HIGHEST – The Incubator for Ideas from TU Darmstadt
HIGHEST is consultant, connector and enabler in one – the link between science and business. From early-stage research through patents to start-up, HIGHEST supports researchers and students at TU Darmstadt, as well as innovation-driven companies.
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HIGHEST – TU Darmstadt’s Innovation Hub
With pioneering spirit and real momentum, HIGHEST, TU Darmstadt’s Innovation and Start-up Centre, supports scientists and founders in turning research results and innovation projects into market-ready products and sustainable companies.
- Darmstadt is one of Hesse’s strongest locations for research-based start-ups – driven by TU Darmstadt, the state’s only technical university, and the interplay of research, industry and start-up centres such as HIGHEST, HUB31 and cesah.
- Over the past ten years, more than 300 start-ups have emerged from the Darmstadt ecosystem, around 250 of which are still active – among them Focused Energy, Wingcopter, Energy Robotics and Magnotherm.
- HIGHEST, TU Darmstadt’s central start-up office, conducted 542 initial consultations in 2025.
Consulting
Personal consulting for every stage of founding – from first idea to company launch.
ConsultingResources
Support in protecting and commercialising research results – from invention disclosure to patent application.
ResourcesDare to ask
If you have a question, you can find the answer. But how do you know what questions to ask? At TU Darmstadt, we teach you how to ask the right questions and offer an abundance of fundamental knowledge – in workshops, lectures, and other educational programs.
Knowledge transfer
Protect intellectual property and research results
IP and Research results are valuable. To make sure you get “what it’s worth”, HIGHEST recommends protecting your ideas as early as possible. We can assist. Just get in touch with our consulting team and IP experts – right here on campus.
Patents & IPfemales@HIGHEST
Innovative ideas need courageous women to bring them to life. The EXIST Women program specifically supports women who are ready to turn their visions into reality. With financial support, coaching, and a strong network, EXIST Women provides the optimal foundation for launching a successful startup.
learn moreExpert knowledge from the source.
No need to chase around if you know someone in the know. HIGHEST connects with successful experts from business, industry and research.
Learn more about our experts
Our successful start-ups
Sucess Story
February 26, 2026
Light for Health and a Better Mood
Sunlight governs a wide range of processes in the human body. To make these benefits available during the dark winter months, the start-up avakis is developing a mask that recreates key properties of daylight—aiming to boost wellbeing and performance in a short time, and to support people coping with shift work and jet lag.
Sucess Story
December 4, 2025
Refuge for small computers
SANCTUARY Systems: Three Darmstadt researchers make critical computers secure
Sucess Story
November 13, 2025
Abbreviations in Space
How the TU Darmstadt Startup Aperio Space Technologies Makes Satellite Data Available in Minutes Instead of Hours
Sucess Story
April 24, 2025
Borionics: Two heads, one salt – and the idea of changing Europe's energy storage system
A young team at TU Darmstadt is developing an innovative electrolyte salt for supercapacitors – efficient, recyclable and independent of Asia. A start-up with a real impact.
Sucess Story
February 20, 2025
Back to the future – smart technology for senior citizens
TUDa start-up Zenaris brings the Internet into the living room
Sucess Story
February 13, 2025
Light, stable, precise: carbon motor spindles
Carbon-Drive start-up has arrived on the market
