The TLB GmbH in Karlsruhe is celebrating an anniversary this year: The Technology Licensing Office (TLB) of the Baden-Württemberg Universities GmbH - as the patent exploitation agency is officially called - has been in existence for 25 years.

It was a celebration! The TLB GmbH team celebrated the company's anniversary with a festive event and many invited guests. Read more here

How it all began

The Technologie-Lizenz-Büro (TLB) GmbH, founded in 1998, emerged from a pilot project at the University of Karlsruhe (TH) that dates back to 1987. At that time, the aim of this project, which was funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg, was to systematically build up knowledge about patenting and exploitation and to market patent-protected technologies of the universities. This resulted in the Technology Licensing Office of the Baden-Württemberg universities with initially five innovation managers. On 19 August 1998, the "Patent and Licensing Consultancy", which was then based at the University of Karlsruhe, became a limited liability company.

In 2002, the federal government abolished the so-called university lecturer privilege for university inventions. TLB reacted to the increased requirements and, with the help of federal funding, strengthened the TLB team to a total size of 16 employees.

What we do

The core task of the patent exploitation agency is to broker inventions from Baden-Württemberg universities and colleges to industry.  TLB's core competence is precisely this transfer expertise. "We build the bridge between research and industry - and thus create value from ideas," as TLB Managing Director Dr.-Ing. Hubert Siller summarises the company's mission statement.

With 25 years of experience in the procurement and registration of patents, TLB GmbH has the market expertise and the necessary network to bring together the different "players" from university research and private industry.

In addition, the innovation agency supports inventors and researchers in the area of property rights and their exploitation. This allows inventors to concentrate on their scientific work.  The interdisciplinary team, consisting of scientists from various disciplines, accompanies the entire process - from the invention disclosure to patenting to the path to the market. TLB also takes care of deadline and cost management, licensing and contract management as well as IP monitoring. 

With 25 years as a limited company, TLB is one of the longest operating and most successful German patent utilisation agencies. The service organisation for a small number of universities has become a service provider for all universities and colleges in the country.
Click here for the anniversary celebration ...