Our Mission
We combine world-class scientific leadership with hands-on entrepreneurial support to build Europe’s leading sustainable materials incubator. Meet the experts and the ecosystem dedicated to your success.
Steering Commitee: science meets business
Our Steering Committee combines the best of both worlds. With Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwaneberg and Dr. Jürgen Eck, you have a dual leadership team that combines outstanding scientific expertise with decades of experience in building successful biotech companies. They guarantee the strategic direction of the incubator and ensure the quality of your education.
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Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwaneberg
Scientific Speaker
Expertise: Internationally recognised expert in protein engineering and biocatalysis with positions at Caltech (laboratory of Nobel Prize winner F. Arnold) and Jacobs University. Position: Head of the Institute of Biotechnology at RWTH Aachen University and member of the board at DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials. Innovation: Developer of pioneering biofunctionalisation platforms and holder of over 30 patents for renowned industrial partners such as BASF, Henkel and Roche. Vision: Director of the Bio4MatPro competence centre for the biological transformation of materials science and spokesperson for the RWTH profile area MSE. As an internationally renowned expert in protein engineering and head of the Institute of Biotechnology at RWTH Aachen University, he is driving forward the incubator's scientific vision. With positions at Caltech and over 30 patents to his name, as director of Bio4MatPro he combines academic excellence with industrial applicability.
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Dr. Jürgen Eck
Industrial Speaker
Expertise: Doctor of Biochemistry and visionary in industrial biotechnology, honoured as the "Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO" for linking biology and technology. Experience: Co-founder of BRAIN Biotech AG, which he led for over 25 years as CTO and CEO from the initial idea through to the IPO and on to becoming an internationally active group. Innovation: Specialist in scaling sustainable solutions; now founder and CEO of bio.IMPACT and board member at pioneers such as Evoralis and BLUU Seafood. Vision: Driver of the biological transformation of the economy, accelerating the transfer of biotechnological breakthroughs to the market through strategic consulting and active committee work. The "Most Innovative Bioeconomy CEO" brings invaluable experience from the founding and IPO of BRAIN Biotech AG to the committee. As CEO of bio.IMPACT and an expert in scaling, he supports teams in strategically transforming biotechnological breakthroughs into marketable companies.
Expert Guidance for Material Pioneers
Our interdisciplinary team combines deep scientific expertise with real-world entrepreneurial experience. From high-tech laboratory support to strategic business development and administration, we are dedicated to guiding you through every stage of your incubation journey.
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Ines Vogt
Project lead
Ines supports teams in product development and connects them with key industry partners while overseeing all administrative operations. With a strong background in biotechnology at RWTH Aachen University, she brings deep scientific expertise to guide your venture from the lab to the market.
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Max Ruschmeier
Project lead
Max drives business development and opens doors to our investor network, drawing from his own entrepreneurial journey. A physicochemist by training, he secured €1.2M in EXIST funding to launch his own deep tech start-up, providing him with invaluable first-hand experience in navigating the challenges of founding a company.
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Dr. Nikola Strempel
Laboratory Manager
Nikola ensures smooth operations in our S1-labs, handling everything from safety instructions and equipment training to the procurement of consumables. With a PhD and extensive prior experience as a laboratory manager in the SME sector, she provides professional infrastructure support so you can focus entirely on your research.
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Alina Wego
Finance & Controlling
Alina is the backbone of our financial operations, managing accounting and controlling for both the incubator project and the individual teams. She ensures that all budgeting and financial processes run efficiently, allowing you to navigate your funding phase with security and ease.
Baersweiler + Laborfotos
Coaching
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Strong Partners for Your Growth
Success requires a strong ecosystem. Beyond our core team, we rely on the dedicated support of key regional players who connect our start-ups with the broader industry and provide the ideal infrastructure for growth.
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Dennis Herzberg
Cluster Manager, CLIB
Representing the Cluster Industrial Biotechnology (CLIB), Dennis is the vital link between our start-ups and the wider bioeconomy industry. He opens doors to a vast network of SMEs and large corporations, helping teams integrate their innovations into existing value chains and the supra-regional ecosystem.
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Dirk Pfeifferling
Managing Director, its Baesweiler
As the head of the International Technology and Service Center (its), Dirk ensures our teams have the best possible home. He represents the successful structural change of the region and provides essential support regarding infrastructure and local settlement, fostering a thriving environment for life-science innovation.