Technology Transfer
In addition to research and teaching, TU Dortmund University sees transfer as its core task and is a national and international pioneer in knowledge and technology transfer. As early as 1984, a separate transfer office was set up as part of a pilot project. Since the beginning of 2017, the Center for Entrepreneurship & Transfer (CET), as a central university facility, has initiated and promoted the local and regional networking at TU Dortmund University, its start-up support, strategy-led property rights management and the structuring of TU Dortmund University business collaborations. In addition, TU Dortmund University is a co-founder and shareholder of TechnologieZentrumDortmund GmbH (TZDO), the core of one of Europe's largest technology parks.
TU Dortmund University is a member of the BRYCK Startup Alliance, a joint venture comprising the RAG Foundation, the University Alliance Ruhr, the „Initiativkreis Ruhr“ business alliance of over 70 companies and institutions, and the BRYCK innovation and startup center. The aim of the initiative is to establish a leading European center for the development of high-growth deep tech startups. BRYCK was officially selected by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as a national Startup Factory. Through the BRYCK Startup Alliance, science-based spin-offs will be specifically promoted and the transfer of innovative technologies from cutting-edge research to industry will be accelerated.
Sustainable Spin-offs
In 2024, 46 start-ups were founded by (former) members of TU Dortmund University. Examples of successful spin-offs that pursue ecological and/or social goals and contribute to sustainable development are:
- vGreens (participant in cetup.PREINC – TU Dortmund University's pre-incubator program, supported by investment from TU capital): fully automated, hydroponic vertical farm with the aim of producing higher-quality strawberries in flexibly adjustable quantities at marketable prices
- simplyfined (in preparation for launch, EXIST research transfer funding secured, TU Start-up Award 2024 winner): sustainable products for the chemical industry: A wide variety of vegetable oils are converted into a bio-based platform chemical
- SHOWER (in preparation for launch, patented project, Humboldtn Prize for Sustainability): patented heat exchangers for energy savings in bathroom showers
- PottPilz (in preparation for launch, EXIST funding): Green tech startup that develops sustainable materials for construction and offices
- artitUP (in German) (solo founder since 2022, participant in the TU Start-up Award 2024): Vision: to give lesser-known artists and students a platform for their art.
- SOCHILI (in German) (founded in 2021): Enables farmers and their families to access electricity for the first time. Every SOCHILI product sold provides the equivalent of one day of electricity for a family in the Global South.
- Stay Safe and Brave (in preparation for launch, EXIST-Women 2024, role model for female entrepreneurship): Travel platform for individual trips to South Africa with support from a local mentor on site
Patents
TU Dortmund University contributes to economic and social development in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond with the inventions of its researchers. In close cooperation with PROvendis GmbH - a subsidiary of the NRW universities - TU Dortmund University's CET evaluates, protects and exploits the inventions of TU researchers. Many of these inventions have high economic potential and are exploited and put into practice by licensing or selling them to companies; some have served as the basis for the founding of innovative companies in the region. In 2024, all faculties at TU Dortmund University filed 22 invention disclosures, five of which were incorporated into a spin-off company (see publication “Zahlen, Daten, Fakten”, in German, p. 14). Currently, there is no record of whether the patents are sustainable according to the TU's definition of sustainability.
Formats for Technology Transfer
The following formats support the technology transfer of TU Dortmund University:
TU-Start-Up-Award: Once a year, CET presents the start-up award sponsored by the wilo Foundation to successful start-ups associated with TU Dortmund University.
TU Start-up Weekend: This annual three-day event is a joint offering from the 17 departments and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants develop innovative solutions using design thinking methods and receive feedback from experts.
Dr. Michael Brenscheidt-Transferpreis (in German): The Dr. Michael Brenscheidt Transfer Prize has been awarded every two years since 2024. The prize money totaling €10,000 for the award, which is presented every two years, is donated by Dortmund-based commercial lawyer Dr. Michael Brenscheidt to recognize special achievements in research transfer and to support the realization of new business ideas and collaborations with partners in industry.
Industry lecture series „Zukunftsdialog“ (in German): The lecture series aims to strengthen the exchange between regional companies and TU Dortmund University. Once per semester experienced company representatives discuss current industry-relevant topics with university members.
CATALYST GER: Online workshop program run by the University Alliance Ruhr and five other German universities, specifically tailored to the humanities, social sciences, and education sciences, with the aim of facilitating knowledge transfer and securing long-term funding for this initiative.