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Ascenion and KIT to Collaborate on Life-Science Technology Transfer

3 July 2013, Munich and Karlsruhe -- Ascenion GmbH and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will work together to further improve the transfer of the institute’s scientific findings into application. The partners will focus their collaboration on the life-sciences field.

KIT is the 6th member of the Helmholtz Association to team up with Ascenion, who now serves a total of 24 institutes of the Helmholtz and Leibniz Associations, the Hannover Medical School and TWINCORE. ‘We very much look forward to working with KIT scientists and the institute’s excellent Innovation Department,’ Christian Stein, CEO of Ascenion, comments. ‘KIT’s combination of university and national research center produces a wealth of innovative findings and advanced developments with significant implications for society. We are happy to contribute our specific life-science know-how and experience to help advance these into product development.’

The KIT competence area ‘Applied Life Sciences’ bundles four fields: ‘Cellular and Structural Biology’, ‘Biotechnology’, ‘Health and Medical Engineering’ and ‘Toxicology and Food Science’. Scientists from various disciplines work effectively together across these fields, combining biology, chemistry and medicine with engineering sciences, physics and informatics. In this environment, life sciences can prosper.

'Because our own focus in commercialization is located in the fields of engineering and physical science, we were looking for a specialized partner for the life science area', Jens  Fahrenberg, head of KIT Innovation management office, comments. 'Ascenion is a very good address with expertise and a large network in this sector and we are glad to inform about this new cooperation.'

Ascenion’s services for KIT will cover all aspects of technology transfer, from the identification of commercially attractive research results and securing patent protection through to their commercialization, whether by licensing, cooperation or spinning-out new ventures. KIT researchers will also benefit from dedicated technology transfer tools and networks initiated by Ascenion, including the BioVaria showcasing event, the Spinnovator financing and support instrument for start-ups and the Biotech NetWorkshop for entrepreneurs.

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Contact for Ascenion

Dr Susanne Letzelter, Corporate Development & Communication
T: +49 (0)89 318814-16, E: letzelter@ascenion.de
Ascenion GmbH, Herzogstraße 64, 80803 Munich, GERMANY

Contact for Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Dagmar Vössing, Head Business Development
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
T: +49 721 608-25582, E: dagmar.voessing@kit.edu
Kaiserstraße 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, GERMANY 

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About Ascenion

Ascenion GmbH is an IP asset management company with particular expertise in the life sciences. Ascenion advises and supports public research institutions with regard to the protection and exploitation of their intellectual property (patents, know-how, materials), and initiates and mediates license agreements between research institutions and industry. The company places particular emphasis on coaching company founders and on active equity management. Ascenion was founded in 2001 as a 100% subsidiary of the LifeScience Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research and has since acquired 24 research institutes in the Helmholtz and Leibniz Associations, together with the Hannover Medical School and the research institute TWINCORE as exclusive partners. Ascenion currently markets around 750 technologies on behalf of these institutes, and closes an average of about 80 revenue-generating agreements between research and industry per year. The team has also coached numerous spin-offs through their foundation and early growth and Ascenion holds equity in 23 of these companies. Ascenion’s headquarters are in Munich, with further offices in Berlin, Braunschweig, Hamburg, Hanover and Neuherberg. 
Further information at <link http: www.ascenion.de _blank external-link-new-window>www.ascenion.de

About KIT

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a public corporation according to the legislation of the state of Baden-Württemberg. It fulfills the mission of a university and the mission of a national research center of the Helmholtz Association. KIT focuses on a knowledge triangle that links the tasks of research, teaching, and innovation.
Further informationen at <link http: www.kit.edu _blank external-link-new-window>www.kit.edu