TU Ideas Competition
TU Darmstadt has an abundance of ideas: The TU Ideas Competition offers scientists, students, alumni and all members of TU Darmstadt the opportunity to present and advance their own innovative product, business ideas or research results with a view towards exploitation.
The ideas will be tested for their marketing and innovation potential by a jury of experts from start-ups, business, science and politics.
Here is the link to the award winners of 2023!
Thank you very much for the many innovative, exciting, and forward-thinking ideas we received for the TU Idea Competition. After a multi-stage selection process with pitches, the best ideas were presented and on October 12, 2023, in the darmstadtium. We congratulate the winners and wish them success in the future!
About the TU Ideas Competition
Working together to advance ideas and innovations

All participants receive sound feedback from the expert jury of the ideas competition. This is an ideal opportunity for working on and refining concepts. In addition, the finalist teams receive pitch training and coaching from the HIGHEST team.
Being part of the TU Ideas Competition is your ticket to the strongest start-up ecosystem in the Rhine-Main region. Share ideas with other founders and make industry contacts
Photo: The winning teams of 2023.
Video of the 2022 finalsAll students, scientists, alumni and members of TU Darmstadt and h_da. Other teams can also apply, but it is important that one member has a connection to TU Darmstadt or h_da.
Category: Scientists
First prize: €3,000
Second prize: €2,000
Third prize: €1,000
Prize for emerging ideas: €500 plus coaching
Category: Students
First prize: €3,000
Second prize: €2,000
Third prize: €1,000
Prize for emerging ideas: €500 plus coaching
Special prizes will also be awarded, we will announce further details in due course.
Participation is confidential and jury members must sign a non-disclosure agreement. Personal data will not be forwarded by the organizer to unauthorized third parties, or used internally for other purposes.
To take part in the Ideas Competition 2023 you must submit a brief proposal online. Applications will be activated from 1 May to 30 June, 2023.
Applications can only be accepted if they are complete, in writing and received on time. The final deadline will be announced in due course.
Applications and supporting documents may be submitted in English.
Start-ups or companies do not have to be founded before taking part.
The idea must have been developed independently by the participants and must not infringe the rights of third parties.
Several ideas may be submitted per participant or team. A maximum of one proposal can be awarded per participant or team.
Winners of past TU ideas competitions may not apply again with the same idea.
The participants declare their willingness to present their idea during the final event and to participate in marketing and PR activities.
Participation in the competition implies acceptance of the terms and conditions mentioned here.
Legal recourse is excluded for prize money claims. Your ideas are safe with us and the copyright and the claim to your invention or idea remains your own.
The organizer and an external jury of experts will evaluate all ideas based on the following criteria:
Degree of innovation
Economic potential
Feasibility
Customer benefits
Unique selling point
Market opportunities
They will select the finalists in both categories. The decision on the winners will be made after the finalists have presented their ideas to the expert jury.
Application form
The application deadline for the TU Ideas Competition 2023 has expired! The next TU Ideas Competition will take place in 2024.
Simone Lühl
Start-up Coach HIGHEST; simone.luehl@tu-darmstadt.de
