innovate! Academy
For new materials in medical technology
Are you researching bio-based materials for a fossil-free future? At the "innovate! Academy", we promote interdisciplinary, innovative and high-risk research projects from engineering, natural and material sciences with a strong focus on transfer and support you on the path from basic research to application.
In 2025, we are focussing on the topic of ‘bio-based materials’, i.e. materials that are produced sustainably from plant, animal or microbial sources. The aim is to replace fossil raw materials such as crude oil and provide environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives.
What does the "innovate! Academy" offer?
As part of the "innovate! Academy", we support excellent scientists who receive the following benefits:
- Staff position based on TVL-14 for two years,
- up to 100,000 euros in project funds per project, which are freely available and can be used on the basis of the cost plan submitted,
- Personnel funds and project funds may not exceed a total of 250,000 euros,
- up to 5,000 euros for outreach activities, individually selectable seminars on science communication and other aspects of the topic,
- a top-class seminar program of 10-15 working days within two years. The following topics are covered:
- Skills around spin-offs, translation and transfer,
- Theoretical and methodological challenges in the transfer of research results into practice,
- quality criteria, open data versus patent and trademark protection,
- outreach, science communication and personal development (e.g. management training, training on stress management and team building, etc.).
- Networking with other grantees and players in the start-up scene
The exact design of the seminar program is determined by the participants in order to adapt the offer as well as possible to the respective needs. Individual interests in topics are queried during the application process.
The "innovate! Academy" also serve the purpose of networking, so that those receiving funding can support each other on their path from research to practical application and learn from each other.
Who is the funding aimed at?
The call is aimed at materials scientists, natural scientists and engineering scientists.
We particularly support
- Doctoral students at an advanced stage of their doctorate,
- postdoctoral researchers, junior professors and professors,
- scientific employees.
Scientists who apply should have entrepreneurial or strongly application-oriented thinking and communicative talent and be interested in exchanging ideas with researchers from other disciplines and social actors.
Application
The application phase for the "innovate! Academy" for bio-based materials begins on February 3.
Selection procedure
The selection takes place in atwo-stage process: The written documents are reviewed by a six-member panel of experts consisting of representatives from the specialist disciplines and experts in transfer issues. This is followed by a personal interview with the most promising candidates at the Joachim Herz Foundation. Decisions on admission to the "innovate! Academy" will be communicated to the applicants at the end of July.The program starts in October of each year.
Contact
1st year
Focus: Application-oriented infection Research
Prof. Dr. med. Konrad Aden, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH)
Research topic: "Development of a metabolic biomarker that identifies severe infectious diseases faster and more accurately"
Juliane Bönecke, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)
Research topic: "DiDEX: Digital data and experimental spaces to strengthen interdisciplinary infection research in Nexus One Health"
Dr. rer. nat. Christina König, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
Research topic: "Development of a web-based dosing tool to control personalized drug therapy for invasive aspergillosis"
Dr. rer. nat. Pietro Scaturro, Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV)
Research topic: "Development of novel host-targeted antiviral agents for the treatment of flavivirus infections"
Dr. med. Nils Schweingruber, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
Research topic: "Development of an AI tool for ventriculitis prognosis in neurological intensive care patients"
Dr. rer. nat. Theresa Staufer, University of Hamburg (UHH)
Research topic: "Development of a laboratory system for biomedical X-ray fluorescence imaging"
2nd year
Focus: New materials in medical technology
Prof. Dr. Zeynep Altintas, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Research topic: "Development of quantum-enhanced bio-responsive hydrogel microneedle dressings: a core-shell strategy for precision sensing and adaptive healing of chronic wounds"
Dr. Indra Apsite-Vinzio, University of Bayreuth
Research topic: "Buckled fiber-reinforced meniscus implants"
Dr. Gerardo Asensio Martín, INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Saarbrücken
Research topic: "Self-replenishable drug-eluting contact lenses"
Prof. Dr. med. Rouven Berndt, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel / University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg (UHZ)
Research topic: "Production of a bioartificial vessel using 4D bioprinting for clinical application as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP)"
Johannes Braig, University Hospital Würzburg
Research topic: "ENDOLEASE - "ENDOvascular reLEASE": Targeted drug release with maximum efficacy without systemic side effects"
Dr. med. Maximilian Hammer, Heidelberg University Hospital
Research topic: "Novel hydrogel vitreous substitutes with drug delivery function for retinal surgery"
Sara Leal Marin, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
Research topic: "Diabelectric foot treatment"
Priv.-Doz. Dr. rer. medic. Dr. med. habil. Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Martin Schulze, Münster University Hospital / University of Münster
Research topic: "APIMEXA - Anti-infective polymer implant coating with extracorporeal activation"
Dr. Oskar Staufer, INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials in Saarbrücken
Research topic: "Artificial Cell Systems for Ex Vivo Expansion of Therapeutic Cells for Immunotherapy"