The European Investment Fund – EIF (INSME Member) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are launching a EUR 60 million Fraunhofer Tech Transfer Fund to commercialize the intellectual property generated at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft from its 72 thematic Fraunhofer Institutes across Germany. The Fund will be launched under the European Commission’s InnovFin programme and is supported by the European Fund for Strategic Investments, EFSI.
Fraunhofer Technologie Transfer Fonds GmbH will identify and provide financing to spin-offs and licensing models from Fraunhofer institutes at an early stage of the innovation process. It will also encourage the research community to take its findings to market through direct incentives.
Positive comments on the initiative came from Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation who said “Technology transfer is of paramount importance if we want to keep Europe in pole position in the field of innovation. This tech transfer fund will help German researchers take the product of their work to the market and make Germany’s industry more innovative and competitive. This is another example of the Juncker Plan’s added value in the country.” The President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft said “In setting up Fraunhofer Technologie Transfer Fonds GmbH, we are not only supporting young entrepreneurs from the research community during a critical phase but also making an important contribution to the transfer of new technology from the laboratory to the economy.” Last but not the least EIF Chief Executive, Pier Luigi Gilibert commented: “We are delighted to launch this Technology Transfer fund in Germany, with Europe’s largest applied research organisation – Fraunhofer. Germany remains underserved in terms of Technology Transfer funds, in particular, for investments in capital-intensive sectors such as advanced materials or manufacturing digitalisation due to limited appetite from private investors. EU resources play a catalytic role allowing these funds to reach meaningful sizes while contributing to Germany’s Technology Transfer and Venture Capital market.”
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Source: The European Investment Fund - EIF
