Short News Spotlights

December 11, 2025
The latest issue of “Gründergeist & Mittelstand” opens with “Ideas for a strong region,” highlighting Baden-Württemberg as a leading DeepTech hub. It features four university-driven start-up ecosystems that are part of the NXTGN Startup Factory. hei_INNOVATION Team Lead Dr. Raoul Haschke contributes on behalf of Heidelberg University, explaining how the Transfer Agency turns world-class medical and life-science research into viable commercial innovations. He highlights the journey from lab discovery to real-world application and how Heidelberg’s strong research environment, clinical connections, and support structures guide researchers along the way. The issue also shows how NXTGN brings together talent, ideas, and young companies, boosting the region’s innovation strength.

December 4, 2025
Congratulations to last year’s EXIST Women participants, Mareike Zahn and Lena Weickert, and their start-up Little Life Support for winning the “Best Start-Up including Business Succession” award as part of the Gründungsoffensive Bergstraße 2025 start-up competition organized by the Economic Development Agency Bergstraße The two former EXIST Women scholarship holders founded Little Life Support in December 2024 and offer training, hands-on workshops, and counseling for people working with children with epilepsy. We are thrilled about this achievement and proud to have supported Little Life Support on their journey!

November 7, 2025
hei_INNOVATION invites members of Heidelberg University to join NXTGN for Expert Day, taking place on December 2, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at the ZEISS Innovation Hub in Karlsruhe. This half-day event connects doctoral candidates and postdocs with professionals from a variety of companies, offering the opportunity to connect science with industry. Participants will have the chance to meet company representatives, learn about their work, and explore potential career or research opportunities. Networking is at the heart of the event, allowing you to expand your contacts in a relaxed and engaging environment. Participation is free of charge, including food and beverages. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and open doors for your future in industry and research!

October 30, 2025
The exhibition Heidelberg and South Asia: Paths through the City opened on October 2, 2025, at the Museum of Ethnology and invites visitors to discover the diverse connections between Heidelberg and South Asia on six thematically focused city tours. The project was curated by Prof. Ute Hüsken as part of a course at the Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies at Heidelberg University. hei_INNOVATION supported the student teams with a customized workshop to help them develop and implement their ideas. In addition, the transfer agency advised on questions of funding acquisition, which resulted in successful funding from the municipal program Mittendrinnenstadt. The city tours can be experienced via the Ethnological Museum's app until February 15, 2026. hei_INNOVATION is pleased to have contributed to this project.
 

October 16, 2025
GeneNovate is the first nationwide entrepreneurship program in Germany, designed to empower innovators and entrepreneurs in the field of Gene and Cell Therapies, Biotech and Medicine. Heidelberg University, through hei_INNOVATION, is part of the Heidelberg Circle which also includes the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), bioRN, the Helmholtz H3 Health Hub and the Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim. The program targets early-career scientists and physicians such as advanced students, PhD candidates and Postdocs, but it is also open to experienced researchers and medical professionals. A key strength of the program lies in its collaborative approach, connecting participants across multiple locations, and applications are still possible until November 9, 2025!  

September 15, 2025
We are excited to welcome phenyx gUG as a new tenant at the hei_INNOVATION Startup Hub! The start-up that was founded in August offers patients with rare metabolic disorders such as phenylketonuria (PKU) and maple syrup disease (MSUD) a digital patient companion with automated transfer of therapy-relevant laboratory values, dashboard and other functions for optimised care. With phenyx gUG, we are gaining an innovative new addition that enriches our startup ecosystem. Welcome aboard!

September 8, 2025
The results of the SIRI (Social Impact Readiness Index) project are now available online: a practical tool and an accompanying handbook – both designed to help scientists discover, highlight, and further develop the social impact potential of their research. Scientists interested in how research can be effectively transferred to society can now access both publications. The project was carried out by the Center for Social Investment and Innovation (CSI) in cooperation with hei_INNOVATION. At its core was the development of a guideline-based instrument that identifies and evaluates social impact potential and takes it into account beyond purely economic yield logic. This tool is now available online as a publication and is supplemented by a handbook with numerous examples that show how knowledge transfer is already having an impact on society today. SIRI not only raises awareness of the diverse social impact potential of scientific work, but also strengthens the interdisciplinary transfer culture at the Heidelberg science location.

August 27, 2025
With GiG – Games & Gamification in Healthcare, the state of Baden-Württemberg is specifically supporting innovation at the interface between games and health. The Baden-Württemberg Health Location Forum is presenting two exciting events: At the live GiG xTalk “Wanna bet I can do it?” on September 24, 2025, in Stuttgart, participants will gain new insights into prevention and health promotion. Registration is open until September 17. At the 48-hour GiG xLab “Mental Health & Prevention” on October 10, 2025, in Mannheim, teams will develop creative solutions to real-world challenges. The matching form can be submitted as a registration until September 3. Join and play an active role in shaping the future of health and games!

August 18, 2025
Heidelberg Historian Joey Rauschenberger has been awarded a prize in the Humanities and Cultural Studies section of the 2025 German Studies Award by the Körber Foundation. He will receive €10,000 for his dissertation, “Reparations for Sinti and Roma: A Practical History of Compensation for Nazi Injustice in Baden-Württemberg, 1945–1980,” which provides new insights into post-war compensation for Sinti and Roma. hei_INNOVATION supported Joey in preparing his pitch, and we are happy to have contributed a small part to his success! The awards will be presented in Berlin on December 4, 2025, by Julia Klöckner, President of the German Parliament.

July 17, 2025
Slush’D is returning to Heilbronn, and we at hei_INNOVATION are excited to offer you 20% off tickets. As a member of NXTGN, and with NXTGN being an official ecosystem partner, we’re able to pass this exclusive discount on to you: Get 20% Off! Under the theme “One Driving Force,” the event will bring together 1,000 international startups, investors, corporates, and thought leaders to explore the people, technologies, and trends shaping the European startup ecosystem. Expect inspiring keynotes, panels, hands-on workshops, high-impact networking, and a pitch competition where 50 startups will compete for a €100,000 investment! 

July 7, 2025
On June 2, 2025, the Start-up BW Summit brought Baden-Württemberg’s innovation community together in Stuttgart for a day of start-up exhibitions, pitches, keynotes, and a lively festival atmosphere with music and open discussions. hei_INNOVATION members were there representing Heidelberg University and the NXTGN consortium, showcasing our commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and collaborative innovation. The event was a valuable opportunity to connect with founders, partners, and stakeholders from across the region, and we were happy to take part!