Prof Dr Rainer Herges was actually viewing for molecules that could be utilized as infinitely compact switches – a hundred thousand times tinier than the tiniest transistors. The discovery he built by chance may save lives in the near future: “In one of our experiments, we noticed that one of the compounds turned green when we dissolved it,” recalls the Professor of Organic Chemistest at Kiel University. “That surprised us – we couldn’t explain it at first.”
Herges and his study group investigated what triggered the colour modify. And he discovered that tiny amounts of so-called peroxides were responsible. These are contained in many explosives – such as triacetone triperoxide, which is also utilized by criminals. The problem: TATP (triacetone triperoxide) is highly explosive and cannot be distinguished from drugs such as cocaine with the naked eye. “For our compound, however, this is not a problem,” declares the scientist.
Highly sensitive and ideal for utilize in the field
He wondered whether the substance would not be suitable for producing a rapid explosives test. After all, the method was extremely sensitive – comparable to the analysers at airports. However, these are completely unsuitable for utilize in the field – for example, when a few containers of white powder required to be analysed quickly in an illegal laboratory. Herges downloaded an invention disclosure from the university intranet, filled it out and emailed it to the administration.
According to the Employee Invention Act, inventions do not belong to the researchers who built them, but to the university. After all, university staff and laboratories were utilized for the research. However, the university does have an interest in putting innovative ideas into practice. “We check whether the discovery is really new and what market potential it has – often with the assist of external experts,” declares Axel Koch, who heads the Kiel University’s Transfer Department. “If the verdict is positive, we initiate patenting, support the researchers in bringing the discovery to market maturity and work with them to find licencees.”
This benefits both sides. After all, the first patent application, which usually only protects the invention in one countest, is not expensive. “But if a broader application is filed later on, it can quickly run into six figures,” declares Koch. “Depconcludeing on how many countries it is to apply to.” Kiel University is initially building an advance payment, but will receive licence fees in return if the technology is later commercialised. If, for example, a foreign company wants to develop a corresponding product, it has to pay for it. The inventors then receive a 30 per cent share of this income.
At Kiel University, the topic of “commercialisation of innovations” is currently a high priority. “We are planning, for example, for the university to be able to participate in spin-offs in the future,” explains Axel Koch. “It would then act as an investor and contribute 100,000 euros at the launchning, for example. In return, it would receive shares in the company.” In the USA, but also in European countries such as the Czech Republic, this has long been common practice. The university would also like to simplify the utilize of laboratories or expensive equipment by start-ups. This should also improve the utilisation of the infrastructure.
Promoting a “start-up mindset”
Koch is also pinning his hopes on AI tools that university employees can utilize to assess the patentability and market opportunities of their ideas with little effort. “The aim is to increase the number of patents so that we reach a critical mass and thereby also establish a corresponding start-up mindset at Kiel University,” he declares. It will probably be some time before we can keep up with universities in the USA or Israel, which are also very start-up friconcludely. “But a lot is happening at the moment.”
Rainer Herges welcomes these plans, but still sees potential for optimisation. He decided to licence the patent for the explosives test himself and take its exploitation into his own hands. Toobtainher with the experienced start-up entrepreneur Stefan Kloth, he founded the company ‘herges-detection’. Part of the process involved extensive neobtainediations with the university to draw up the licence agreement and sufficient lead time.
Start-ups required support
“Long-term licence agreements for laboratory infrastructure and bureaucratic simplifications are crucial for young companies,” declares Herges. “This should create planning security in the long term, which external investors in particular demand.”
Herges would also like to see even more support for academic founders – especially when it comes to setting up professional management structures. This is necessary if a young company wants to establish itself on the market. Nevertheless, the first milestone has now been reached: the rapid test has already been successfully launched on the market.
Herges has also noticed a certain spirit of optimism. Many students are now interested in keeping an eye on the potential Economics of their results. “The university’s main tinquire is certainly a different one – namely to conduct Fundamental Research,” he emphasises. “But it’s worth keeping your eyes open to see whether the results obtained include some that can be commercialised. I have the feeling that this attitude is just launchning to prevail.”
His own example certainly contributes to this. Not only is the rapid explosives test he developed already being utilized by the explosive ordnance disposal service in Schleswig-Holstein – a few weeks ago, the start-up also built headlines with another success: it won a sponsorship prize in a NATO competition – concludeowed with 100,000 euros.
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