How can ground-breaking ideas be turned into marketable innovations?

For 25 years, TLB has been an important partner in technology transfer, bringing outstanding research results to the right industrial partners. Our goal has always been to seek and find the ‘perfect match’ between research and industry.

Here are a few examples:

Researchers at the University of Konstanz have developed various methods for increasing the efficiency of solar cells. For example, 20 years ago, a method for simpler texturisation of then-current multicrystalline solar cells was established on the market. Selective emitter technology was also successfully communicated to manufacturers, as was a method for reducing the LID effect in boron-doped monocrystalline solar cells.

3D printing offers completely new design and application possibilities in many areas. Scientists at the University of Stuttgart have researched and developed the flexible production of complex, miniaturised imaging systems using 3D multiphoton lithography as well as the production of micro-optics and hybrid optics.

The inventors used their knowledge to found a company: PRINTOPTIX, a spin-off from the University of Stuttgart, can produce components with dimensions ranging from 10 µm to 2 mm and apply them to a variety of substrates, such as optical fibre tips, image sensors or LEDs.

Chemical imaging is an important tool for the structural analysis of biological samples. As part of a Baden-Württemberg Foundation project, a QCL-based microspectroscopic method was developed that significantly outperforms other QCL-based methods. In addition, the setup offers a shorter measurement time with the same lateral and spectral resolution compared to FT-IR-based systems.

The method is successfully used in the Hyperion II ILIM from Bruker. This FT-IR microscope combines quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based infrared laser imaging and FT-IR in a single device.

MBT supports early bone formation and proper anchorage that can be described as cell-attractive and anti-inflammatory. It is a biocompatible surface layer for inert implant materials. The combined implant and surface functionalization shows high cyto-tolerance for bone constituion and ingrowth of bone cells.