Industry and Academia Seeking New Frontiers at RWTH Innovation | Industry Meetup
Last week, approximately 50 participants gathered at the Collective Incubator for an intensive get-together focused on Deep Tech innovation and technology transfer hosted by RWTH Innovation. Strategic industry partners of RWTH, further corporates, start-ups, and RWTH experts discussed how Deep Tech transfer can drive industrial innovation. Hosted by RWTH Innovation, the day’s interactive format demanded active participation rather than passive attendance. Participants engaged in keynotes, World Café discussions, a Market of Ideas, speed networking, and an insightful closing panel. Despite the rising summer heat, the atmosphere remained energetic and focused, with lively discussions punctuated by a surprise ice cream break to keep spirits high.
Navigating through the “Valley of Death”
In his keynote, Dr. Stefan Sterlepper (RWTH Hydrogen Cluster4Future) showcased how the Hydrogen Cluster navigates innovations through the so-called “Valley of Death,” bridging the critical gap between medium technology readiness levels and market viability. His examples illustrated how strategic support, and collaborative frameworks make the difference between promising research and real-world application.
Dr. Maximilian Kuhn of Viega GmbH & Co. KG offered an industry perspective on fostering innovation and collaboration, highlighting the importance of systematic approaches within established companies. Philipp Janello of BMW added insights on structuring partnerships with universities such as RWTH. He emphasized that RWTH’s openness is highly regarded by industry, serving as a key enabler for bridging the crucial gap between research outcomes and their practical use in the market.
Deep Tech Under the Microscope
In the World Café working sessions following Prof. Michael Riesener’s keynote on Deep Tech innovation, participants explored what it takes to achieve successful technology transfer. Discussions revealed that sharing best practices plays a crucial role in guiding projects forward. Many industry representatives identified proof-of-concept stages as the most effective point for collaboration, emphasizing the need for simple, streamlined processes to enable bilateral projects. There was also a clear interest in services that facilitate direct communication with researchers and provide sparring partnerships to discuss pressing topics, highlighting the importance of ongoing dialogue between science and industry to drive innovation effectively.
Market of Ideas: Connecting Visionaries
In the Market of Ideas, participants encountered pioneering start-ups such as ARQUE Systems, NaionTech, VOVO Charging, LIMA and AEsy, alongside RWTH research initiatives like the Center for Circular Economy, the Profile Area Molecular Science & Engineering (MSE) as well as the Institute of Building Materials Research (Prof. Oliver Weichold) [MS1] presenting a nearly chemical-free wood preservative derived from chitin – a naturally occurring substance found in crab shells and insect exoskeletons. The showcases sparked numerous follow-up discussions, with industry representatives and researchers alike exploring concrete opportunities for collaboration.
Panel Discussion: Are We Still Innovative Enough?
The closing panel, “Technology Transfer from the Perspective of Industry, Academia, and Start-ups,” brought together Dr.-Ing. Maximilian Kuhn (Viega GmbH & Co. KG), Dr.-Ing. Stefan Sterlepper (RWTH Hydrogen Cluster4Future), Prof. Hendrik Bluhm (FZ Jülich / ARQUE Systems), and Dr. Roberta Caterino (RWTH Innovation) to discuss with the audiences how technology transfer can succeed across sectors. The interactive talk explored whether industry partners know how to navigate RWTH’s complex network, the importance of a common language between science and industry, and the expectations and hurdles that shape collaborations.
Reflecting on Germany’s innovation landscape, one panelist noted, „We used to be world champions in disruptive innovation as light and electricity; today, we excel at incremental improvements,” prompting the audience to consider whether bold breakthroughs have become too rare.“
Another participant emphasized that while big promises are important, they need to be matched by equally strong actions to truly drive progress.
Translating Insights into Action
The event made it clear that bridging the “Valley of Death” in Deep Tech transfer requires more than promising research: it demands early, tailored support, structured collaboration, and a shared understanding between academia, industry, and start-ups. This meetup laid a strong foundation for the next steps—deepening partnerships and developing customized offerings for both researchers and industry stakeholders. These efforts will be essential to unlocking the full potential of innovation at scale and strengthening the competitiveness of all involved.
To turn these insights into progress, several priorities emerged from the discussions:
● Technology transfer is a dynamic, mutual exchange between research, industry and start-ups, not a one-way street.
● We excel at incremental innovation, but it is time to invest more decisively in disruptive innovation again.
● The RWTH Collective Incubator proved to be an ideal venue bringing together diverse perspectives and enabling interdisciplinary networking.
● Our shared goal must be to help knowledge-based ventures grow and scale.
● To overcome the mid-TRL “danger zone,” we need more risk capital and new financing models for research-driven innovation.
Companies seeking direct connections into academia to strengthen their innovation pathway are invited to reach out and drive progress.
