The project

The project has engineered microbial production strains that convert renewable feedstocks into furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with high efficiency. FDCA is a key precursor for polyethylenefuranoate (PEF), a fully biobased alternative to fossil-derived PET. By enabling scalable, economically viable production, this innovation replaces petroleum-based plastics with environmentally friendly materials, directly supporting the shift toward a circular, low-carbon bioeconomy.

The project

High-temperature electrolysis (SOEC) is a key technology for climate-neutral hydrogen — but scaling from lab to production remains a bottleneck. Building on decades of research at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Nikolaos Margaritis established a regional manufacturing network to produce market-ready H₂ stacks in small series. The initiative transfers laboratory know-how into coordinated industrial production with regional partners.

The project

Photovoltaics must move beyond rigid rooftop modules. The next phase of the energy transition requires solar technologies that are integrated, flexible, and rapidly scalable. The Helmholtz Innovation Platform SolarTAP enables exactly that — by combining automated material acceleration, AI-driven data analytics, and integrated process development to drastically shorten innovation cycles for perovskite and hybrid photovoltaics. By linking material design, scaling, and commercialization in one platform, it turns years of fragmented development into months of targeted progress. Solar energy becomes an integrated, designable technology for buildings, agriculture, and infrastructure.

The project

Materials development is slowed by fragmented data and disconnected workflows. ViMi Labs provides an AI-driven cloud platform that integrates data management, model deployment, and simulation — reducing development times by up to 50%. International partnerships underline the transition from research infrastructure to scalable digital product.

The project

Energy systems, production planning, and logistics face optimization problems that exceed classical limits. Quicopt delivers quantum-inspired optimization as a modular software platform that solves discrete and nonlinear problems faster and more efficiently. Now at TRL 6 with pilot customers, the technology transforms theoretical physics into measurable operational advantage. Complexity becomes solvable.

The project

Cimona develops CMOS-compatible compute-in-memory hardware that performs AI computations directly where data is stored, eliminating the memory bottleneck of conventional processors. Targeting attention mechanisms in large language models, the patented architecture enables high-performance AI on edge devices such as smartphones and autonomous systems. With three patents secured and commercial validation underway, the team is preparing the spin-off to bring energy-efficient AI hardware to market.

The project

Jülich Type-SPC introduces a new method to enlarge ultrafine aerosol particles, making them optically detectable without the need for carrier liquids. The technology simplifies instrument design, reduces cost, and enables deployment in high-security environments. Licensed to an industry partner, the innovation demonstrates exemplary IP transfer from laboratory to global market.

The project

With SIFcam, Floronics develops lightweight drone-based photosynthesis cameras that measure solar-induced fluorescence to determine plant vitality in real time. The system enables high-resolution monitoring of large agricultural and forestry areas — reducing yield losses and resource input. With funding applications underway, the project is advancing toward spin-off and market deployment.

The project

The JBWZ builds a scalable infrastructure that integrates citizens directly into energy research — not as audience, but as co-creators. Through dialogical formats such as Snackflektion, Energie-Tabu and Audience Alchemy, scientific expertise and societal perspectives converge in a structured, bidirectional transfer process. The platform strengthens research relevance, inclusivity, and public trust while establishing a replicable model for participatory science.

The project

Drought Analytics provides real-time and seasonal hydrological forecasting to support climate-resilient water management. Using field-specific simulations, the platform enables farmers and insurers to anticipate soil moisture deficits and act early. Founded in 2025 after multiple transfer funding stages, the venture turns climate research into actionable foresight.

The project

This work closes one of the critical gaps in hydrogen technology: the reliable transfer of cm² test cell results to technically relevant stack dimensions. By systematically analyzing scaling effects and developing a high-performance stack platform adaptable to multiple technologies, the project accelerates industrial deployment. It transforms laboratory precision into scalable hydrogen infrastructure.

The project

This newly developed digital holographic polarization microscope enables label-free reconstruction of complex 3D nerve fiber architectures while quantifying myelination via refractive index measurements. By combining inline holography with polarization-sensitive detection, the system significantly increases throughput and analytical depth compared to conventional methods. The invention opens new pathways for neurodegenerative research and scalable microstructural brain imaging.

The project

Emerging from Alzheimer’s research, this novel drug candidate targets neuropathic pain affecting millions of patients, many of whom do not respond to opioids. Unlike conventional treatments, it shows no addiction potential and avoids severe side effects. The project addresses a clear unmet medical need while translating fundamental neuroscience into therapeutic innovation.

The project

WestAI provides low-barrier, cost-free access to cutting-edge AI expertise, high-performance computing infrastructure, and state-of-the-art models — translating AI research into deployable solutions for SMEs and academia. Built on a consortium including Universität Bonn, RWTH Aachen, TU Dortmund, multiple Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft institutes and the Forschungszentrum Jülich, the initiative bridges top-tier AI research with applied implementation. Through consulting, technology transfer, tailored model development, and access to HPC resources, WestAI enables companies to move from AI ambition to operational deployment. It establishes a sustainable transfer ecosystem that strengthens competitiveness while broadening societal access to AI technologies.

The project

HYCA Heat develops a catalytic hydrogen heat system that replaces fossil-based burners in industrial applications while eliminating CO₂ and NOₓ emissions at the point of use. By targeting the thermal backbone of manufacturing and chemical production, it addresses one of the structurally hardest-to-abate emission sources. Demonstrator development and spin-off preparation ensure technical validation and industrial scalability. The technology converts hydrogen into controllable, emission-free process energy — ready for integration into existing industrial infrastructure.