Supporting Start-ups from Academia

Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) aims to actively promote start-ups emerging from academia. Knowledge-based start-ups help bring new solutions to societal and technological challenges into practical application. At the same time, they offer students and researchers an additional career perspective.

To further raise awareness among students and researchers of the opportunity to develop their own start-up idea and company based on academic research, TUHH provides an additional incentive for its institutes.

Institutes from which a successful EXIST start-up project emerges can receive an award of up to €4,000.

The TUHH Award at a Glance

The award is granted for successfully completed EXIST projects funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), provided that the start-up project is based on a Master's or doctoral thesis.

EXIST Founder Grant

• €2,000 for the institute if the project is based on a Master's or doctoral thesis.
• If the founding team consists of two people whose respective Master's or doctoral theses were completed at the same institute, the institute receives €3,000.
• If the two team members completed their theses at different institutes, each institute receives €1,500.

EXIST Transfer of Research

• €4,000 for the institute if the project is based on a Master's or doctoral thesis.
• If the founding team consists of two people whose respective Master's or doctoral theses were completed at the same institute, the institute receives €4,000.
• If the two team members completed their theses at different institutes, each institute receives €2,000.

The award is paid after the successful completion of the respective EXIST project.

What is the Award Intended For?

The funds come from the incentive funding provided as part of the EXIST projects. They are intended to support institutes in fostering the development of start-up ideas and projects and in covering associated costs – for example, costs related to the use of laboratories or other infrastructure.

The aim is to further strengthen the start-up culture at TUHH and make it easier to turn academic research into a start-up.

How to Apply

The TUHH Award can be applied for informally by the head of the institute and the respective EXIST project member.

Following the successful completion of the EXIST project, the application should be submitted by email to startupport(at)tuhh.de and should include the following documents:

• An informal application for payment of the TUHH Award
• A scan of the degree certificate for the underlying Master's or doctoral thesis
• [Proof that the thesis was completed at the respective institute – details to be added]

If you have any questions about the award or the application process, the Startup Port team at TUHH will be happy to assist you.

Contact:
startupport(at)tuhh.de