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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
When investors, start-ups and researchers come together, environments are created in which scientific findings can be applied in practice and achieve commercial success. Such a setting was provided by the Business Angel Matching Evening, which was organized by the BANSON e. V. initiative in collaboration with the Competence Network Industrial Plasma Surface Technology e. V. INPLAS and took place at the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST on 10 February 2026. In addition to five selected start-ups, two Fraunhofer IST spin-offs also presented themselves, thereby taking the opportunity to showcase their technologies and development prospects.
During tours of the laboratories and technical centers of the Fraunhofer IST, the participants were able to experience at first hand the places where future innovations are created and how closely application-oriented research and potential start-ups are linked with one another at the institute.
“Spin-offs are an important transfer path for us,” explained Prof. Dr. Christoph Herrmann, Institute Director of the Fraunhofer IST and professor at the TU Braunschweig, emphasizing that: “Our goal is to specifically transfer research results into economic and social applications and to provide support to start-up teams at an early stage. The close integration of the Fraunhofer IST into the regional network is thereby vital for successful spin-offs.”
The fact that the regional environment offers the prerequisites for this was demonstrated not only by this evening. With business-development initiatives, start-up networks, incubators and the most diverse range of other formats, the City of Braunschweig and the TU Braunschweig are committed to creating an attractive regional ecosystem for start-ups that benefits from the high density of research in the region.
As part of this regional ecosystem, the Fraunhofer IST is scientifically linked in particular with the Technische Universität Braunschweig, whose transfer strategy “Transfer and Innovation Ecosystems TIES” systematically interlinks research, teaching and start-up culture and brings together stakeholders from science, business and society. This connection creates optimal conditions for new ideas and the development of viable business models for researchers and those interested in founding a company.
During the evening, the two Fraunhofer IST spin-offs demonstrated exemplarily how diverse the transfer paths from applied research can be:
S Mile Solutions (Smart Last Mile Solutions) develops infrastructure-based approaches for the “last mile” in remote regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The aim is to sustainably improve local living conditions: from the supply of clean water and electricity, through hygiene measures, and on to primary healthcare - including telemedicine.
Integrated Nanotech is working on the safe handling and transportation of hydrogen. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer IST, the spin-off is developing systems for the detection of hydrogen leaks in order to increase safety and efficiency in hydrogen-based transportation systems.
Both companies presented themselves alongside the other selected start-ups and utilized the evening to expand their network, establish contacts with investors and receive direct feedback from real-life practitioners.
For the Fraunhofer IST, the event was a further step forward in the strategic expansion of the spin-off transfer path, providing structured support for start-up teams and intensifying cooperation with regional partners. The Matching Evening demonstrated not only how closely research, start-up dynamics and regional initiatives are interlinked in Braunschweig but also the resultant potential that this holds for the future.
https://www.ist.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/2026/scientific-excellence-combined...
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