An initiative of the German energy agency dena with partners from the start-up scene wants more climate protection through better ways for spin-offs from research institutions.

The “Tech-for-Net-Zero-Alliance” proposes a standard for Germany when employees of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, universities and other institutions use their patents to found companies.

Andreas Kuhlmann, chairman of the dena management board, sees this as a crucial help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"In order to achieve its climate goals, Germany has to rely much more heavily on the success of green tech start-ups," says Kuhlmann.

Jan Hauser

Editor in business.

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A standard for spin-offs should no longer restrict the scaling of air conditioning technologies with clear guidelines, demands the alliance in a thesis paper that it would like to present on Monday and that the FAZ will have in advance. The energy agency initiated the “Tech-for-Net-Zero Alliance” in March, together with the “Breakthrough Energy” initiative, with which Bill Gates wants to protect the climate. The group includes two dozen other organizations such as start-ups, venture capitalists and the Federal Agency for Leap Innovations. Their goal is that research institutions do not participate directly in sales or profits, but in the low single-digit percentage range in the spin-off company itself. Two to five percent are under discussion.

In return, the tax-financed patent rights are transferred to the spin-off company, as otherwise there is no investment security.

The shares of the research institutions should be held in trust by a public holding company.

As a third point, the alliance for climate start-ups mentions that there should be no revenue sharing and license fees.

Otherwise, this would severely limit the number of foundations.

Currently, fossil competing products are often available cheaply.

Revenue sharing acts like additional costs, increases the selling price and reduces growth.

"Gold treasure for innovations"

There is often important research and basic work in Germany, but companies have not always emerged from this in this country. This includes the path of the MP3 audio format, which advanced digital music, which Tobias Lechtenfeld reminds us of. As managing director of the Berlin company 1.5Ventures, he is setting up climate start-ups himself and is part of the “Tech-for-Net-Zero Alliance”. The missed chance of the German invention MP3 shows how difficult it was for science to build successful companies from innovations, he says. "We simply cannot afford that with the urgently needed air conditioning technologies."

Lechtenfeld speaks of hundreds of patents that are developed and registered by research institutes in Germany every year and that are relevant for climate protection. "The universities and research institutions in Germany are sitting on a gold treasure trove of innovations." He sees climate change as a technological adaptation and is therefore also optimistic. For the restructuring of the economy to meet the climate goals, plant engineering is in principle required, and Germany has been the market leader here for 150 years. "No country can earn as much from the climate change as Germany," he says.

For dena managing director Kuhlmann, optimal framework conditions are central for spin-offs. Those involved have already discussed their ideas with representatives of the Fraunhofer Institute and the Max Planck Institute and put out feelers in the political arena. Your proposals are now aimed primarily at the coming federal government.