futureSAX Nominee Portrait about Prof. (em.) Jörg Steinbach from HZDR and Jens Junker from ROTOP

Workbook Alumni in KTT

The brochure presents practical examples of the technology and knowledge transfer at the HZDR.

Partners in technology transfer

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Transfer Strategy and Guideline of HZDR

Foto: Titelblatt Strategiebroschüre 2030+ ©Copyright: HZDR

HZDR Strategy 2030+

In its capacity as a multiprogrammatic major research center, the HZDR conducts internationally recognized, application-oriented basic research to address the grand challenges of our time. In our role as an attractive employer, we aspire to help create a future worth living for the next generations in Germany and beyond.

To make full use of our potential, we have set out a roadmap for the next decade – the HZDR Strategy 2030+ – true to the motto “Moving Research to the NEXT Level for the NEXT Gens”.


HZDR Transfer Strategy 2025+

Building on the HZDR Strategy 2030+, the Transfer Strategy sets out the following goals for the next years:

  1. Improve transfer culture and incentives.
  2. Increase the level of qualification with regard to transfer.
  3. Further improve transfer support.
  4. Consolidate the role of HZDR Innovation GmbH as a transfer organisation with best-practice character in the Helmholtz Association.
  5. Significantly expand knowledge transfer activities and successes.
  6. Significantly increase the perception of the HZDR transfer in the centre itself and in the outside world.
  7. Increase technology transfer output significantly and measurably with key figures.

The HZDR transfer strategy has been incorporated into the Helmholtz Association's transfer mission and strategy. In terms of content, each of the 18 research centers sets its own priorities in transfer - in line with its specialist orientation. What they all have in common is their mission: to conduct basic research with a feel for practical application.

The brochure "Transfer zwischen Forschung und Anwendung: Transfermission und -strategie der Zentren der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft" is available for download, as well as the "Helmholtz Transfer Strategy Overview".


Foto: Infografik Transferverständnis HZDR de ©Copyright: HZDR

HZDR Exploitation Guideline

The HZDR contributes to solving major societal challenges - with concrete and measurable benefits and impact. The aspiration and driving force behind all activities is excellence and a top international position. This applies to research and the operation of large research infrastructures as well as to the transfer of the knowledge gained to society, science and industry.

Consequently, knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) is part of the HZDR's social mission and statutory purpose. "By actively exploiting its research results, the HZDR makes a significant contribution to the future viability of the economy and society," emphasises the HZDR mission statement.

With its activities in knowledge and technology transfer, the HZDR pursues the mission of improving the lives of the people of this and future generations ̶ be it through the creation of sustainable jobs, through appropriate measures to promote health or to preserve the Earth as a planet worth living on. At the same time, people should be enabled to make the best possible decisions based on scientific results. As one of the largest publicly funded research institutions in the comparatively economically and structurally weak new federal states, the centre also has a special role to play.

As one of the largest publicly funded research institutions in the comparatively economically and structurally weak new federal states, the Centre also has a special responsibility to make significant contributions to the creation of economic value - especially in the region.

This mission is fixed in the HZDR's exploitation guideline: "For its transfer activities, the HZDR uses all possible means of technology transfer. These include publications, lectures, further education, personnel exchange, cooperations, contract research, licensing, and establishing spin-offs. For each transfer project, an individual case evaluation of the most favourable option is made. The main evaluation criterion is the societal benefit, or the increase in societal prosperity attainable from the project; in the case of technology transfer to the economy, the attainable value added in Germany, in particular. In the event of a successful exploitation, the HZDR shall, to an appropriate extent, financially profit from the project."

Industrial property rights

Industrial property rights, in particular patents, form the basis for the successful exploitation of technologies, and the financial contributions of the HZDR to the transfer projects. Industrial property rights also increase the possibility to attract third-party funding for research. Therefore, the HZDR builds a valuable portfolio of industrial property rights in its main fields of research.

Exploitation-Relevant Rules for Cooperation Agreements and Contract Research

The HZDR makes fair and partnership-based arrangements in its cooperation agreements with third parties. Simultaneously, it shall be ensured that the research results be exploited to the widest extent possible in order to gain the greatest societal benefit possible from the project. For this reason, as a rule, only non-exclusive licenses are granted in the case of cooperations. In the case that the partner’s exploitation success is based on HZDR research results, the HZDR shall, to an appropriate extent, financially profit from the project.

Spin-offs and Shareholdings

Establishing spin-offs is a suitable means of exploitation. The HZDR supports spin-offs in the pre- and early post-start phase in accordance with the guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In screenings, the HZDR selects potential-rich ideas that get transferred to an early spin-off phase by active business development. In the next development phases, the possibilities for the development of new business areas in association with the HZDR Innovation GmbH are exploited. The scope of the support provided by the HZDR depends on the strategic importance of the spin-off for the HZDR, as well as on the economic potential of the spin-off. In the case of spin-offs, the possibility of taking shares – parallel to licensing – is examined on a case by case basis.