Business models for top research Students develop concepts for market launch of TU research results

How can research results be better marketed? The seminar “Technology Business Model Creation” gives students the tools to develop ideas for market exploitation. To this end, they develop well-founded business model approaches for researchers at TU Braunschweig. In the summer semester 2023, researchers are again invited to have a business model developed for their research projects. Applications are possible until 15 February 2023.

When high-tech research meets tailor-made business concepts, considerable opportunities and problem-solving potential can become apparent. Successful start-ups such as Formhand and Capical have shown the enormous market potential of high-tech research at TU Braunschweig.

As part of their participation in the course, researchers receive professional business management support in transferring their research output into an innovative market product. The students develop suitable business models with a focus on real applicable technologies. Ideally, the results of the work can also be used after the seminar and create real added value in the market launch. The overall aim of the seminar is to use the opportunities in the Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel region for high-tech start-ups and to promote business creations in this area.

“We would like to motivate all researchers, especially doctoral students, post-docs and professors as well as high-tech projects from the institutes and research facilities to participate. Especially if they have developed a technology and can imagine developing a start-up from it,” says Professor Reza Asghari, head of the joint Entrepreneurship Hub of TU Braunschweig and Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences.

Finding co-founders and preparing start-up funding

In addition, there is the possibility of directly acquiring co-founders with commercial expertise from the Industrial Engineering and Technology-oriented Management degree programmes. In addition, the results form the basis for applying for EXIST start-up funding from the federal government of up to 600,000 euros.

What else is in it for researchers

With their participation, researchers receive an individual business model tailored to their technology, impulses for a possible business creation, networking with other researchers, people interested in start-ups and start-up supporters, as well as preparation for EXIST start-up funding.

The winning team 2022: Philipp Neugebauer, Camila Colandré and Julius Rettberg had created a business model for the research of Nils Goseberg (Professor of Hydromechanics, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, 3rd from left). In the picture on the right: Prof. Dr. Reza Asghari, Head of the Entrepreneurship Hub. Photo credit: Eric Haase/Entrepreneurship Hub

Established for many years

The course has already been taking place for many years and has helped well-known start-ups such as Capical, Formhand or Aeon Robotics to spin out. Last year, students Philipp Neugebauer, Camila Colandré and Julius Rettberg were awarded for their business model, which they developed as a team for Professor Nils Goseberg’s research (Leichtweiß-Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources). Professor Goseberg’s research project deals with a membrane that could replace conventional nets in fish farming.