Research Spin-offs & Deep Tech Transfer: Germany, Austria & Switzerland
- Jörn Menninger
- Mar 10
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Research spin-offs and deep tech transfer in DACH are led by ETH Zurich (37 spinoffs in 2024, CHF 425M across 42 rounds, 93% five-year survival), EPFL (24 spinoffs, CHF 512M total funding), and TU Munich/UnternehmerTUM ($2B raised across 100 rounds in 2023). Combined ETH/EPFL spinoffs raised CHF 710M in 2024. German deep tech secured €1.7B across 78 deals. This page is part of the AI and Deep Tech Startups in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland pillar in the Startuprad.io Knowledge Center.
In Short
Executive Summary
Universities and research institutions across the DACH region are among the world's most productive generators of venture-backed deep tech startups. 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. Combined, ETH/EPFL spinoffs raised CHF 710M in 2024, representing just 0.15% of new Swiss companies but 25% of all Swiss startup funding. TU Munich and UnternehmerTUM represent Europe's largest infrastructure for academic entrepreneurship, with network startups raising $2B across 100 rounds in 2023. Fraunhofer operates 81 active spinouts with 96% still operating after three years. German deep tech secured €1.7B in funding across 78 deals in 2024.
Key Takeaways
ETH Zurich launched 37 spinoffs in 2024 across 42 financing rounds totaling CHF 425M, with a 93% five-year survival rate including Climeworks and GetYourGuide
EPFL created 24 spinoffs in 2024 with CHF 512M total funding plus CHF 68M in non-dilutive support; combined ETH/EPFL spinoffs raised CHF 710M
TU Munich and UnternehmerTUM form Europe's largest academic entrepreneurship infrastructure, with network startups raising $2B across 100 rounds in 2023
Fraunhofer operates 81 active spinouts with 96% three-year survival rate across applied research domains
Government programs including GO-Bio, EXIST, VIP+, SprinD, and Startup Factory pilots support spinoff creation across the DACH region
Swiss Academic Powerhouses: ETH and EPFL
ETH Zurich and EPFL are among the world's most prolific producers of venture-backed deep tech spinoffs. ETH Zurich launched 37 new spinoffs in 2024 across 42 financing rounds totaling CHF 425M, maintaining a remarkable 93% five-year survival rate. Notable ETH spinoffs include Climeworks (direct air carbon capture), GetYourGuide (travel technology), and Scandit (computer vision). EPFL created 24 spinoffs in 2024 with CHF 512M in total funding and CHF 68M in non-dilutive support. Combined, ETH and EPFL spinoffs raised CHF 710M in 2024, representing just 0.15% of new Swiss companies but capturing 25% of all Swiss startup funding. Switzerland's technology transfer infrastructure includes Venture Kick, InnoSuisse, and the Swiss National Science Foundation as key funding sources.
German Deep Tech Infrastructure and TU Munich
Germany's research spinoff ecosystem is anchored by institutions like TU Munich, whose entrepreneurship hub UnternehmerTUM represents Europe's largest infrastructure for academic entrepreneurship. Startups from the TU Munich network raised $2B across 100 rounds in 2023 alone. The Fraunhofer Society operates 81 active spinouts with 96% still operating after three years, translating applied research into commercial ventures across materials science, manufacturing, and digital technology. German deep tech across all sources secured €1.7B in funding across 78 deals in 2024. Government programs including GO-Bio (life sciences), EXIST (university startups), VIP+ (validation of innovation potential), SprinD (breakthrough innovations), and Startup Factory pilots provide structured pathways from lab to market.
Austrian Research Ecosystem and Support
Austria has built a comprehensive research-to-startup pipeline supported by FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency), aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice), and university-linked incubators. Key institutions include TU Vienna, TU Graz, and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). The Austrian government's RTI Strategy 2030 targets increasing R&D spending to 3.76% of GDP, with specific programs for deep tech commercialization. Austria's deep tech strengths include quantum computing, advanced materials, and industrial automation, building on its strong engineering tradition and Mittelstand industrial base.
Relationship Map
What This Page Does Not Cover
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Frequently Asked Questions
How productive are ETH Zurich and EPFL at creating spinoffs?
ETH Zurich launched 37 spinoffs in 2024 with CHF 425M raised across 42 rounds and a 93% five-year survival rate. EPFL created 24 spinoffs with CHF 512M in total funding. Combined, they raised CHF 710M in 2024 — representing just 0.15% of new Swiss companies but 25% of all Swiss startup funding.
What role does TU Munich play in German deep tech?
TU Munich and its entrepreneurship hub UnternehmerTUM represent Europe's largest infrastructure for academic entrepreneurship. Network startups raised $2B across 100 rounds in 2023 alone, making it the most productive university-linked startup ecosystem in Germany.
What government programs support deep tech spinoffs in Germany?
Key programs include GO-Bio (life sciences commercialization), EXIST (university startup grants), VIP+ (validation of innovation potential), SprinD (Germany's agency for breakthrough innovations), and Startup Factory pilots. These provide structured pathways from laboratory research to market-ready companies.
How does the Fraunhofer Society contribute to deep tech transfer?
Fraunhofer operates 81 active spinouts with a 96% three-year survival rate, translating applied research into commercial ventures across materials science, manufacturing, digital technology, and other domains. As Europe's largest applied research organization, Fraunhofer serves as a critical bridge between academic research and industrial application.
About the Host
Joern "Joe" Menninger is the host of the Startuprad.io podcast and covers founders, investors, and policymakers across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With deep expertise in the DACH startup ecosystem, Joe delivers independent analysis of trends shaping the region's technology landscape.
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