Research Spin-offs and Deep Tech Transfer in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
- Jörn Menninger
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
Universities and research institutions across the DACH region are among the world's most productive sources of deep tech startups and scientific spinoffs. This page examines how academic excellence, government support programs, and entrepreneurship infrastructure convert research discoveries into venture-backed companies operating at the frontier of technology. This page is part of the Startuprad.io Knowledge Center , within the AI & Deep Tech Startups pillar. In Short ETH Zurich launched 37...
Universities and research institutions across the DACH region are among the world's most productive sources of deep tech startups and scientific spinoffs. This page examines how academic excellence, government support programs, and entrepreneurship infrastructure convert research discoveries into venture-backed companies operating at the frontier of technology.
This page is part of the Startuprad.io Knowledge Center, within the AI & Deep Tech Startups pillar.
In Short
ETH Zurich launched 37 new spinoffs in 2024 across 42 financing rounds totaling CHF 425M, with a 93% survival rate after five years, including landmark companies like Climeworks and GetYourGuide. EPFL created 24 spinoffs in 2024 with CHF 512M in total funding plus CHF 68M in non-dilutive support. Combined, ETH/EPFL spinoffs raised CHF 710M in 2024—representing 0.15% of new Swiss companies but 25% of all Swiss startup funding. TU Munich and its entrepreneurship hub UnternehmerTUM represents Europe's largest infrastructure for academic entrepreneurship; startups from its network raised $2B across 100 rounds in 2023 alone. Fraunhofer operates 81 active spinouts with 96% still operating after three years. German deep tech across all sources secured €1.7B in funding across 78 deals in 2024. Government programs including GO-Bio, EXIST, VIP+, SprinD, and Startup Factory pilots support spinoff creation.
Swiss Academic Powerhouses: ETH and EPFL
ETH Zurich and EPFL are among the world's most prolific producers of venture-backed spinoffs, with extraordinary survival rates and funding success. ETH Zurich created 37 new spinoffs in 2024 through 42 financing rounds totaling CHF 425M; the institution boasts a 93% survival rate for spinoffs five years post-founding, with famous exits including Climeworks (carbon removal) and GetYourGuide (experiences marketplace). EPFL generated 24 spinoffs in 2024 carrying CHF 512M in aggregate funding, plus CHF 68M in non-dilutive funding (grants, research contracts). Remarkably, these two institutions' 2024 spinoff cohorts collectively raised CHF 710M—0.15% of all new Swiss company registrations but representing 25% of all Swiss startup funding that year.
German Deep Tech Infrastructure and TU Munich
Germany's research spinoff ecosystem is anchored by institutions like TU Munich, the Fraunhofer Society, and the Max Planck institutes, supported by dedicated government programs. TU Munich operates UnternehmerTUM, Europe's largest university-based entrepreneurship center, which incubates and supports spinoffs across AI, mobility, health, and industrial technology. Companies from the UnternehmerTUM ecosystem raised $2B across 100 funding rounds in 2023 alone. The Fraunhofer Society, with 81 active spinouts, reports a 96% survival rate three years post-founding. Across Germany, deep tech startups raised €1.7B across 78 deals in 2024. Government support programs including GO-Bio, EXIST, VIP+, and SprinD provide both direct funding and credibility for academic spinoffs.
Austrian Research Ecosystem and Support
Austria has built a comprehensive research-to-startup pipeline supported by FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency), universities including TU Vienna, University of Vienna, and private research institutes like IST Austria. Austrian spinoffs benefit from systematic support including the EXIST program, direct research funding, and venture capital increasingly focused on deep tech. While Austria's research spinoff ecosystem is smaller by volume than Germany or Switzerland, it emphasizes quality and specialization, with strength in biotechnology, quantum computing, and advanced materials.
What This Page Does Not Cover
AI startup landscape — see AI Startups DACH
Enterprise and industrial AI — see Industrial & Enterprise AI
Where to Go Next
Explore AI Startups DACH for venture-backed AI companies. Review Industrial & Enterprise AI for established company applications. Return to AI & Deep Tech Startups or the Knowledge Center.
About the Host
Joern Menninger is the host of the Startuprad.io podcast and covers founders, investors, and policy developments across the DACH startup ecosystem. Through more than 1,300 interviews and nearly a decade of reporting, he documents the evolution of the European startup landscape. Follow Joern on LinkedIn.
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