Prototyping grants fund research with impactPrototyping grants fund research with impact

Source: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/research-and-teaching/transfer/transfer-center-enacom/news-folder/prototypisierungsgrants-foerdern-forschung-mit-impact Parent: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/research-and-teaching/transfer/transfer-center-enacom

Prototyping Grants © colourbox/enaCom

Download all images in original size The impression in connection with the service is free, while the image specified author is mentioned.

UniID

Please fill out this field using the example format provided in the placeholder.

The phone number will be handled in accordance with GDPR.

"During the funding phase, the projects should be adapted to the real needs of the target group. The teams can reflect their assumptions early on with real users, learn from them, and further develop their solution in a targeted manner," explains Dr. Alexander Küsshauer, start-up coach at the Transfer Center enaCom, who oversees the funding line. The grants support the development of application-oriented prototypes, which are intended to prepare for a possible later spin-off.

Multi-stage application process

The application process in 2026 is multi-stage. Interested researchers can submit a short project outline, which should not exceed two pages, by March 1. A preliminary selection will be made from the submissions, and the selected teams will be invited to a workshop at the Transfer Center enaCom. The workshop will take place on March 4 and is a mandatory part of the application process. The teams then have until March 30 to hold discussions with potential users and submit these together with cost estimates for prototype development in the form of a read deck as their final application. The applications will be presented to a selection jury at the end of March, which will decide on the funding. All information is available on the website of the prototyping grants1.

Eight projects funded in 2025

In 2025, a total of eight projects were funded that are developing new solutions to practical challenges. The topics range from AI-supported medical diagnostics and data analysis to biomedical testing systems and therapeutic approaches to digital solutions for improving life cycle assessments.

Overview of the projects funded in 2025:

Automated environmental assessments for agriculture (FactFlow)

The start-up team "FactFlow", led by Alexa Leyens (ILR, University of Bonn2) and Johannes Kopton (INRES, University of Bonn3), develops an AI-powered software for the automated creation of environmental and climate assessments in agriculture. The application targets farms, food processing companies, and financial institutions, supporting them in transparently capturing environmental impacts and deriving evidence-based reduction strategies.

AI-supported diagnosis of eye tumors (classification of eyelid tumors using AI to optimize patient scheduling)

A team led by Prof. Dr. Martina Christina Herwig-Carl (Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn4) is developing an app that assists in the assessment and classification of eyelid tumors. This should enable faster diagnosis and better surgical care.

Secure use of medical image data (Neurodare)

The Neurodare team led by PD Dr. Theodor Rüber (Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bonn5) is creating a platform for the legally compliant exchange and controlled use of medical image data in neuroradiology, for example to enable earlier detection of dementia.

Early detection of Parkinson's disease (bradyMX)

The bradyMX project, led by PD Dr. Michael Sommerauer (Clinic for Parkinson's Disease, Sleep and Movement Disorders, University Hospital Bonn6), is developing a tablet-based app that detects early signs of Parkinson's disease.

Test system for heme and hemoglobin in blood samples

The team led by Prof. Dr. Diana Imhof (Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn7) is developing a test kit that simultaneously measures heme and hemoglobin in blood samples. This should enable faster and more reliable detection of blood or metabolic diseases.

Microbial care for newborns (ProbioTex)

The ProbioTex project, led by Dr. Thomas Fließwasser (Institute for Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn8) and Dr. Mariangela Sociale, is developing a new method to provide babies born by C-section with important bacteria and build a healthy microbiome in newborns.

New therapies against inflammation (NanoLazarus)

The NanoLazarus project, led by Dr. Alice Trenerry (Institute for Innate Immunity, University Hospital Bonn9), aims to use nanobodies as a therapy to treat autoinflammatory diseases, which are uncontrolled inflammations caused by an immune system response. In particular, they are to be used in cases of sepsis, which can lead to high mortality rates.

Risk analysis for severe inflammation (SIRS Chip)

The “SIRS Chip” project led by Dr. Susanne Schmidt (Institute for Clinical Chemistry & Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn10) is developing an early detection system for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), a life-threatening immune response that can occur after major surgery, for example.

Application for 2026

All information and templates are available on the Prototyping Grants website1!

The multi-stage application process at a glance:

Submit 2-page application outlines by March 1, 2026
Attend workshop on March 4
Conduct interviews with users
Submit full application (read deck) by March 30
Pitch project to selection jury
Earliest possible start of funding: April 1, 2026

Contact

Dr. Alexander Küsshauer\ Start-up Coach\ kuesshauer@verwaltung.uni-bonn.de\ +49 228 73-62026

Prototyping grants fund research with impactPrototyping grants fund research with impact

Overview of the projects funded in 2025:

Links