The University of Freiburg is promoting knowledge transfer and networking at the Käpsele Innovation Festival

More than 2,000 visitors gathered at the third Käpsele Innovation Festival at the Sick Arena in Freiburg in July 2026 under the slogan ‘The future needs friction.’ Organised jointly by Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe (FWTM) and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for the Southern Upper Rhine (IHK), the event offered researchers, start-up founders, entrepreneurs and politicians a platform for professional exchange and networking.

The focus was on future-oriented topics such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, resilience and digital sovereignty, as well as discussions on solutions to societal challenges. The University of Freiburg played an active role in shaping the diverse programme with two interactive stations, an expert panel and an information stand run by the Start-up Office. “The University of Freiburg brings together excellent research, knowledge transfer and start-up support. The Käpsele Innovation Festival provided an outstanding opportunity to showcase our work, engage in dialogue with partners from business and society, and generate new ideas,” emphasised Prof. Dr. Stefan Rensing, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at the University of Freiburg.

The Faculty of Engineering makes research come to life

The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Freiburg set up two interactive stations to give visitors the chance to learn about the latest research into sustainable 3D printing and biomedical microtechnology. The station entitled ‘Micro- and Nanotechnology: High-tech Shaping the Future,’ run by NeptunLab under the direction of Prof. Dr. Bastian Rapp, Professor of Process Technology, demonstrated, amongst other things, how glass and rock can be used for 3D printing.

The station ‘Brain-Computer Interfaces: High-tech that connects humans and machines,’ led by Prof. Dr. Thomas Stieglitz, Professor of Biomedical Microtechnology, explored the potential applications and ethical issues surrounding brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). In addition to various BCI systems, video demonstrations allowed visitors to see how the technology is already supporting patients today.

From basic research to start-up consultancy

Among the experts on stage was Dr. Valerie Lang, a research assistant in experimental particle physics in the Institute of Physics at the University of Freiburg. She conducts research using the particle accelerator at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and took part in the panel discussion ‘Future Tech Unpacked: How Fundamental Research Opens New Markets’ on how findings from fundamental research can give rise to new markets and innovations in the future. The panel was organised in collaboration with the twelve partner universities of the Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine 2 (KTUR²) project. KTUR² is a programme funded by the European Union that promotes cross-border innovation and collaboration between businesses and researchers.

The University of Freiburg’s Start-up Office was also represented at the festival, providing researchers with information on the support available to help them turn a research idea into a start-up. The focus was on advisory services for developing business ideas, applying for patents and setting up start-ups. “Start-ups are an important way of putting research into practice. At the festival, we were able to demonstrate the support the University of Freiburg offers to those interested in setting up a business – from the initial idea through to the protection of intellectual property and the launch of a spin-off,” emphasises Dr. Frauke Lorenzen, a member of staff at the University of Freiburg’s Start-up Office.