Technologie-Lizenz-Buero der Baden-Wuerttembergischen Hochschulen

What Technologie-Lizenz-Buero der Baden-Wuerttembergischen Hochschulen does

Technologie-Lizenz-Büro (TLB) der Baden-Württembergischen Hochschulen GmbH is a private German technology transfer office founded in 1998/1999, headquartered in Karlsruhe, with its legal seat registered in Mannheim. TLB serves as the central intermediary between scientific institutions in the state of Baden-Württemberg and industrial companies, managing the lifecycle of university inventions from disclosure and patent prosecution through to commercialization via licensing, patent sale, or development cooperation. It holds a quasi-exclusive mandate covering approximately 30 scientific institutions, including Universität Stuttgart, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Universität Konstanz, Hochschule Karlsruhe, Universität Hohenheim, and HTWG Konstanz, and has cumulatively created more than 160 patent families and commercialized approximately 60 over a 25+ year operating history.

The company operates a three-stream revenue model: (1) recurring licensing royalties from active patent licenses, (2) one-time revenue from the outright sale of patent families, and (3) professional services covering invention evaluation, patent strategy, IP consulting for startups, and contract/receivables management. Its core commercial product is the 'Technologieangebote' catalog — a self-serve online portfolio of patent-protected technologies segmented into Life Science, Physical Technology/Optics/Laser, New Energies/Environmental Technology, ITK/Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. TLB is differentiated by an interdisciplinary in-house team of scientists, 25+ years of accumulated market knowledge, and an industrial network spanning robotics, automotive, manufacturing, energy, and medical technology. Recent strategic emphasis includes a dedicated Quantum Technologies service line supported by a Quantum CXO Workshop Series, positioning the firm for participation in emerging deep-tech commercialization.

Name

Technologie-Lizenz-Buero der Baden-Wuerttembergischen Hochschulen

Legal name

Technologie-Lizenz-Büro (TLB) der Baden-Württembergischen Hochschulen GmbH

Website

https://tlb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TLB is a Karlsruhe-based technology transfer office that manages invention disclosure, patent prosecution, and commercialization of university research for approximately 30 scientific institutions in Baden-Württemberg, generating revenue from licensing royalties, patent sales, and IP consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)

akta.pro primary industry

IP Licensing, Transactions & Technology Transfer (BPAHAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH), Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)

Keywords

• Technology transfer services
• Patent licensing
• Intellectual property management
• IP commercialization
• University inventions

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Patent Licensing: Licensing of patents and technologies from universities to industrial partners, generating recurring licensing fees
2. Patent Sales: Sale of patent families and technology rights to companies for commercialization
3. Consulting Services: Advisory services for invention management, patent strategy, and IP management for universities, startups, and companies

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TLB acts as an intermediary between Baden-Wuerttemberg universities and industry, commercializing inventions and intellectual property generated by academic research. The company manages patents originating from the state's universities, mediates licensing deals between academic inventors and industrial partners, and provides IP-related consulting services to bridge academic innovations with commercial applications.

Product overview

TLB operates as a technology transfer office serving as a bridge between science and industry. The company offers a comprehensive suite of invention and patent management services including invention evaluation, patent prosecution, IP strategy consulting, and technology commercialization. Their core offering is the Technologieangebote portfolio of patent-protected technologies from universities in Baden-Württemberg, spanning Life Science, Physical Technology/Optics, New Energies/Environmental Technology, ITK/Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Additional specialized services include Quantum Technologies consulting and IP advisory services for startups and founders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Licensing Services Mediates licensing agreements that allow companies to use intellectual property and patented inventions originating from Baden-Wuerttemberg universities, in exchange for license fees and royalties paid to the academic institutions.
• Patent Sales Services Facilitates the outright sale of university-owned patents and intellectual property rights to companies seeking full ownership of specific inventions.
• IP Consulting Services Provides consulting on intellectual property strategy, patent evaluation, technology scouting, and innovation transfer between academic and industrial stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 160+ patent families created
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universität StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner institution; source of multiple patented technologies including robotics, laser systems, welding technologies, fiber composites, and measurement systems. TLB manages and commercializes inventions from various institutes including IKT, IFSW, IFKB, and IFK.
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution providing innovations including fire protection testing technologies and other research inventions for commercialization.
• Hochschule Karlsruhe - University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution providing optofluidic spectroscopy, ice slurry production technologies, and other applied research innovations.
• Universität KonstanzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution providing innovations including solar cell regeneration technology. Research funded by Baden-Württemberg Stiftung.
• Universität HohenheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution providing food technology innovations including ESL milk production methods.
• 30 Scientific Institutions in Baden-WürttembergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTLB manages technologies from 30 scientific institutions across Baden-Württemberg and additional research facilities, providing comprehensive patent management and technology transfer services.
• HTWG Konstanz - University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaboratory for power electronics providing innovations including S3L-Inverter technology for efficient power conversion.
• Industrial Network PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTLB maintains extensive contacts with industry for successful commercialization contracts. The network includes companies in robotics, automotive, manufacturing, energy, and medical technology sectors seeking innovative technologies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TLBgmbH
• Facebookfacebook.com/TLBGmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/technologie-lizenz-buero-der-baden-wuerttembergischen-hochschulen-gmbh-tlb-gmbh/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/tlb_technologielizenzbuero

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Technologie-Lizenz-Buero der Baden-Wuerttembergischen Hochschulen