Innovation Meets Industry Shaping the Future – Innovation at the Center of IMPACT DAY 2025
May 22, 2025
published by hei_INNOVATION
On May 14, 2025, the third IMPACT DAY of Heidelberg University took place, organized by hei_INNOVATION, the transfer agency of the Ruperto Carola. The event brought together scientists, founders, and industry representatives to promote exchange between research and practice and to jointly further develop innovative ideas.
Already in the afternoon, public pitches of the finalists of this year’s hei_INNOVATION idea competition took place at the Neue Universität. Fifteen idea creators presented their ideas in three-minute pitches before an expert jury in the categories “Health and Future Technologies,” “Social Innovation,” and “Sustainability and Smart Living.”
The keynote speech by Nils Müller, CEO of trendone, kicked off the rest of the IMPACT DAY program, offering a visionary outlook on future technology trends. Afterwards, Müller discussed with Johannes Maurer from Aleph Alpha and Dr. Ursula Kramer from sanawork and HealthOn, moderated by Ira Stoll, founder of myScribe, the role of science and industry in promoting innovation.
Between 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM, startups, research initiatives from Heidelberg University presented their latest developments. Two spotlight sessions highlighted the role of universities as technology drivers and discussed Germany’s entrepreneurial landscape in an international comparison.
The day concluded with the “Ignition Night.” After a greeting from the university’s rector, Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior, and a contribution from the Vice Rector for Innovation and Transfer, Prof. Dr. Katja Patzel-Mattern, Nils Müller presented his talk “Heidelberg 2036 – A Journey into the Future,” a vision for Heidelberg’s future development. Additionally, the winners of the idea competition were honored. The winners are: “iClimate” in the Sustainability and Smart Living category, “Stadtlabor” for Social Innovation, and “Brain Cancer” in Health and Future Technologies.
The evening ended with a get-together featuring food, drinks, and networking. Overall, IMPACT DAY 2025 provided a valuable platform for exchange between science, business, and society. By presenting innovative ideas and fostering collaborations, the event made an important contribution to translating research results into practical applications. With IMPACT DAY, hei_INNOVATION takes another step in promoting knowledge transfer and innovation.
