Sep 21, 2026
From Patent to Startup: A Look Back at the 3rd International TUD|excite Summer School 2026
That was the 3rd International TUD|excite Summer School
From August 24 to 28, 2026, this year’s International TUD|excite Summer School took place in Dresden in collaboration with the startup factory boOst and EUTOPIA —once again under the theme “Patents in Search of New Business.”
Nine interdisciplinary and international teams came together to develop new ideas at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and structural change. Over the course of an intensive week, nine patents from TU Dresden were examined for their commercial potential. The teams were supported by coaches, industry experts, and entrepreneurs.
Kickoff & Understanding Technology
Following welcoming remarks by Prof. Rösen-Wolff (TU Dresden, Vice Rector for Knowledge and Technology Transfer), Prof. Dr. Jörn Block (University of Trier, Academic Director of the Summer School), Harald Schraeder (EUTOPIA), and Felix Hagleitner (Startup Factory boOst), the teams dove right into their work: Using the “Capability Card” format, they collaborated with the inventors to determine what their respective technologies are actually capable of—and where their limitations lie. Each team then presented its patent in a simple and understandable way, giving everyone a good insight into the various technologies. In an initial brainstorming session, the teams used AI tools and a specially developed evaluation framework to gather as many potential applications as possible, before a “gallery walk” through all the team booths ensured that perspectives from outside each team were also incorporated. This first busy day was rounded off in the evening with a guided tour of Dresden’s Old Town.
From Idea to Validated Hypothesis
Die Teams arbeiten konzentriert an ihren Ideen
On the second day, the focus shifted to narrowing down the options: In a structured attractiveness assessment, the teams reduced their long lists of ideas to a few promising approaches. During the “Expert Challenge,” industry experts critically scrutinized the underlying market assumptions, and specific contacts for further research were identified. Armed with this feedback, the teams settled on three approaches, developed interview guides, and contacted potential interviewees that very same evening.
Field Trip to Lusatia: Validation and Startup Prospects
On the third day, the group traveled to Hoyerswerda Castle. There, the teams conducted interviews they had organized themselves with experts from their target industries to verify whether the problem at hand actually applied to the target group. In the afternoon, each team gave a public presentation to the entire group, outlining which approaches they had discarded based on the evidence they had gathered. The aim was to make it clear that even the reasoned decision to discard an idea can be a positive outcome.
Ausflug an den Geierswalder See in die Lausitz
To wrap up the day, participants had the opportunity to reflect on the day’s events during a sailing trip on Lake Geierswalde. During a group dinner featuring a panel discussion with Prof. Block and two founders from TU Dresden— Patrick Grosa (Smarobix) and Rüdiger Henke (Sixonia)—the various paths to entrepreneurship were explored, and the economic development of Lusatia was also examined.
Pitch Training & Expert Panels
Back in Dresden, the fourth day was all about refining ideas: Under the guidance of Teresa Buchner ( Kobold), the teams worked out their value propositions—who is the target audience, what do they use today, and why is the new offering better? Through iterative feedback loops in small groups, this gradually evolved into a compelling pitch. Remote expert sessions on patent law, regulatory issues, the market, and financing provided the teams with additional technical refinement. In the evening, Prof. Block provided insights into the investor scene and the financing of young technology companies in Germany.
Final Pitches & Closing
On the final morning, the teams received structured feedback on their strengths, risks, and next steps for securing funding during “Road-Ahead Coaching” sessions with financial experts Sören Schuster (TGFS), Markus Michalow (MBG), and Leonard Balbig (Ostsächsische Sparkasse Dresden).
At the closing ceremony, each team presented its results in a four-minute pitch to an experienced jury: Dr. Nagwan Abu El-Ella (excite|FUTURELAB), Daniela Hertzer (LEAG), Alexander Türpe (exciteLAB), and Thomas Frei (Business Angel Network). An intense and eventful week came to a close with an awards ceremony, a group photo, and a festive buffet.
Abschlusszeremonie der International TUD|excite Summer School 2026
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants, experts, coaches (especially Stephanie Randel & Marco Rösler (TUD|excite), Malte Windwehr (boOst)), jury members, partners (especially Harald Schraeder (EUTOPIA)), and organizers (especially Franziska Greim ( TUD|excite)) for their dedication throughout the week. We are very excited to see where the teams’ journey will take them next.
Curious? Whether the week ends with an idea for a potential spin-off, a licensing agreement, a new research collaboration, or simply a sharper focus on one’s own technology: The International TUD|excite Summer School offers researchers at all career stages the rare opportunity to spend a week working alongside experienced coaches and entrepreneurs to discover the full potential of their own research. We’ll let you know about the next Summer School in 2027 in due time. You can find more TUD|excite events and dates here.