Welcome to “From Lab to Launch - Unleashing Academic Startups”!
On June 25 at TUM Campus Heilbronn, we bring together leading researchers, founders, policymakers, and innovation leaders to tackle one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: how to turn world-class science into scalable academic startups and real-world impact. Through keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive formats, the conference explores international practices, exposes the structural and legal bottlenexls in today’s innovation systems, and develops concrete ideas for reforming the framework that shape academic entrepreneurship.
Speakers
* Virtual Participation
TUM Campus Heilbronn // Weipertstraße 8-10, 74076 Heilbronn
June 25, 2026 // 9:30 - 17:00 CET
Register here: Eventbrite
Speakers
* Virtual Participation
Agenda
Time
Registration & Coffee
Why Innovation Fails and What Others Do Differently
Opening Remarks
Welcome & Introduction: Why “From Lab to Launch” Matters now
Keynote: Everyone Wants Innovation - So Why Does Implementation Fail?
Keynote: What Works Elsewhere - And Why?
Coffee Break & Networking
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 11:00
11:00 - 11:20
Making Innovation Work in Practice
11:20 - 12:30
Keynote: Germany Can Do Better - If We Use What We Already Have
Keynote: Innovation Needs Legal Certainty and Courage To Decide
Keynotes: From Lab to Launch - Experiences From Founding Within the University Ecosystem
Launch Break & Networking
12:30 - 13:30
Aligning Actors and Scaling Innovation
13:30 - 14:10
Keynote: From Idea to Impact - Why Scaling Fails After Promising Beginnings
Keynote: Different Logics, One Goal
Coffee Break & Networking
14:10 - 14:30
Spin-Off Pitch Session: From Lab to Market
14:30 - 15:00
Four university spin-offs present their ventures, followed by questions and feedback from an expert jury
Coffee Break & Networking
15:00 - 15:15
Policy Panel: What Must Change in Law and Ruglation
15:15 - 15:45
Cross sector panel on the legal and regulatory changes needed to unlock academic innovation, with a focus on actionable reforms and pilot opportunities for Bavaria
Fish Bowl: From Discussion to Action
15:45 - 16:45
Entrepreneurial Professorship // Global Network Professorship // Industry Bridge Professorship
Policy Wrap-Up & Next Steps
16:45 - 17:00
Networking & Get-Together
17:00 - End
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