Quality seal presented at HIGHEST New Year Reception highlights research-based entrepreneurship
Darmstadt, 29 January 2026 – Technische Universität Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt) today awards its Spin-off Label for the second time. Introduced in 2024, the label was first conferred on 19 start-ups. In 2026, nine additional university spin-offs are being recognised. The label stands for research-based entrepreneurship from TU Darmstadt-and for a shared ambition: translating scientific excellence into reliable, scalable applications, products and services faster.
TU Darmstadt grants the quality seal to ventures from its ecosystem that demonstrate strong technological substance, innovation capacity, and success in a rigorous, criteria-led selection process. The label is presented by Prof. Dr Thomas Walther, Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs.
“The spin-offs honoured today exemplify TU Darmstadt’s outstanding innovation strength. They are scientifically grounded, technologically ambitious, and distinguished by a clear focus on real-world application, relevance, and commercialisation potential,” said Walther. “With the Spin-off Label, we make this quality visible-while setting a benchmark for research-based start-ups made in Darmstadt.”
Recognition at a flagship ecosystem gathering
The award ceremony takes place during the HIGHEST New Year Reception and Club Evening, bringing together more than 100 representatives of the innovation ecosystem to exchange ideas, network, and meet the start-ups. The programme also includes a scientific keynote by Prof. Dr Christina Eisenbarth (TU Darmstadt), “Rethinking buildings: resilient, efficient, innovative with hydroactive building envelopes,” as well as start-up pitches.
Strong demand for guidance on the path to spin-off
HIGHEST has supported the transfer from research into application for years-and demand continues to rise: in 2025, HIGHEST conducted around 1,000 advisory sessions, including 300 initial consultations. The figures underline the need for orientation, structured processes and implementation expertise as teams move from research results to spin-off readiness.
“TU Darmstadt and HIGHEST are on a very strong trajectory: higher quality, greater visibility, and a clear pathway-from the first idea to a market-ready company,” said Harald Holzer, Managing Director of HIGHEST. “Our advisory figures show a robust inflow of start-up projects. The Spin-off Label turns this pipeline into credible success stories-and strengthens Darmstadt, the Rhine-Main region and Hesse as an innovation hub.”
The nine Spin-off Label awardees at a glance
The 2026 cohort reflects the breadth of TU Darmstadt’s spin-off landscape:
- Energy & infrastructure: Adaptive Balancing Power brings high-efficiency kinetic energy storage into practice-supporting grid stability and renewable integration.
- Industry & operations: AssistIng and Shopfloor Management Systems (SFM) combine software, AI and data analytics to make production and leadership processes more transparent and higher-performing.
- Health: Dianovi develops AI-supported decision tools that connect clinical quality with economic considerations.
- Mobility: Green Mobility Solutions integrates platform software and smart hardware for sharing and access management across mobility infrastructure.
- Built environment & design-to-fabrication: Lithium Designers links digital planning and additive manufacturing to enable complex architectural forms economically.
- Advanced components: NanoWired develops scalable integration technologies for highly complex components with relevance for AI, e-mobility and quantum applications.
- Cybersecurity: Quanticor Security (quantum-safe cybersecurity) and Sanctuary Systems (proactive security for embedded systems and OT, including space & defence) address the security dimension of digital transformation.
Awardees: company profiles
- Adaptive Balancing Power GmbH (founded 09 Aug 2016)
Adaptive Balancing Power delivers highly efficient kinetic energy storage as a key building block for resilient, adaptable and resource-efficient energy systems-Made in Germany. The technology supports grid stability and renewable integration, improves utilisation and efficiency in railway power networks, and helps secure industrial power grids and critical infrastructures-already in Germany and Europe, with global potential.(EXIST Research Transfer / Dept. 16 Mechanical Engineering)
- AssistIng GmbH (founded 01 Sep 2023)
AssistIng enables mid-sized manufacturing companies to sustainably optimise processes through innovative software and AI solutions-supporting secure jobs in Germany and a future-ready industrial base.(EXIST Start-up Grant / Dept. 16 Mechanical Engineering)
- Dianovi GmbH (formerly MySympto) (founded 02 Oct 2024)
Dianovi bridges clinical excellence and financial efficiency. Its AI-supported decision tools help healthcare professionals improve patient care while creating measurable economic value for hospitals.(Dept. 20 Computer Science)
- Green Mobility Solutions GmbH (founded Sep 2018)
Green Mobility Solutions develops a universal software platform and smart hardware to run sustainable sharing and access management across mobility infrastructure-from parking management and charging infrastructure to Bike+Ride.https://green-mobility-solutions.de/
(EXIST Start-up Grant / Dept. 1 Law & Economics / patent)
- Lithium Designers GmbH (founded 11 Jun 2018)
Lithium Designers makes free-form architecture economically, precisely and sustainably feasible by combining digital planning with additive manufacturing. The company aims to transform construction through automated processes and 3D-printed structural nodes-enabling new design freedom for architects worldwide.https://li3designers.com/about-us/
(Dept. 15 Architecture / patent)
- NanoWired GmbH (founded 25 Jan 2017)
NanoWired develops scalable integration technologies for highly complex components with applications in AI, e-mobility and quantum computing. Its approach targets high-performance, reliable and sustainable interconnects-paving the way for “More-than-Moore” integration.(EXIST Research Transfer / Dept. 20 Computer Science / patent)
- Quanticor Security GmbH (founded 23 Jul 2018)
Quanticor Security protects organisations against threats posed by powerful quantum computers with a quantum-safe cyber platform. Its solutions safeguard data, communications and IT infrastructures comprehensively and future-proof.https://quanticor-security.de/
(EXIST Start-up Grant / Dept. 20 Computer Science)
- Sanctuary Systems GmbH (founded 24 Jun 2020)
Sanctuary Systems develops proactive security solutions for embedded systems across industries, with a strong focus on manufacturing (OT) as well as space & defence. The company’s goal is sustainable protection against emerging and future cyber threats through deep technical expertise and state-of-the-art technologies.(Startup Secure / Dept. 20 Computer Science / patent)
- Shopfloor Management Systems GmbH (SFM) (founded 31 Jul 2018)
SFM Systems digitises lean management to help manufacturing organisations become more transparent, resilient and high-performing. By combining software, consulting, AI and data analytics, SFM strengthens structured leadership routines, makes deviations visible early, and enables sustainable performance improvements across all levels.SFM Systems
(Dept. 16 Mechanical Engineering)
Press Contact:
HIGHEST – Innovation and Start-up Center
Technical University of Darmstadt
Dr. Claudia Becker, Head of Communications
Karolinenplatz 5, 64283 Darmstadt
Tel. 06151 / 16-57042
claudia.becker@tu-darmstadt.de
www.highest-darmstadt.de