members of the university, helping them to structure their ideas, identify innovation potential and find suitable funding opportunities. Whether for validation funding, research collaborations or preparing for a potential start-up. In addition to their scientific expertise, they bring extensive experience from the business world. Thorsten Zacher, an immunologist with more than 20 years’ sales experience in the life sciences sector, and Eike Schwier, a physicist, with his work as a consultant in the field of renewable energy and AI.

Their ‘clients’ can therefore expect a comprehensive package, including strategic advice, networking with other research groups and assistance in establishing contacts with partners in industry. The team is now joined by Dr Ute Steinbauer (Engineering, Natural and Economic Sciences). As a materials scientist, she brings with her many years of experience in industry, innovation management, strategic communication, networking and technology transfer.

The team works closely with Andreas Veber, the new start-up adviser at the SFT. He provides support in particular with business models, market and target group issues, and the strategic development of start-up projects. Thanks to his own start-up experience and his many years’ work in IT development, consultancy and digitalisation, he brings a practical perspective to the role.

Together, the four see themselves as sparring partners for all university members who wish to turn their ideas into reality. Whether it’s an initial assessment, a funding strategy, industry collaboration or start-up prospects: the SFT offers a confidential, structured and practical starting point.

Successes are clearly evident

The results demonstrate that this approach works: by 2025, the SFT had already successfully supported four EXIST start-up grants, one M4 Award and one EXIST research transfer grant. This corresponds to a total of more than 1.8 million euros in funding secured. Particularly noteworthy is the acceptance rate for EXIST applications, which stood at 100 per cent – in contrast to the German average of around 55 per cent.

If you have an idea, you don’t have to set up a business straight away. Transfer begins with a simple question: Could this become something more? Because good ideas deserve more than just a stroke of luck!

Interested?

Anyone wishing to find out whether funding, collaboration or setting up a business might be the right next step is welcome to contact the SFT at any time – either by email at gruenden@uni-wuerzburg.de or by telephone.