From Lab to Leverage

In celebration of the Joachim Herz Foundation’s 18th birthday, we will host our networking and conference event From Lab to Leverage on August 26-27, 2026.

Day 1: Networking

Our Community Day offers opportunities for exchange for the grantees of our programs (e.g. Add-on Fellowships) as well as with Hamburg’s startup ecosystem. Join hands-on sessions on entrepreneurship, non-academic career paths, research transfer, deeptech, and investment.

When: August 26, 2026
Where: Joachim Herz Foundation, Langenhorner Chaussee 384, 22419 Hamburg

Day 2: Conference

The Deeptech Innovation Conference brings together leaders from policy, industry, academia, VC and startups to discuss how to accelerate deeptech in Germany. Highlights include a fireside chat with Benjamin Adrion, the Joachim Herz Award ceremony, and a keynote by Antje Boetius.

When: August 27, 2026
Where: Curio-Haus, Rothenbaumchaussee 11, 20148 Hamburg

Day 1: Community Day

9.00 am: Arrival

10.00 am: Welcome Address

10.30 am: Interactive Networking: Who is in the room? Get to know your peers and create connections.

12.00 pm: Lunch

13.00 pm: Move into Action: Choose from various parallel sessions (90 min. each)

18.30 pm: Wrap-Up

18.45 pm: Dinner & Open Networking

Career Paths Beyond Academia

14.00 pm: Insights and background perspectives from former grantees

16.45 pm: Insights and background perspectives from former grantees

Ideation for Impact

14.00 pm: Learn about structured approaches (e.g. Design Thinking)

16.45 pm: Learn about structured approaches (e.g. Design Thinking)

Technology Transfer Showcase

14.00 pm: Insights on Transfer Projects in Data and AI
Get inspired by impactful projects from other grantees

16.45 pm: Insights on Transfer Projects in Biobased Materials and Resources
Get inspired by impactful projects from other grantees

Founders’ Essentials

14.00 pm: How to Find Your Founding Team
Workshop with the team from DEEP Pioneers

16.45 pm: Meet the Impossible Founders
Learn how to put deeptech research into ventures

Meet the Investors

14.00 pm: What Investors Want to Know
How to prepare for and approach investor meetings

16.45 pm: Pitch & Progress
Step on stage and present your project in front of a jury and the audience to earn valuable feedback

11.00 am: Welcome & Opening Remarks

11.15 am: Panel Discussion „It’s All About Speed – Accelerating Deeptech Innovation”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. Sabine Kunst, Joachim Herz Foundation
Martin Weber, Founder of one.five
Dr. Lauren Lentz, Revent

12.30 pm: Break

14.00 pm: Keynote “Water - our most precious resource”
Impact Entrepreneur Benjamin Adrion, Founder of Viva con Agua

14.15 pm: Panel/Fishbowl Discussion “How to start? - Success Strategies for Scaling Deeptech“

Benjamin Adrion, Founder of Viva con Agua
Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, UnternehmerTUM
Dr. Gisela Philipsenburg, Ministry for Science, Research & Technology Unterabteilungsleiterin für Transfer und Innovation
Dr. Valentin Piëch, Marlene Porsche Foundation Switzerland

15.15 pm: Break

16.00 pm: Award Ceremony Joachim Herz Preis

Keynote reflection (Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius, President and Chief Executive Officer Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) and handover of the award endowed with 500.000 EUR, followed by remarks from the laureate.

17.00 pm: Conference closing

From 18.00 pm: Conference dinner and Birthday Celebration at Altonaer Kaispeicher, Hamburg

This event is invitation only. If you are interested in taking part, please feel free to contact from_lab_to_leverage(at)joachim-herz-stiftung(dot)de.