TUM Venture Lab Healthcare welcomes Minister of Health Judith Gerlach for laboratory opening

Munich, May 7th, 2025 – The official opening of the new laboratory within the TUM Venture Lab Healthcare facilities marks a significant step toward the Lab’s mission to foster more entrepreneurial ventures in the healthcare sector. The new lab offers promising scientific teams a unique environment to advance their innovative research with access to professional equipment and to gain essential know-how for practical implementation through exchange with startups and experts.

To celebrate this milestone in healthcare innovation, the Bavarian State Minister for Health, Care, and Prevention, Judith Gerlach, joined TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann and TUM Venture Labs CEO Dr. Philipp Gerbert, alongside numerous representatives from academia, industry, politics, and the healthcare sector. Guests received exclusive insights into the Lab’s vision and activities and had the opportunity to connect directly with startup teams, who presented their innovative projects during the event.

At the core of the new lab infrastructure are entrepreneurial teams developing groundbreaking solutions in prevention, diagnostics, therapy, and specialized healthcare applications. Through close integration with research institutions, clinics, and industry partners, TUM Venture Lab Healthcare fosters an ecosystem where ideas evolve into real-world health innovations. Given the ethical and regulatory challenges typical in healthcare entrepreneurship, many startups value the Lab’s targeted guidance and tailored support—now significantly enhanced by access to high-end laboratory equipment.

During the opening ceremony, Bavarian Health Minister Judith Gerlach sent a strong signal for healthcare innovation by presenting a €500,000 grant for the SMART HEALTH initiative. The project aims to bridge science, practice, and entrepreneurship—not only in healthcare but also in ChemSpace and Food/Agro/Biotech sectors. “This lab is a milestone in supporting cutting-edge solutions in health, care, and prevention at the early stages of entrepreneurship,” Gerlach said. “It is part of our SMART HEALTH program, which we support with half a million euros to help academic teams transition research into practical application.”

TUM President Prof. Dr. Hofmann emphasized the broader significance of this initiative: “Munich is one of Europe’s leading deep-tech hubs. In 2024 alone, over 100 tech-oriented startups were founded at TUM. The true strength of our innovation ecosystem lies in the collaboration among researchers, established companies, investors, and the Bavarian government. The SMART HEALTH grant at TUM Venture Lab Healthcare is yet another strong testament to this collaborative power.”

“To unlock Bavaria’s full innovation potential, we must bring research into practice faster and more effectively”, said Dr. Philipp Gerbert. “At TUM Venture Lab Healthcare, we act as enablers and accelerators for startups developing technologies in prevention, diagnostics, and therapy. Through SMART HEALTH, we can intensify our mission to turn research into scalable, applicable solutions—creating lasting value for society.”

Following a tour of the new laboratory facilities and a presentation of the technical infrastructure, the opening day concluded with a vibrant exchange among ministry representatives, founding teams, and members of TUM and the Venture Lab—a living example of the collaborative spirit that defines the TUM Venture Lab approach.

More information:

TUM Venture Labs /www.tum.venture-labs.de