Survey of investors, spin-offs and scientific institutions
In March and April 2024, the Investor Acceptance Working Group conducted an online survey among German and international investors on the acceptance of the transfer of intellectual property rights (especially patents), in particular on IP for virtual shares
. Among other things, the survey asked about the level of awareness of this model among investors in the early-stage segment and their assessment of the acceleration of spin-off processes.
118 spin-offs with successful or unsuccessful negotiations on the use of intellectual property (IP) with scientific institutions took part in the online survey in summer and fall 2024. They originate from a large number of universities (share 57.6%) and non-university research institutions (AUF, 48.3%), in individual cases from several institutions. 667 start-ups from the years 2017 to 2023 were contacted, presumably including many that were able to use knowledge and research results without a contract or with a different origin of the business basis. No data on this was available in advance.
The responses from the 118 spin-offs show a high level of complexity in terms of contract content and process participants, a mostly very long period of time until the contract is concluded and widespread dissatisfaction with the process flow. The picture is very similar for universities and AUFs.
114 scientific institutions (technology transfer offices) from the 256 originally contacted took part in the online survey in spring 2025. Their research focus and size suggested a contractually regulated transfer of intellectual property (all types) to spin-offs. The response rate corresponds to a very high participation rate (around 45 percent), particularly from universities.
Contractually regulated IP transfer via spin-offs is currently not part of everyday business for the scientific institutions surveyed - with the exception of a small group of research-intensive institutions. There is a widespread assessment that changes in federal and/or state policy could increase the basis for IP-utilizing spin-offs and their number. Approaches to increase revenues from property rights and applications of patented solutions are crucial, also in order to create scope for scientific institutions directly via exploitation revenues. The scientific institutions also see a clear need for qualification among those interested in founding a company and spin-off teams.
