10 Years’ Ascenion and the Life-Science Foundation – What Really Counts

Ascenion: 10 Milestones

Foundation

In 2001, four life-science institutes of the Helmholtz Association teamed up to create a new vehicle for technology transfer. They set up the Life-Science Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research and launched its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ascenion GmbH.more

Five Questions for the Life-Science Foundation

Michael Lankeit, Administrative Director of the German Primate Center and Chairman of the Council of the Life-Science Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research.

Q: The Foundation was established 10 years ago. What was the primary idea of the founding institutes?
Lankeit: The goal was to provide research institutes with access to the knowledge, expertise and services they urgently need to translate promising research results into application. For a single institute, it would be hard to build such resources and attract the attention of industry.more

What Really Counts

Let’s start with those outcomes that can be put into numbers: since Ascenion’s foundation, the team has negotiated over 650 revenue-carrying agreements between research and industry, has coached more than 40 companies and taken equity in 30 spin-offs, providing over 400 new jobs. The combined revenues from licensing agreements and the sale of equity amount to EUR 30 million to date for Ascenion’s partner institutes. This is considerably more than the partners have invested into technology transfer, resulting in a positive balance sheet overall.more

Inventor´s View

Dr Enno Klussmann

Dr Enno Klussmann is together with Prof. Walter Rosenthal leader of the group ‘Anchored Signalling’ at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine Berlin-Buch (MDC) and he is co-founder of Scaffion

I first got involved with technology transfer when...
... I worked with Ascenion on a patent application relating to my work. Later on, together with Ascenion, I prepared a GO-Bio application, to obtain funding for the further development of my project.
more

Ascenion Appoints Management Team

In 2011, Ascenion took a long overdue step in response to its continued growth over the years. It has enlarged its management team to improve the services delivered to its clients and shape the company’s strategic growth. Two of the three new directors were recruited from inside the company and combine life-science backgrounds with several years’ industry experience and good connections in the sector. The third directorship was an external appointment. The management team is completed by a new Authorized Signatory, our Senior Legal Counsel.more

Spinning Innovation

Ascenion was instrumental in securing funding for three of its portfolio companies: Tube Pharmaceuticals, eADMET and iThera Medical. Moreover, Ascenion helped a research team at the Medical School Hannover (MHH) secure a Phase I grant under the GO-Bio programme, which is financed by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and managed by Projektträger Jülich.

Phase I GO-Bio Grant for MHH Project:
ChipCytometry – Over and Over Again

Researchers and physicians frequently have only a very few cells available for analysis, but many questions to answer. In immunology research, for instance, it may be highly desirable to screen for 30 or more markers per cell, even when the cells of interest represent a rare population. As this is not possible with available techniques such as flow cytometry, Christian Hennig and his team at the Hannover Medical School (MHH) have developed a new approach: ChipCytometry. more

Noteworthy

RTTP – Take your technology transfer career to the next level

There is increasing recognition of technology transfer as a profession at many levels, but it does not currently have the mechanisms associated with a profession: a well-established body of knowledge, clearly defined entry criteria and a recognized professional development pathway.more

Fostering Networks

For Entrepreneurs:
Save the Date for the 6th Biotech NetWorkshop

The 6th Biotech NetWorkshop takes place from 25–27 January 2012 at Schloss Ringberg (Ringberg Castle), high above the banks of the Tegernsee lake. In the familiar and inspiring atmosphere of Schloss Ringberg, life-science entrepreneurs will have the unique opportunity to exchange experience and learn from seasoned investors and life-science executives. more

For Inventors, Investors and Business Developers:
Save the Date for the 5th BioVaria

On 15 May 2012, biopharma dealmakers and venture capitalists will come together in Munich with leading scientists and technology transfer organizations from all over Europe to learn about the top commercial opportunities that public research institutions and universities have to offer.more

Latest Technology Offers

This Information Letter is periodically published by Ascenion GmbH.
Editor: Ascenion GmbH, Herzogstraße 64,80803 Munich, Germany
Represented by: Dr Christian A. Stein (CEO)
Register Court: Amtsgericht München HRB 118236
VAT Identification Number: DE 812299325
Text: KONOCOM, Layout: Design Direction

Photos: Ascenion GmbH, Prof. Weber, MGC Foundation, Protectimmun GmbH, Helmholtz-
Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research