How can research organizations support start-ups and spin-offs? The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will be presenting its solutions at the Bits & Pretzels start-up festival, which will be held in Munich from September 29 to October 1, 2025. Among the 7,500 expected exhibitors will be six innovative start-ups with Fraunhofer involvement.
In the first half of 2025, 1,500 start-ups were founded in Germany, an increase of nine percent compared to the previous year. Software spin-offs in particular saw strong growth, according to a report published by startupdetector and the German Startup Association. This trend goes hand in hand with the rapidly growing importance of artificial intelligence in business and industry. The opportunities offered not only by AI but also by the sectors of space, life sciences and the circular economy —three highly dynamic growth areas — must continue to receive strategic support, along with promotion from various stakeholders.
“Spin-offs are the most direct lever for translating research findings into market-ready products, jobs and lasting value creation. Fraunhofer combines high-tech and deep-tech expertise with tailor-made tools for transferring research findings to practice, such as funding programs, seed financing, an investment hub for investors and test fields for prospective founders. Since 2001, we have supported over 500 spin-offs, nearly 90 percent of them are still operating after five years,” says Constantin Häfner, Fraunhofer Executive Board Member for Research and Transfer. He also stresses the expectations of politics and investors: “We need a Freedom of Innovation Act that creates the leeway for pilot projects and demonstrators we so urgently need. Additionally, we quickly need conditions that offer attractive growth prospects for start-ups and scale-ups in Germany and Europe, which means a well-functioning financial system that includes tax incentives for investors, employee equity options, attractive exit options and, above all, more private venture capital. Fraunhofer is ready to work with all stakeholders to advance the federal government's start-up/scale-up strategy, which has already been initiated.”
At Bits & Pretzels, the Fraunhofer Venture and Fraunhofer AHEAD teams will be showcasing the diverse opportunities offered by the Fraunhofer ecosystem, both for spin-offs from Fraunhofer institutes and for external start-ups. These range from identifying the right technology for business ideas and validating this to providing expert support from the initial idea through to the exit to internal funding opportunities, access to seed capital and strong ties with industry players and venture capitalists.
Fraunhofer Venture recently launched the first digital investment hub for Fraunhofer start-up teams, tech investors and supporters of future tech companies. Everyone involved in the deep-tech ecosystem can use the smart digital platform to easily find suitable partners for their business goals and make contacts. It only takes a few clicks. The hub supports Fraunhofer spin-offs in reaching the next entrepreneurial level and makes it easier for new business models from research to obtain growth financing.
Innovative spin-offs at the Bits & Pretzels trade show
An exemplary selection of start-up teams from the AHEAD program, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's business incubator, has been invited to present at the Fraunhofer booth. There, they will be taking turns showcasing both their innovative business ideas based on Fraunhofer technologies and their companies that are in the process of being founded. Here is the line-up:
ReWorth converts fine mineral construction waste into new building blocks — regionally, sustainably and cost-effectively. ReBlockOne, a lightweight aerated concrete block made from recycled, local materials, reduces CO₂ emissions and cuts costs by 25%.
ASAP fully automates the analysis of tissue images directly through an on-demand web platform. Histological images, which previously required months of painstaking manual examination, can now be analyzed in just a few minutes. The user-friendly software delivers accurate and replicable results for laboratories and research facilities.
CMID provides building materials with a digital identity — permanent and forgery-proof, much like a fingerprint. This ensures that data is retained over multiple life cycles, creating transparency, conserving resources and enabling a true circular economy.
CAELIA makes inhalation smarter for asthma patients. A sensor checks whether the inhaler is being used correctly in terms of timing, technique and dosage. User-friendly and compatible with any standard inhaler, the sensor provides real-time feedback through an app for safe and effective use.
Syntura™ develops versatile, sustainable and fully recyclable bio-based plastics. The new AMBERAL™ material, which is based on biodegradable polybutylene succinate (PBS), is available in various formulations and can be tailored to customer requirements and specific applications.
Plasma Power specifically modifies carbon generated from plasma pyrolysis to sustainably enhance the energy density, performance and longevity of ion batteries. This produces climate-neutral hydrogen, which, together with the refined carbon, acts as a future-proof technology platform.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft