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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The Helmholtz Association is launching a nationwide biomedical engineering initiative to accelerate technology development and transfer activities. Led by its established Health Centers, “Helmholtz Biomedical Engineering” brings together cutting-edge infrastructure and expertise to collaboratively develop innovative solutions for continuous health monitoring, disease prevention, earlier detection and more personalized diagnostic and therapy. Building on regional academic strength and through fostering industry collaborations, this national initiative aims to excel Germany’s position as global hub for biomedical engineering and health technology innovations.
Connecting Expertise to Advance Germany’s High-Tech Agenda
The Helmholtz Association is uniquely positioned to bridge disciplines such as life sciences, engineering, data science, and medicine. Building on its academic partnerships and industry collaborations, the Helmholtz Biomedical Engineering Initiative focuses on closing the gap in biomedical education structures and shaping research frameworks that foster science-driven entrepreneurship.
“Biomedical engineering will solve health challenges and create innovative business opportunities – together strengthening Germany’s technological sovereignty. The cooperation of our research centers with academic and industry partners will lead to innovations that benefit society. These efforts align closely with the goals of Germany’s High-Tech Agenda and Europe’s drive to support start-ups and scale-ups,” says Helmholtz President Prof. Martin Keller.
Ten Cross-Center Projects Kick Off the Initiative
To start the initiative, ten cross-center projects with start-up ambitions or industry collaborations have been competitively selected and are being funded by the Helmholtz Association. These projects address key challenges in modern medicine – from early disease detection and personalized diagnostics to novel therapeutic approaches. Five of the projects are coordinated by Helmholtz Munich, including the central Coordination Unit, which serves the strategic alignment, network expansion, and the identification of future funding opportunities for all participating Helmholtz Centers.
“Helmholtz Munich has built a strong and internationally recognized profile in biomedical engineering. We are delighted to coordinate this initiative, bringing together leading laboratories across the Helmholtz Association, contributing our expertise, and further enhancing its visibility,” states Prof. Martin Hrabě de Angelis, Member and Spokesperson of the Executive Board (acting) at Helmholtz Munich.
Innovations Across Prevention, Diagnosis, and Therapy
The ten selected projects embrace the breadth and potential of biomedical engineering. They range from miniaturized, non-invasive sensor technologies and AI-powered diagnostic and imaging tools, to microrobots and enveloped vehicles for therapeutic delivery, engineered peptides for targeted cancer therapy, microfluidic platforms to overcome multi-drug resistance, and human organ-on chip technologies.
"Biomedical engineering is redefining what is possible in medicine. By integrating advanced sensing technologies, artificial intelligence, imaging, and novel therapeutic approaches, we can detect disease earlier, tailor treatments more precisely, and develop entirely new strategies and pathways for patient care. The first projects within this initiative provide a first glimpse of the transformative power and societal impact of biomedical engineering,” says Prof. Vasilis Ntziachristos, Head of the Bioengineering Center and Director of the Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz Munich, and Professor of the Chair of Biological Imaging at the Technical University Munich.
Building a Sustainable Bioengineering Community
Beyond research, the initiative emphasizes community building, talent development, and knowledge transfer. It aims to engage new partners across academic institutions, invites participation from industry and start-ups, and contributes to national and European policy discussions to support the sustainable implementation of biomedical engineering education and the ongoing training of the next generation of bioengineers.
Part of Helmholtz Research Campaigns for Future Technologies
The Biomedical Engineering Initiative is part of a €36 million package for future technologies launched by the Helmholtz Association in 2026. Over a period of three years, three cross-cutting research campaigns will be supported, designed to strengthen collaboration across Helmholtz research areas and with external partners.
The ten Helmholtz Centers involved in the Helmholtz Biomedical Engineering Initiative are:
• Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
• Forschungszentrum Jülich
• German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
• Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)
• Helmholtz Munich
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
• Max Delbrück Center
About Helmholtz Munich
Helmholtz Munich is a leading biomedical research center. Its mission is to develop breakthrough solutions for better health in a rapidly changing world. Interdisciplinary research teams focus on environmentally triggered diseases, especially the therapy and prevention of diabetes, obesity, allergies, and chronic lung diseases. With the power of artificial intelligence and bioengineering, researchers accelerate the translation to patients. Helmholtz Munich has more than 2,550 employees and is headquartered in Munich/Neuherberg. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association, with more than 46,000 employees and 18 research centers the largest scientific organization in Germany. More about Helmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt GmbH): www.helmholtz-munich.de/en
https://www.helmholtz-bioengineering.de/
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