Latest News

Germany to pump €1bn into breakthrough innovation

German Research Minister Anja Karliczek and Economics Minister Peter Altmaier make a joint statement on the founding of the Agency for Jump Innovations following the meeting of the Federal Cabinet. © BMBF / Hans-Joachim Rickel


by tg

Germany’s government announced that it will create an agency for breakthrough ("jump") innovation to foster technology transfer of risky research projects with high market potential into products.

The German agency precede EU plans to create a similar EU agency within its next research framework programme starting in 2021. The agency will be funded with roughly €1bn over 10 years.

The move is intented to keep value creation in Germany.  The idea for such an agency is lent from the US agency DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), which was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950ies to support commercialisation of groundbreaking inventions such as the Internet, GPS or driverless vehicles. Besides Germany, Sweden and Switzerland have already established innovation agencies for non-military purposes. 

The German agency is set to start next year. According to Germany’s minister for economics, Peter Altmaier, a first call will seek for 3 to 4 promising artificial intelligence projects.

Sanofi/Regeneron's IL-33 blocker meets endpoint in POC study

The companies announced that REGN3500 (SAR440340) monotherapy significantly reduced loss of asthma control and improved lung function...

Boehringer snaps up cancer vaccine developer

Boehringer Ingelheim has dug deep into its coffers in order to snap up cancer vaccine company AMAL Therapeutics. The transaction could amount up to...

Swedish researchers find new pain organ

Almost one person in every five experiences constant pain and there is a considerable need to find new painkilling drugs. However, sensitivity to...

GARDP wants five AMR breakers by 2025

Non profit organisation GARDP (Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership) said it wants to collaboratively develop five drugs that break...

GSK reaches endpoint in pivotal blood cancer study

Belantamab mafodotin is an immuno-conjugate comprising a humanised anti-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) monoclonal antibody conjugated to the...

UK biotech to make proteins from carbon dioxide emissions

According to the deal announced in mid-June, Deep Branch Biotechnology will place a pilot plant within Drax’s Carbon Capture Usage and Storage...

Google maps for tumours and organs

Theoretically, light sheet microscopy can be used i.e. to observe in 3D, which parts of a mouse brain or a whole tumour are penetrated or affected by...