News

Connecting science, industry and the startup-ecosystem

Interview with Adrian Thoma, Managing Director of NXTGN

At the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and industry, NXTGN is shaping the future of deeptech innovation in Europe. Based in Germany’s Baden-Württemberg, the innovation platform supports breakthrough founders and helps established companies stay ahead. Recently named one of Germany’s official Startup Factories, NXTGN is set to scale its impact with bold goals and major backing. In this interview, Managing Director Adrian Thoma discusses NXTGN’s unique approach to innovation, offers insights into the differences in technology transfer between Germany and the U.S., and highlights the strategic advantages of Baden-Württemberg as a hub for technology-driven entrepreneurship.

DWIH Founders Summit in Cologne

Scientific discoveries are often confined to academic papers and fail to translate into practical applications. With their worldwide start-up programmes, the German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) support German scientists in turning their research into viable business models. At the first DWIH Founders Summit in Cologne at the end of June, alumni of the start-up support programmes CITRIS and the GUILD Academy of the DWIH San Francisco shared their experiences—and what German universities can learn from the international start-up ecosystems.

News from Heidelberg University

Heidelberg University Confers James W.C. Pennington Award

Professor Lerone A. Martin, Ph.D., professor of religious studies at Stanford University (USA), is the recipient of this year’s James W.C. Pennington Award of Heidelberg University. The scholar is being honored for his ground-breaking studies in African American history. The award, presented by the Heidelberg Center for American Studies (HCA) and the Faculty of Theology, commemorates the American pastor and former slave, James W.C. Pennington. In 1849 he received an honorary doctorate from Ruperto Carola, making him the first African American to be honored by a European university in this way. 

News from the University of Cologne

University of Cologne Founds Adenauer School of Government

The University of Cologne’s Adenauer School of Government (ASG) will combine cutting-edge research with innovative teaching. The establishment of the ASG is made possible by a comprehensive and long-term partnership with the Alfred Landecker Foundation, including an initial funding of ten million euros per year.

News from LMU Munich

MCML Strengthens Transatlantic Ties in Generative and Medical AI

From May 19–23, 2025, a 20-member delegation from the Munich Center for Machine Learning (MCML) – an initiative of LMU Munich and Technical University Munich – visited top U.S. institutions — Harvard, MIT, NYU, and Cornell Tech — to foster long-term collaboration in Generative AI and Medical AI. The visit marked an important step in MCML’s newly launched AI X-Change program, which supports international research stays for PhD students and hosts visiting scholars in machine learning. The trip focused on research in generative models and medical AI—covering topics such as fairness, transparency, clinical applications, and the integration of AI into healthcare. Discussions also explored the foundations of machine learning and social data science.

News from Hertie School

Take your career to the next level with the Hertie School

Apply to join Hertie School’s Executive Master of Public Administration by 1 August 2025.

News from BASt Germany

Young Researchers Seminar YRS2025 at BASt Germany

From 3 to 5 June, the 2025 edition of the Young Researchers Seminar (YRS2025) was held at the Federal Highway and Transport Research Institute BASt in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. As one of the most prestigious events for young talents in the transport sector, the Seminar is meant for young researchers working at organizations belonging to European transport research associations (ECTRI, FEHRL, FERSI, EURNEX, HUMANIST) and US Universities (via TRB). The young participants are preferably PhD students; the Seminar is held every two years.