Research transfer: Record funding for LMU spin-offs

Companies consisting of spin-offs from research groups at LMU Munich attracted extremely high levels of new capital last year. The spin-offs are developing innovative therapeutics, software, quantum computers, and more. In total, the new companies were able to raise around a quarter of a billion euros in funding, which they can use to expand their research and development activities.

The record sum demonstrates not only the entrepreneurial skill, successful research and development work, and economic viability of the spin-off ventures but also the enormous potential for innovation within the basic research being done at LMU. All of the companies are spin-offs from LMU or the University of Munich Hospital, which have commercialized technologies developed here or in cooperation with other research institutes. They also received initial advice from the Spin-off Service at LMU.

LMU supports research transfer

LMU has established a comprehensive service to help scientists realize the potential of their research findings. The transfer management services range from initial advice for anyone interested in founding their own company to support with the different types of funding available as well as writing business plans, to assistance in the search for suitable industry partners.

Intellectual property management is another important aspect of the advice on offer, as a spin-off naturally involves the commercial exploitation of research findings and the transfer of intellectual property.

The successful companies and their latest funding:

• Tubulis GmbH develops technologies for the manufacture of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) for a specific cancer treatment that is gentler on the body (funding attracted in 2024: 128 million euros)
• Planqc, founded by scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and LMU, works with neutral atoms in the field of digital quantum computing (50 million euros)
• Smart Reporting GmbH works on software solutions to help primarily radiologists and pathologists digitalize their documentation and make associated processes more efficient (23 million euros)
• deepc GmbH generates AI software systems for diagnostic imaging in radiology (12.6 million euros)
• Eisbach Bio GmbH develops drugs for precision oncology (8.9 million euros)
• Ethris GmbH, another biotech spin-off, works on RNA therapeutics and vaccines (7.8 million euros)

More information on the LMU spin-offs:
https://www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/news-overview/news/lmu-research-transfer-several-start-ups-attract-7-figure-investments.html
https://www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/news-overview/news/research-transfer-lmu-spin-off-tubulis-concludes-partnership-for-the-development-of-cancer-drugs.html
https://www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/news-overview/news/start-ups-with-an-academic-backbone.html

Information about the advice available from LMU for research transfer