INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF SCIENTIFIC EMPLOYEES AT KIT

Intellectual property (IP) in the form of property rights such as patents is, besides unprotected know-how, a basis for innovation projects with subsequent revenues for KIT. Thus, the key figures around IP – starting with invention disclosures – are a signal for the creativity and innovative power of an institution. However, they must also be considered in interaction with other influencing factors, such as the annual patent budget or the strategic focus of an institution.

PATENT APPLICATIONS

In 2025, KIT registered 38 patent applications. A rather high share of about 65 percent of the patent portfolio at KIT is already exploited in license or R&D contracts. 

PROPERTY RIGHTS PORTFOLIO

The "free" property rights offer open opportunities for future cooperation between KIT and companies. For these technology offers, partners from industry are sought for joint further development under the theme RESEARCH TO BUSINESS.

REVENUES AND RETURN FLOWS

KIT's revenues and return flows from license agreements are just as volatile as the numbers of invention disclosures, ongoing innovation projects or start-ups. The license revenues demonstrate how intellectual property is successfully exploited commercially. They reveal where research results gain economic relevance and are transformed into marketable applications. 

2025, KIT has concluded 33 new license and transfer agreements, and the total portfolio at the end of the year amounts to 418 IP agreements. This figure does not include usage under research and development collaboration or contract agreements. As a result, KIT earned 850,000 Euro in 2025.

START-UPS AND INVESTMENTS

KIT bundles its activities in the field of start-up promotion in the KIT-Gründerschmiede. The declared goals are to awaken and strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit among employees and students as well as to activate existing potentials and to develop them further - through a variety of opportunities - into successful spin-offs. To this end, new services and event formats are continuously developed, tested and optimized and numerous local and national network partners are integrated into the work. 

The positive effects of start-up support lead, among other things, to the fact that KIT is considered one of the flagship universities for start-up support and was able to report a new record number of 68 start-ups in 2025.

CORPORATE INVESTMENTS IN SPIN-OFFS

KIT is involved in the early stages of technology development for spin-offs and, if successful, participates in increasing the value of the company. Through its investments, KIT strengthens knowledge and technology transfer via start-ups and supplements the traditional exploitation channels of contract research, research collaborations, and licensing of industrial property rights.