GeneNovate 2026 - Call for Application

Discover and develop your innovation potential with GeneNovate

Are you a scientist or doctor and want to take your research into the clinic? GeneNovate is the first national entrepreneurship program that accompanies you on this path in the world of gene and cell therapies. We teach the basics of entrepreneurship and aim to embed the transnational mindset early in academic careers. Research should not change - but the way we deal with the results should!

Three advantages of GeneNovate at a glance

• Knowledge transfer: Interdisciplinary workshops and mentoring help to overcome regulatory and economic hurdles.
• Practical relevance: Direct links and contact with clinical and industrial partners facilitate the path to application.
• Individual support: Each team is supported with tailored resources and coaching.

Who can take part?

GeneNovate is aimed at Master's students, PhD students, postdocs and experienced scientists and doctors who want to turn their research into a marketable product or an applicable therapy. Don't have a concrete idea yet? Apply anyway and join one of the teams before developing your own project.

Our goal

We want to support and network you on your "Entrepreneurship Journey". Our goal is to inspire scientists and physicians for entrepreneurship, equip them with in-depth knowledge and thus enable innovative medical solutions for patients in the long term.

We offer a Germany-wide network of:

• Mentors
• Experienced start-up founders
• Regulatory experts
• Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs)
• Patent attorneys
• Industry experts from the pharmaceutical industry
• Venture capitalists and business angels

The workshops include the following topics:

• Workshop 1: Introduction to Entrepreneurship | Changing the Healthcare Industry | Creating & Presenting Pitch Desks
• Workshop 2: Value Proposition & Business Model Canvas | IP Protection & Management
• Workshop 3: Analyze your Market | Create your Business Model | Build your Business Case
• Workshop 4: Regulation | Develop your Product/Solution | Go-to-Market: Understand and win customers
• Workshop 5: Legal Foundations for Start-ups | Team management | Project Management | Establish and manage Partnerships
• Workshop 6: Financing and Funding | Investor discussions & Negotiations | Exit options & Strategic value

Further information

The workshops take place once a month for a full day between January and June. The program was offered in 2024/ 2025 at 6 locations in Germany: Mainz, Munich, Heidelberg, Hanover, Region East (Dresden, Leipzig) and Berlin.

In the third round in 2025/ 2026, the following regions will be added: Region NRW (Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen), Region North (Braunschweig, Göttingen, Hanover, ...), Region Southwest (Freiburg, Tübingen).

Participation is free of charge.

Apply right here.