iTUBS

What iTUBS does

iTUBS (Innovationsgesellschaft Technische Universität Braunschweig mbH) is the designated knowledge and technology transfer entity of Technische Universität Braunschweig, incorporated as a private German GmbH on September 15, 2005, and jointly owned by TU Braunschweig and the Braunschweigischer Hochschulbund (BHB). Headquartered at Wilhelmsgarten 3, Braunschweig, with a core team of 11, the organization operates as a low-bureaucracy intermediary that channels commercial engagement — research projects, expert opinions, material testing, patent licensing, student talent projects, and industry events — between the university professorate and regional enterprises in southeastern Lower Saxony. Its service portfolio comprises four pillars: HI!Conference (end-to-end conference management with Stripe-based ticketing), HI!Innovation (a curated patent marketplace exposing TU Braunschweig inventions across 24 industry categories), HI!Challenge and Impact Challenge (structured three-month student team projects addressing corporate R&D challenges), and HI!Tech / Made-in-38 (startup and spin-off support integrated with regional incubators HTIA Niedersachsen and EIT Urban Mobility).

The underlying technology is organizational rather than product-software in nature: iTUBS runs an administrative infrastructure that enables 160+ professor-seated Technology Transfer Centers (TTZs) to execute R&D contracts with industry, supports an online patent portal, and hosts ticketed conferences, workshops, and the multi-day Transfernale festival. Patent commercialization is a distinct revenue stream, with named inventions covering electrode manufacturing, nanocomposite asphalt binders, microfluidic diagnostics, laminar flow control, and lyophilisate formulation. iTUBS does not develop proprietary AI/ML systems; "AI" appears only as a Transfernale stage topic, not a developed capability.

Commercially, iTUBS generates revenue through professional services fees on managed events and TTZ-facilitated R&D projects, licensing and transaction fees on patent commercialization, and corporate subscriptions for HI!Challenge student engagements. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is regional and direct: events are booked through itubs.de, corporate contracts are initiated via dedicated channels ([email protected], [email protected]), and professor-side flow is governed by the cooperation agreement with TU Braunschweig. The organization accumulates a long-running reputational asset — 750+ company partners, 2,000+ completed projects, 8,000+ people brought to the region across 50+ events — which functions as the primary commercial moat alongside institutional designation.

Name

iTUBS

Legal name

Innovationsgesellschaft Technische Universität Braunschweig mbH

Website

https://itubs.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

iTUBS (Innovationsgesellschaft Technische Universität Braunschweig mbH) is the designated technology transfer arm of TU Braunschweig, facilitating commercial R&D projects, patent licensing, student consulting, and industry events between the university's professorate and regional enterprises in southeastern Lower Saxony, Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Patent Owners & Lessors (6794), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH)

Keywords

• Technology transfer services
• University-industry collaboration
• Patent licensing platform
• Conference management services
• Startup incubation support

Headquarters

HQ city

Braunschweig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conference and event management services: iTUBS organizes, manages, and sells tickets for conferences, seminars, workshops, training courses, and comparable formats (both in-person and online/hybrid). Revenue is generated through participant registration fees, event sponsorship, and service fees charged to corporate clients for bespoke conference management. Payments are processed via Stripe. Pricing varies per event; reduced rates are available for students and TU Braunschweig affiliates.
2. Technology Transfer Center (TTZ) project facilitation: iTUBS enables professors at TU Braunschweig to execute R&D projects with commercial enterprises through its network of Technology Transfer Centers (TTZ). The organization provides the administrative infrastructure (contracting, invoicing, compliance) that allows low-bureaucracy commercial engagement. While specific revenue figures are not disclosed, the scale of 2,000+ projects suggests significant and recurring project-based revenue.
3. Patent and IP licensing facilitation: HI!Innovation acts as the exclusive access point for TU Braunschweig patents. iTUBS facilitates licensing agreements, patent sales, and development partnerships between the university inventors and companies. Revenue derives from licensing fees, transaction fees on patent sales, and development partnership arrangements.
4. HI!Challenge student consulting: Companies commission student teams (via the HI!Challenge program) to develop solutions for specific business challenges over a three-month period. Companies pay for access to talent and structured consulting output.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

iTUBS facilitates commercial knowledge and technology transfer between researchers at TU Braunschweig and industrial partners in southeastern Lower Saxony. It operates more than 160 Technology Transfer Centers (TTZ) with university professors, offering services including R&D project facilitation, conference and event management, patent licensing via the HI!Innovation portal, and student talent consulting through the HI!Challenge program. The company generates revenue from project-based service fees, event registration fees, and patent licensing arrangements.

Product overview

iTUBS (Innovationsgesellschaft Technische Universität Braunschweig mbH) is a knowledge and technology transfer organization offering a portfolio of services and programs. The core offering includes HI!Conference for event management, HI!Challenge for student-business collaborations, HI!Innovation for patent licensing and technology transfer, and HI!Tech as a startup support initiative. Supporting services include HI!Wissenschaft (science transfer) and HI!Wirtschaft (business connection), while Made in 38 and Impact Challenge target the regional startup ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HI!Tech: An iTUBS initiative supporting start-ups and spin-offs from science, providing platform for development and acceleration of business ideas.
• HI!Conference
• HI!Challenge
• HI!Innovation

Products and services

• HI!Conference End-to-end conference management service providing the building blocks for organizing conferences, events, workshops, seminars, and professional gatherings. Serves corporate clients and academic partners who need event organization with registration, payment processing (via Stripe), and participant handling.
• HI!Challenge Student-business challenge program that forms teams of qualified Master's students to work on real-world company challenges over three months, with coaching and support, culminating in presentations to the commissioning company. Companies pay for access to talent and structured consulting output.
• HI!Innovation Patent licensing and technology transfer service providing exclusive access to TU Braunschweig patents, enabling companies to license, purchase patent rights, or establish development partnerships. The portal showcases patented university inventions across 24 industry categories.
• HI!Tech Startup support initiative supporting spin-offs from science through networking, office space, CEO services, and participation in university-based business ventures. Features include startup ecosystem mapping, FAQ knowledge base, and high-tech startup showcase.
• HI!Wissenschaft (Science Transfer Services) Knowledge and technology transfer services for scientists at TU Braunschweig, enabling commercial transfer with minimal administrative barriers through cooperation agreements with professors for events, expert opinions, and research projects.
• HI!Wirtschaft (Business Connection Services) Connection services linking businesses with appropriate contacts at TU Braunschweig, including professors for expert opinions, material testing, long-term research projects, and access to innovative student perspectives.
• Made-in-38 (Startup Excellence Program) Startup excellence program providing activation energy for the startup scene in the Braunschweig region (postal code 38), including Startup Excellence Day events connecting startups with investors and mentors, and a coaching marketplace.
• Impact Challenge Open innovation format connecting company challenges with fresh ideas and innovation potential from students to increase corporate innovative strength and provide access to talent.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ R&D projects completed between TU Braunschweig professors and industry since founding in 2005
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Allianz für die Region GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2023Allianz für die Region GmbH co-organized the Transfernale 2023 — an 8-day, 8-location innovation festival spanning southeastern Lower Saxony. iTUBS and Allianz served as co-organizers, with Allianz providing the Program Manager Economy and Mobility (Thomas Ahlswede-Brech). The event attracted 600+ participants across 8 stages addressing transformation topics in automotive, digitalization, agriculture, logistics, hydrogen, software/AI, and connected driving.
• Ostfalia University of Applied SciencessecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Participated as a transfer host and partner in the Transfernale 2023 event series, contributing to the interdisciplinary exchange between science and industry in southeastern Lower Saxony.
• Clausthal University of Technology (TU Clausthal)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Participated as a transfer host in the Transfernale 2023 event series, providing institute tours and expert presentations alongside iTUBS and Allianz für die Region.
• IHK Braunschweig (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Supporting partner of the Transfernale 2023 and co-organizer of the Technology Transfer Prize awarded during the Transfinale evening event.
• IHK Lüneburg-WolfsburgminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Supporting partner of the Transfernale 2023 innovation festival, contributing to the regional scope of science-business exchange.
• IG Metall BraunschweigminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Supporting partner of the Transfernale 2023, bringing labor union perspective to the regional transformation discussion.
• Arbeitgeberverband Region Braunschweig e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Co-organizer of the Transformittag 2024 event, providing event photography and serving as a regional employer association partner.
• Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Stade Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Supporting partner of the Transfernale 2023, extending the innovation festival's reach to the skilled trades sector.
• ITS MobilityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Supporting partner of the Transfernale 2023, contributing mobility and transport expertise to the regional transformation network.
• Transformation Network Southeast Lower Saxony (ReTraSON)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023ReTraSON is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) and focuses on the transformation of the mobility industry in Lower Saxony. The project funded the concept and execution of the Transfernale innovation festival as a flagship format for science-business networking.
• Technische Universität Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2005iTUBS was co-founded by TU Braunschweig and the Braunschweigischer Hochschulbund (BHB). The formal cooperation agreement enables the professorate to engage in commercial knowledge and technology transfer with minimal administrative burden. TU Braunschweig President Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hesselbach signed the founding documents. iTUBS also facilitates TU BS Singapore — the first international research presence of TU Braunschweig, founded in November 2023 via iTUBS.
• Braunschweigischer Hochschulbund (BHB) — Friends and Sponsors of TU BraunschweigcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHB is the non-profit association of friends and sponsors of TU Braunschweig. Alongside TU Braunschweig, BHB was the co-founding partner of iTUBS, signing the founding documents on September 15, 2005. BHB's treasurer Peter Behrbohm signed on behalf of BHB's chairman Heinz-Jörg Fuhrmann and president Dr. Gunter Dunkel.
• Humboldt Innovation GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented at the Transformittag 2024 by Volker Hofmann, providing a benchmark overview of technology transfer practices from Humboldt University Berlin — the Berlin counterpart to iTUBS — serving as a peer exchange and learning opportunity.
• Prof. Dr. David Woeschläger (TU Braunschweig)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor at TU Braunschweig whose Master course in Technology-Oriented Management is the academic home of the HI!Challenge program. Partners with iTUBS to integrate real-world company challenges into the university curriculum.
• Entrepreneurship Hub (Startup Excellence Day co-organizer)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartneriTUBS partnered with the Entrepreneurship Hub for the HTI/A Smart Mobility initiative, jointly implementing the Startup Excellence Day events in March and November 2024, connecting funded startups with investors, mentors, and experts.
• Transfer and Cooperation House / TransferHub (TU Braunschweig)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented at Transformittag 2024 alongside iTUBS as part of the internal university technology transfer offering.
• BansonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoaching, consulting and training provider listed on the Made-in-38 platform as a service provider for founders and startups in the Braunschweig region.
• BS Zukunft GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConsulting and training provider listed on the Made-in-38 platform as a startup ecosystem service partner for the Braunschweig region.
• QVLS (Qualitätsverbund Labore und Sachverständige)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuality association for laboratories listed on the Made-in-38 platform as a regional ecosystem partner.
• EIT Urban MobilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHI!Tech participates in EIT Urban Mobility initiatives as part of its Leistungen (services) offerings, supporting urban mobility innovation.
• HTIA Niedersachsen (Hightech-Inkubatoren und -Akzeleratoren Niedersachsen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHI!Tech is part of the HTIA Niedersachsen network of high-tech incubators and accelerators in Lower Saxony.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KIT-Gründerschmiede (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology): Startup and transfer platform at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, covering founder coaching, corporate-startup matchmaking, and event-driven networking. Closely matches the HI!Tech and Made-in-38 components of iTUBS's offering.
• TransMIT GmbH: Technology transfer and spin-off service entity for Hessian universities (incl. TU Darmstadt, University of Giessen). Operates an analogous Innovationsgesellschaft model, matching iTUBS's professor-to-industry project structure and IP commercialization role.
• Humboldt Innovation GmbH: Berlin-based technology transfer and startup support entity of Humboldt University. The closest direct peer to iTUBS in structure and mandate (university-owned Innovationsgesellschaft). iTUBS itself benchmarked against Humboldt Innovation at Transformittag 2024.
• PROvendis GmbH: IP and technology transfer service provider for universities and research institutes in North Rhine-Westphalia. Directly comparable to iTUBS on patent licensing, R&D matchmaking, and spin-off support for academic clients.
• RWTH Aachen Technology Transfer Office: In-house transfer function of RWTH Aachen University, with comparable activities in R&D project facilitation with industry, spin-off support, and corporate matchmaking. Represents a larger-scale, in-house alternative to iTUBS's separate-entity model.
• TUM Tech GmbH (TUM ForTe): Official technology transfer and startup support office of TU Munich. Directly comparable in mandate (university-owned transfer entity), format portfolio (events, startup programs, licensing), and target customer (corporate R&D buyers seeking academic partners).
• Ascenion GmbH: Technology transfer office for the Helmholtz Association and life-science research institutes. Closely comparable to iTUBS's TTZ/project facilitation and startup creation activities, particularly for biotech spin-offs (Ascenion's core vertical).
• Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH: Patent commercialization and licensing partner for Bavarian universities (incl. TU Munich, LMU). Operates the same patent-portal-and-licensing model that iTUBS runs as HI!Innovation, but at multi-university scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/itubs
• Instagraminstagram.com/itubs.braunschweig

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 iTUBS