NeuroCure

What NeuroCure does

NeuroCure is a publicly funded Cluster of Excellence in the neurosciences, hosted at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and operating as an interdisciplinary research consortium rather than a commercial enterprise. Founded in 2007 under the German Excellence Initiative and now funded through the Excellence Strategy (project EXC 2049, with a new phase running 2026-2032), it integrates Charité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, MDC, DZNE, FMP, Max Planck Society, the Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, and BIH. Its core technology consists of three translational modules — the Neuroscience Clinical Research Center (NCRC), SPARK-BIH for commercialization support, and the Value and Open Science (VOS) module — together with advanced platforms for basic and clinical neuroscience. A flagship capability is adaptive deep brain stimulation, a closed-loop brain-computer interface system that detects rhythmic fluctuations in brain activity and delivers real-time impulses for Parkinson's therapy, with approximately 200 patients implanted at Charité and 23 transitioned to adaptive mode.

The cluster's outputs include the SFB 1315 Collaborative Research Center on memory consolidation (16 research projects plus 2 service and 2 transfer projects, DFG-funded at over €13M for 2026-2030), a portfolio of postdoctoral fellowship programs (NeuroCure Talents, InViTE, RETAIN, Female Postdocs), and public engagement through Brainjourney, Soapbox Science Berlin, and the HumboldtLab exhibition. The "customer" base consists of principal investigators, early-career researchers, and clinical patients served through Charité, while the financial backers are the German Federal Government and the Berlin State Government through the DFG Excellence Strategy framework.

NeuroCure does not sell products or services and has no traditional go-to-market motion; its business model is grant-funded academic research. Revenue concentration is effectively binary (federal and state government funding channels), and growth is bounded by multi-year Excellence Strategy cycles. There are no venture investors, subsidiaries, or commercial subsidiaries disclosed.

Name

NeuroCure

Legal name

Exzellenzcluster NeuroCure der Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Website

https://neurocure.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NeuroCure is a publicly funded Cluster of Excellence in the neurosciences at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, running an interdisciplinary research network across Berlin institutions to develop therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders, with adaptive deep brain stimulation and memory consolidation as flagship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Neuroscience Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

General Neurology (HLAKAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Movement Disorders (Parkinson’s, Tremor, Dystonia) (HLAKAIAC)

Keywords

• Neuroscience research
• Translational medicine
• Clinical research programs
• Deep brain stimulation
• Research fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Laigné-en-belin

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

NeuroCure is an academic Cluster of Excellence in the neurosciences that operates as an interdisciplinary research network bridging basic science and clinical research across multiple Berlin institutions, including Charité, Humboldt-Universität, Freie Universität, MDC, DZNE, FMP, and Max Planck Society. It delivers translational research modules (NCRC, SPARK-BIH, VOS), graduate and postdoctoral educational programs, research fellowships, and clinical applications such as adaptive deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. The cluster is funded by the German federal and state governments through the Excellence Strategy framework.

Product overview

NeuroCure is a Cluster of Excellence in the neurosciences at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, not a traditional product company. The organization offers a portfolio of research programs, translational modules, and educational products: the core research cluster (funded 2007-present, new phase 2026-2032 via Excellence Strategy); three translational modules (NCRC, SPARK-BIH, and VOS Module) that bridge basic neuroscience research to clinical applications; educational programs including the International Graduate Program Medical Neurosciences and Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin; postdoctoral fellowship programs (NeuroCure Talents, InViTE, RETAIN, and Fellowships for Female Postdocs); and public engagement initiatives like Brainjourney. The portfolio functions as a comprehensive neuroscience research ecosystem rather than a commercial product suite.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCRC (Neuroscience Clinical Research Center) Translational research module focused on clinical research that bridges neuroscience discoveries to patient applications, available to NeuroCure-affiliated researchers and clinical investigators.
• SPARK-BIH Translational module supporting the transfer of neuroscience research findings into practical applications and therapies through the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH).
• Value and Open Science (VOS) Module Module promoting open science practices and responsible research assessment within the NeuroCure cluster.
• International Graduate Program Medical Neurosciences
• Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin
• NeuroCure Talents Postdoc Program
• NeuroCure InViTE Postdoc Program
• RETAIN Fellowships
• Research Fellowships for Female Postdocs
• Brainjourney Public Exhibition

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces Parkinson's symptoms by approximately 50%
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Primary host institution of the NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence. Charité is one of Europe's largest university hospitals, providing the clinical research infrastructure and patient access for translational neuroscience research.
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution coordinating the Collaborative Research Center SFB 1315 on memory consolidation. Home of the Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin.
• Freie Universität Berlin (FU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university contributing research groups and expertise to the NeuroCure interdisciplinary network.
• Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-BuchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing molecular medicine expertise to the neuroscience cluster.
• German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution focusing on neurodegenerative disease research, with sites in Berlin and Magdeburg.
• Leibniz-FMP (Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing pharmacology expertise to the neuroscience network.
• Max Planck SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution contributing Max Planck research expertise to collaborative projects.
• Einstein Center for Neurosciences BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with HU and Charité providing PhD fellowships and creating a network for neuroscience researchers in Berlin. Co-sponsors events like Soapbox Science Berlin and DRIVERS Journal Club.
• Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization contributing to the DRIVERS Journal Club along with BIH QUEST Center. Collaborates on diversity and responsible research initiatives.
• Berlin University AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of Berlin universities (HU, FU, TU, Charité) for coordinated research support. NeuroCure participates through DiGENet diversity and gender equality network.
• BIH QUEST CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner in the DRIVERS Journal Club for diversity and responsible research and innovation, contributing expertise in research assessment reform.
• LGBTQ+ STEM BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork for increasing visibility and networking of LGBTQ+ persons in STEM. NeuroCure supports joint events including during Berlin Science Week.
• German Research Foundation (DFG)coreOthersPrimary funding organization for the Excellence Strategy funding (EXC 2049). Also funds Collaborative Research Center SFB 1315 with over 13 million euros for 2026-2030. Funded since 2007 under Excellence Initiative.
• German Federal GovernmentcoreOthersOne of two primary funders (along with Berlin State Government) through the Excellence Strategy framework. Current funding phase 2026-2032.
• Berlin State GovernmentcoreOthersOne of two primary funders (along with German Federal Government) through the Excellence Strategy framework. Current funding phase 2026-2032.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Allen Institute for Brain Science: Large-scale nonprofit basic neuroscience research organization generating public datasets, atlases, and tools. Comparable in mission around large-scale brain research and open science outputs, though structurally independent and US-based with significantly larger scale.
• Abbott (Neuromodulation / DBS): Global medical device company with DBS and neuromodulation products, including research in adaptive stimulation. Comparable as an established player commercializing Parkinson's DBS therapies where NeuroCure is conducting research-level work.
• Medtronic (Neuroscience / DBS): Established medical device leader in deep brain stimulation with commercialized systems and ongoing investment in adaptive/closed-loop DBS. Represents the commercial counterpoint to NeuroCure's adaptive DBS research program and a potential licensee or competitor.
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin: Parent institution and host of NeuroCure. As one of Europe's largest university hospitals, Charité provides the clinical infrastructure that NeuroCure leverages and operates translational neuroscience research at greater scale and broader clinical mandate.

Direct peers

• German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE): DZNE is a national Helmholtz research center focused on neurodegenerative diseases with Berlin and Magdeburg sites. Although a partner of NeuroCure, DZNE operates at greater scale with similar translational neuroscience mission and comparable funding structure.
• Janelia Research Campus (HHMI): HHMI's Janelia Research Campus focuses on basic neuroscience research, tool development, and imaging. Comparable as a purpose-built, well-funded neuroscience research center that bridges molecular and systems neuroscience, similar to NeuroCure's research breadth.
• Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy): Another DFG-funded Cluster of Excellence under the Excellence Strategy, focused on systems neurology and neurodegenerative disease research across Munich institutions. Directly comparable as a peer German neuroscience research consortium of similar scale and funding model.
• Max Planck Institute for Brain Research: Frankfurt-based Max Planck Institute focused on neural circuits, systems neuroscience, and theory. Both organizations share Max Planck Society affiliation via NeuroCure's partners and pursue complementary basic neuroscience research at world-class scale.
• Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin: Berlin-based neuroscience research and training network jointly run by HU Berlin and Charité. Operates overlapping PhD fellowship and neuroscience training programs with NeuroCure, sharing infrastructure and faculty.

Emerging players

• Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics: Newer Allen Institute initiative focused on neural dynamics and brain function research. Comparable in mission around fundamental neuroscience with translational potential, though earlier-stage and focused on dynamics rather than disease mechanisms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVdJ5_R6aUIVZ90U0Z5db5A?view_as=subscriber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exzellenzcluster-neurocure
• Instagraminstagram.com/neurocure_exc
• Xx.com/neurocureberlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NeuroCure