InnovationLab

What InnovationLab does

InnovationLab GmbH is a Heidelberg-based, privately-held technology-transfer platform founded in 2008 by BASF SE, HEIDELBERGER Druckmaschinen AG, KIT, and Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, with the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) joining as fifth shareholder in March 2026. The company operates a ~6,000 m² research facility in Heidelberg's Bahnstadt district, including ~2,000 m² of S1/S2 laboratories, ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, an ISO Class 5 yellow room, physics labs, and coworking space, offered to partners under a flat-rate, all-inclusive service model. It runs three interconnected service lines - Life Sciences Technologies, Clean Tech, and Advanced Manufacturing - and operates a "Lab2Fab" programme bundling technology scouting, validation, IP/NDA protection, licensing support, and venture referral to take projects from initial idea to industrial application.

The company's principal customer segments are (i) large global corporates (notably the shareholder BASF and HEIDELBERG) engaging in co-innovation projects, (ii) universities and research institutions (KIT, Heidelberg University, DKFZ) running permanent research groups on-site, and (iii) spin-offs and start-ups such as FLEXOO GmbH, the platform's signature printed-electronics spin-off. InnovationLab monetises through recurring flat-rate infrastructure subscriptions, professional services for technology transfer, ticketed/hosted events (GENESIS Life Science Tech Day, Clean Tech Innovation Day, Solar TAP Industry Day), and the commercial activity of its spin-off FLEXOO. Distribution is sales-led and network-driven, with lead generation anchored by flagship events, shareholder referrals, and cluster memberships (bioRN, Green Industry Cluster).

The headcount disclosed is 1-10 core employees - management, cluster/innovation managers, operations engineers, finance, HR, and communications - supplemented by on-site academic research groups and partner-company staff. The senior leadership comprises Dr.-Ing. Michael Kröger as Managing Director (since 2022, also a FLEXOO co-founder) and Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Ulrich Lemmer as Scientific Managing Director (since October 2023, head of Optoelectronics at KIT). Revenue is not publicly disclosed and no equity funding rounds are recorded; the entity is sustained by shareholder-funded collaborative R&D, recurring infrastructure rentals, and event-driven services.

Name

InnovationLab

Legal name

InnovationLab GmbH

Website

https://innovationlab.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

InnovationLab GmbH is a Heidelberg-based technology-transfer platform, founded in 2008, that operates shared research infrastructure (S1/S2 labs, cleanrooms, ~6,000 m²) for BASF, HEIDELBERG, KIT, Heidelberg University, DKFZ, and affiliated start-ups in life sciences, clean tech, and advanced manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA), Process Development & Tech Transfer Services (CDMO) (HLAGABAL)

Keywords

• Shared research infrastructure
• Technology transfer services
• Life sciences incubation
• Clean tech innovation
• Advanced manufacturing research

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Infrastructure Rental and Shared-Labs Services: Rental of lab and office spaces (S1/S2 labs, cleanrooms, coworking spaces) to companies, research groups, spin-offs, and start-ups. Operates on a flat-rate/all-inclusive service model covering safety training, technical support, material disposal, and equipment booking. A ~6,000 m² facility serves multiple concurrent users.
2. Technology Transfer and Consulting Services: Advisory and consulting services for technology transfer, including technology scouting, funding acquisition support, licensing, technology validation, and venture capital acquisition. The platform facilitates the journey from idea to market-ready application.
3. Event and Workshop Organising: Revenue from organizing and hosting industry events such as the GENESIS Life Science Tech Day, Clean Tech Innovation Day, and Solar TAP Industry Day, which attract hundreds of participants from science and industry.
4. Spin-off Incubation: Incubation of spin-offs such as FLEXOO (specialising in printed electronics and smart sensors). FLEXOO generates revenue through development of mass-producible smart sensors, large-area sensors, battery monitoring for e-mobility, printed antennas, and FlexPCBs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

InnovationLab GmbH operates as a technology transfer and co-innovation platform providing shared research infrastructure (approximately 6,000 m² including S1/S2 labs, ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, ISO Class 5 yellow rooms, physics labs, and coworking spaces) under a flat-rate all-inclusive service model. The platform serves corporations, universities, research institutions, spin-offs and start-ups in three core areas — Life Sciences Technologies, Clean Tech, and Advanced Manufacturing — bridging ideas from laboratory validation to market-ready industrial applications (Lab2Fab).

Product overview

InnovationLab GmbH operates as a technology transfer platform offering three interconnected service areas: Life Sciences Technologies, Clean Tech, and Advanced Manufacturing. The company provides state-of-the-art shared research infrastructure (approximately 6,000 m² including S1/S2 labs, ISO Class 7 clean rooms, and physics labs) as a 'one-stop shop' for companies, research groups, spin-offs and start-ups. The portfolio includes the spin-off company FLEXOO specializing in printed electronics and smart sensors. Services span from technology scouting and funding acquisition to licensing and networking, all aimed at bridging the gap from laboratory to industrial production ('Lab2Fab'). Regular event series including GENESIS Life Science Tech Day and Clean Tech Innovation Day complement the service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GENESIS: Life Science Tech Day event series focused on disease modeling and drug screening
• FLEXOO

Products and services

• Life Sciences Technologies Research Platform Interdisciplinary research platform focused on understanding biological systems and translating findings into diagnostics, therapy and prevention, with emphasis on cancer research, organ-on-chip, organoid-based disease models, 3D cell models, and drug screening methodologies.
• Clean Tech Research Platform Technology-focused platform for renewable energy, green hydrogen (H2), solar technologies, and resource-efficiency solutions that bridge ecological impact and economic performance through measurable efficiency improvements.
• Advanced Manufacturing Research Platform Platform for intelligent networking of modern manufacturing technologies and digital processes, including roll-to-roll printing, inkjet printing, screen printing, thermotransfer printing, and 3D additive manufacturing for flexible electronics.
• Shared Labs Research Infrastructure State-of-the-art research infrastructure (approximately 6,000 m² total including ~2,000 m² lab and cleanroom space) with S1/S2 labs, ISO Class 7 cleanrooms, ISO Class 5 yellow rooms, physics labs, office and coworking spaces, accessible to partners under a flat-rate all-inclusive service model covering safety briefings, technical support, equipment usage, material procurement, waste disposal and IP counselling.
• Technology Transfer Services (Lab2Fab) End-to-end consulting and services from idea to market-ready application, including technology scouting, funding acquisition support, licensing support, technology validation, NDA/IP protection, venture capital referral, workshops and networking along the value chain.
• FLEXOO Smart Sensors and Printed Electronics Wholly-owned spin-off producing mass-producible smart sensors, large-area sensors, battery monitoring sensors for e-mobility, heating elements, printed antennas, and FlexPCBs based on roll-to-roll printing technology.
• GENESIS — Life Science Tech Day Event Series Annual life-sciences event series focused on next-generation disease modeling and drug screening technologies including organoids and organ-on-chip; attracted approximately 130 participants from Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Turkey in 2026.
• Clean Tech Innovation Day Event Series Annual symposium series bringing together research, industry and start-ups focused on clean tech and hydrogen technologies, with 60+ experts at the inaugural 2024 edition and 70+ participants at the 2025 edition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18+ years of established R&D platform operations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DKFZ (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum / German Cancer Research Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026DKFZ became the fifth shareholder of InnovationLab in March 2026 following a resolution by the DKFZ Kuratorium. Prof. Haikun Liu (Head of Molecular Neuroengineering, DKFZ) and Dr. Rainer Wessel (Chief Innovation Manager, DKFZ) are active collaborators. DKFZ's addition strengthens the life sciences focus, particularly cancer research, organoid models, and drug screening.
• BASF SEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASF SE is a global leading corporation and one of InnovationLab's founding shareholders. BASF participates in co-innovation projects at the platform, contributing expertise in chemistry and materials science. The company was involved in early research on organic electronics and continues to collaborate on life sciences, clean tech, and advanced manufacturing projects.
• HEIDELBERGER Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is a global leading corporation and founding shareholder of InnovationLab. The company contributes expertise in printing technologies and advanced manufacturing. Representative Achim Mergenthaler (Head of Operations) participates in governance. The company collaborates on printed electronics and roll-to-roll manufacturing research.
• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIT is a top-tier university and founding shareholder of InnovationLab. Multiple KIT research groups (Lichttechnisches Institut, Optoelektronik, 3DMM2O cluster) conduct research at the platform. Prof. Ulrich Lemmer serves as Scientific Managing Director. Prof. Gerardo Hernández-Sosa leads a research group on printed electronics at the site. KIT represents the academic anchor of the co-innovation model.
• Ruprecht-Karls-Universität HeidelbergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeidelberg University is a founding shareholder and academic partner. It collaborates through the Exzellenzcluster 3DMM2O (jointly with KIT) and other research groups. The university contributes to life sciences, clean tech, and advanced manufacturing research conducted at the platform.
• FLEXOO GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLEXOO is InnovationLab's flagship spin-off, specialising in printed electronics and smart sensors. It develops large-area sensors, battery monitoring for e-mobility, heating elements, printed antennas, and FlexPCBs. Dr. Michael Kröger is a co-founder. FLEXOO represents the Lab2Fab success story of the platform and has a strategic partnership with Tekscan for sensor technology.
• TNO-Holst CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovationLab and TNO-Holst Centre signed a cooperation agreement in Eindhoven (May 2023). The partnership focuses on joint research and development in life science technologies and clean tech, with delegation visits including Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Economics Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut.
• bioRN Life Science Cluster Rhein-NeckarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovationLab participates in the bioRN Life Science Cluster (celebrating 30 years in 2026), collaborating on events such as the smartLabs Summit and the 'life – the biomedical convention'. bioRN fosters networking among biotech companies, researchers, and institutions in the Rhine-Neckar region.
• Green Industry ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovationLab is a founding member of the Green Industry Cluster, established in early 2024 at the MAFINEX Technology Centre Mannheim. The cluster unites GreenTech companies in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region to drive sustainable innovation.
• Solar TAP (Technology Application Programme)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolar TAP is a co-organiser of the Clean Tech Innovation Day & Solar TAP Industry Day events. InnovationLab and Solar TAP jointly host these events at the Heidelberg Congress Center, bringing together solar, hydrogen, and clean tech stakeholders from science and industry.
• H2UB (Hydrogen Hub)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerH2UB (Hydrogen Hub) co-organised the Clean Tech Innovation Day 2024 with InnovationLab and Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar, focusing on hydrogen technology and electrolysis. H2UB contributes expertise and networking for the hydrogen ecosystem.
• TekscanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTekscan entered a strategic partnership with FLEXOO (InnovationLab spin-off) to advance sensor technology. The partnership was announced at LOPEC 2025. Tekscan CEO John Jutila and iL/FLEXOO CEO Dr. Michael Kröger formalised the alliance for joint sensor development.
• Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMetropolregion Rhein-Neckar co-organised the Clean Tech Innovation Day 2024 with InnovationLab and H2UB. Dr. Doris Wittneben (Head of Future Fields and Innovation) moderated panels at the event. The region is a key stakeholder in InnovationLab's ecosystem.
• Exzellenzcluster 3DMM2O (3D Matter Made to Order)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Excellence Cluster 3DMM2O is jointly run by KIT and Universität Heidelberg. InnovationLab hosts ~40 researchers of the cluster, providing S1/S2 labs and the QuantumX Nanoscribe microfabrication tool. The cluster focuses on 3D additive manufacturing from molecular to macroscopic scale.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TNO: TNO is the Netherlands' applied research organisation, co-operator of Holst Centre. It runs contract R&D and industry-partner programmes across multiple domains — a broader incumbent sharing the same applied-research-and-tech-transfer DNA as InnovationLab.
• Fraunhofer Society: Fraunhofer is Germany's largest application-oriented research organisation with 76 institutes running contract R&D and tech-transfer programmes. It is a broader incumbent with similar shared-infrastructure-and-industry-partner dynamics but a much wider thematic and geographic scope than InnovationLab.
• CEA Tech: CEA Tech is the technology-research branch of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. It runs applied-R&D labs and tech-transfer partnerships with industry across energy, ICT and life sciences — a broader incumbent with a similar institutional applied-research model.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: VTT is Finland's state-owned applied research organisation. It partners with industry for technology development in advanced materials, clean tech and bio-applications via shared lab infrastructure — a broader incumbent with the same applied-R&D and tech-transfer operating model as InnovationLab.

Direct peers

• Imec: Imec is the world's leading independent R&D hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, headquartered in Belgium. It operates large-scale shared cleanroom infrastructure, partners with global corporations and academia, and runs extensive industry-partner and spin-out programmes — a direct analog of InnovationLab's shared-labs co-innovation model.
• Holst Centre: Holst Centre is an open-innovation R&D centre in Eindhoven (Netherlands), jointly set up by imec and TNO, focused on flexible electronics, IoT/sensors and life-science technologies. InnovationLab already has a cooperation agreement with Holst Centre, and the two are direct competitors in the printed/flexible-electronics shared-lab category.
• BioLabs: BioLabs operates a network of shared lab/coworking spaces for biotech start-ups across the US and Europe, including a Heidelberg site. Its flat-rate shared-lab and start-up incubation model directly mirrors InnovationLab's Shared-Labs concept, particularly for the Life Sciences vertical.
• Nanoscribe (a BICO company): Nanoscribe manufactures the QuantumX two-photon polymerisation system installed in InnovationLab's ISO Class 7 cleanroom. It is both an equipment supplier and a developer of micro/nano fabrication workflows for photonics, microfluidics and biology — a direct technology peer in the 2PP / additive micro-manufacturing space.
• CSEM: CSEM is the Swiss Centre for Electronics, Microtechnology and Microtechnology, with deep expertise in micro/nano fabrication, MEMS, and system integration. It operates shared R&D infrastructure and partners with industry — directly comparable to InnovationLab's Advanced Manufacturing and microfabrication work.

Regional players

• BioRN Life Science Cluster Rhein-Neckar: BioRN is the Life Science Cluster for the Rhine-Neckar region, of which InnovationLab is a founding member. It operates the regional biotech network and co-organises life-science events such as smartLabs Summit — a regional cluster peer rather than a direct operating competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/7312617/admin/feed/posts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about InnovationLab