Start a Company
DKFZ has a history of encouraging and promoting start-up companies based on the inventions discovered at DKFZ/DKTK. Often the inventors are the founders of the companies. When scientists at the DKFZ set up their own company in which they bring to market the fruits of their research and development produced at the DKFZ, we speak of a spin-off. As part of the agreements with the companies, DKFZ normally takes an equity stake in the start-up.
You can find further information in the FAQs.
We can help by:
- Advising on resources available to you from DKFZ (e.g. facilities, equipment, legal and financial support)
- Structuring license agreements to enable you to use research findings and/or patents as per standard market terms and conditions
- Training & mentorship (also in legal and tax questions)
- Terms of balancing your research and spin-off responsibilities
- Contract negotiation
- Assisting obtaining funding: Heidelberg Startup Partners e.V., Helmholtz Enterprise Förderung, Helmholtz-Validierungsfonds (HVF), EXIST Förderung, ifm - Institut für Mittelstandsforschung at the University of Mannheim, chambers of commerce and industry, High-Tech Gründerfonds etc.
Some other funding available for validation and spinout formation:
- Go-BIO – funds translational projects up to €2.5 million over 3 years.
- EXIST
- EXIST scholarship/ stipend (salary founder, materials, coaching for one year)
- EXIST Transfer of research (€ 250,000 for one year);
- required: 10% Co-funding of DKFZ
- HEF: Helmholtz Enterprise (€ 200,000 for one year);
- required: 50% Co-funding of DKFZ
- ZIM (Central Innovation Programm of medium sized companies):
- ZIM-KOOP: cooperations of Firm & Research Institutes
- ZIM-SOLO – funding of individual R&D projects of spin-off company
- new Start-up BW Pre-Seed-funding - offers 50k€ to 400k€ for startups in an early stage
Because DKFZ is a member of Heidelberg Startup Partners you can also get access to more funding schemes, free mentorship, investor network and a variety of high quality training and networking events.
DKFZ can hold an equity of up to 25 percent in the spin-off for a period of eight years. To avoid being a drain on the company’s liquidity, however, the DKFZ can elect to waive its right to down payments for licensed patents and accept shares and royalties in lieu.
PROGEN Biotechnik GmbH, a company specializing in in vitro diagnostic agents and recombinant antibodies, is a DKFZ spin-off dating from 1983. Another such spin-off is mtm laboratories AG, which develops, manufactures, and distributes products for the early detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer. Founded in 2000 from within the DKFZ, Affimed Therapeutics AG develops recombinant antibodies to treat various diseases and cancer in particular. Cancer, alongside inflammatory diseases, is also the main target of Apogenix GmbH, a spin-off committed to developing active substances to act on apoptosis (programmed cell death) and uncontrolled cell growth.
For more questions contact innovation@dkfz.de.
To see more examples of DKFZ spin-offs please visit the pages below.
Links to DKFZ-associated start-ups
- PixelBiotech GmbH – founded in 2018, imaging-based genetic testing ranging from single molecule FISH probe to AI-powered quantitation service
- iOmx Therapeutics AG – founded in 2016, Immunotherapeutics of the 2nd generation
- mbits imaging GmbH – founded in 2015, Medical imaging for mobile devices such as tablet-PCs und smartphones
- Heidelberg Biotech GmbH - founded in 2014, development of new generation of endostatin as cancer drugs
- GeneWerk GmbH - founded in 2014, biotechnological analytic/diagnostic for gene therapy
- Sciomics GmbH - founded in 2013, development of antibody microarrays
- Invistro GmbH - founded in 2013, development of diagnostic imaging instruments for preclinical research
- Multiplexion GmbH - founded 2012, multiplex detection of biological analytes in cell culture systems used in biomedical research
- Mint Medical GmbH - founded 2010, software for medical diagnosis, therapy planning and response
- Apogenix GmbH - founded in 2005, developing pharmaceuticals that modulate apoptosis
- Chili GmbH – founded in 2003, Software for Teleradiology and PACS
- BioSphings AG - founded in 2001, innovative drugs for cancer, infections and autoimmune diseases
- PEPperPRINT- founded in 2001, peptide arrays and customized epitope mapping
- Peptide Specialty Laboratories GmbH - founded in 2000, peptide production
- Affimed AG - founded in 1999, human recombinant antibodies
- mtm laboratories AG - founded in 1999, detection, diagnosis and prevention of cancer (Link to F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Media Release)
- MRC Systems - founded in 1995, laser therapies
- Progen - founded in 1983, diagnostics and research products