To be eligible, applicants must intend to turn an innovative idea related to at least one of Chemnitz University of Technology’s three core competencies into a startup, or must have already done so. However, the startup must have been founded no more than 18 months prior to the application deadline.
A jury evaluates the applicants’ business concepts based on criteria such as innovation, economic parameters, strategic orientation, and sustainability/regional focus. Further information on the process, the application, and the evaluation criteria is available on the TUClab project website: www.tu-chemnitz.de/tuclab
Overview of the TUClab competition process:
- Application deadline: September 13, 2026
- Announcement of finalists: by October 9, 2026
- Pitch Day & Awards Ceremony: October 30, 2026, in Chemnitz
Background: TUClab
As part of its technology transfer strategy, Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz) aims to further strengthen the links between science, research, and industry. In particular, the university has set itself the goal of intensively promoting innovative spin-offs in its core competencies of “Smart Materials and Systems,” “Resource-Efficient Production and Lightweight Construction,” and “People and Technology.” Against this backdrop, the Sächsische Aufbaubank—the development bank of the Free State of Saxony—and Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz) initiated the establishment of a so-called “TUClab” in 2018 to provide joint, unbureaucratic support and funding for founders. Since 2018, the competition has supported two to three teams annually, the majority of which are now integral parts of the Chemnitz and Saxon economies.
Contact
Dr. Anja Herrmann-Fankhänel,
TUClab Project Director,
Phone 0371 531-30405,
Email tuclab@tu-chemnitz.de.
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Further Links
👉 www.tu-chemnitz.de
Photo: Dr. Joseph Heß
