From excellent research to application-oriented innovation

Why InnovationScouting? At TU Darmstadt, exciting scientific ideas with high innovation potential emerge every day. Identifying and capturing this potential is a key task of InnovationScouting.

How do we work? We proactively approach researchers at all career stages and support them in identifying, assessing, and further developing the innovation potential of their research at an early stage.
We work closely with research activities, confidentially, and in addition to existing support structures at TU Darmstadt, with the goal of bringing the results of excellent research into practical application. To achieve this, we support researchers, for example, in applying for suitable funding, building scientific and industry networks, and connecting with the innovation and start-up centre HIGHEST.

What we bring to the table

We are a team of three and serve as a point of contact for all research topics and innovations. At the same time, we bring diverse disciplinary backgrounds and areas of expertise, allowing us to provide targeted and in-depth guidance depending on the topic.

Franziska Schösser

With my background in business administration and management, I bring a business-oriented perspective to our advisory work and support researchers in unlocking the potential of their research beyond the academic context.

Alongside my work as an InnovationScout, my doctoral research focuses on the structures and dynamics that influence entrepreneurial activity and innovation. I use this understanding to assess research projects within the broader innovation ecosystem and, depending on their stage of development, to help identify suitable networks, funding opportunities, and support services that can bring research into practical application.

Contact:

Dr.-Ing. Christian Thyes

As a PhD engineer, my focus as an InnovationScout is on how ideas can be developed into concrete applications and market-ready innovations.

I have many years of experience in applied research, technology transfer, and the startup ecosystem. At the Fraunhofer Society I worked as a research manager and gained first-hand insight into the challenges of transferring research into practice. Through my experience in the investment sector, I also understand which factors—beyond strong technology—are crucial for successfully bringing innovations to market.

Contact:

Dr. Frank Wattler

As an InnovationScout, my focus lies in the natural sciences, as well as in advising researchers on inventions and patents.

I hold a PhD in molecular biology and have many years of experience in both academic and industrial research. As an idea-driven researcher, I have been involved in numerous patent applications and have actively contributed to the development of innovations. I bring this experience to support the transformation of scientific ideas into innovation.

Contact:

How do we work?

We introduce ourselves, talk about our services for researchers and students, and share the personal experiences we bring to the table as InnovationScouts.

Information and advisory services

(Some of these are offered in collaboration with the innovation and start-up centre HIGHEST.)

  • One-on-one consultation: on site, via video, or in the cafeteria
  • Lab meetup: presenting your own research in the lab
  • Technology Readiness Level (TRL) check: how to assess the TRL of your research
  • Patents and other IP rights: how to protect your results

If you are interested in one or more of these services, feel free to send us a short email () or book a consultation slot. (opens in new tab)

  • One-on-one consultation: on site, via video, or in the cafeteria
  • Lab meetup: presenting your own research in the lab
  • Tech transfer: What application options are there for my results?
  • Patents and other IP rights: how to protect your results
  • Transfer funding: Which programs can support the development or transfer of my research results?

If you are interested in one or more of these services, feel free to send us a short email () or book a consultation slot. (opens in new tab)

  • Target group-specific impulse talks: on topics such as patents and other IP rights, innovation, or innovation scouting
  • Tech transfer: discipline-specific workshops on commercialization options and support in developing research results through to spin-off activities
  • Patent portfolio analyses: advice on technology trends, interdisciplinary aspects, as well as competitors and potential cooperation partners
  • Transfer funding programs: introduction to and information on (funding) programs

If you are interested in one or more of these services, feel free to send us a short email () or book a consultation slot. (opens in new tab)

We offer a personal consultation every Friday at 2:00 PM; available slots can be booked via the following link:

Book a 30-minute appointment here

All researchers at TU Darmstadt are welcome who would like to learn more about InnovationScouting or exchange ideas with us—without obligation—about the innovation potential of their research.

If none of the available slots are suitable, individual appointments can also be arranged via

Idea-Café: Turn Your Research Into Real-World Impact!

You feel your research is mainly relevant within academia? That’s exactly when it’s worth stopping by the Idea-Café.

Here, you can have an informal conversation with us about the potential of your research—even if you believe it has no obvious application beyond academia.

Whether you have an early-stage idea, an interesting observation from your research, or are simply curious, we’ll take a fresh look at your work together, explore possible application opportunities, and discuss what the next steps could be. Of course, every conversation is completely confidential and comes with no obligation.

No appointment is necessary – just drop by.

Upcoming sessions (first Tuesday of every month):

Additional dates and locations will be announced soon.

Download Information Flyer (A5)

An information flyer about the InnovationScouts can be requested in printed form by emailing innovationscout@tu-darmstadt.de or downloaded here as a PDF.

Download Flyer (PDF file) (opens in new tab)

Working with HIGHEST and xchange

We are part of the xchange Office at TU Darmstadt and work closely with the innovation and start-up centre HIGHEST.

HIGHEST provides dedicated support for the next steps, ensuring seamless and professional guidance from the initial invention idea through to startup formation.

Parts of these services are co-funded by the European Union.

 
European Union logo with the caption below: “Co-funded by the European Union”