Sustainability / Circular

Munich/Garching, March 14, 2025 – With targeted funding support, the Free State of Bavaria, following a proposal by Member of Parliament Maximilian Böltl, is supporting the conceptual development of the TUM.EnergyLab, a new initiative by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) being established on the Garching campus. The aim is to test innovative energy technologies in real-world environments and thereby make an important contribution to scaling these solutions.

The funding will be administered through the TUM Venture Labs and will be used for the conceptual design and strategic preparation of the project. The TUM.EnergyLab is envisioned as a real-world laboratory for sustainable energy applications – focusing on scalable technologies such as reversible CO₂-negative power plants, Power-to-X applications, redox flow battery systems, and direct air capture facilities. Its development is taking place in close collaboration with actors from research, industry, and the startup ecosystem.

In the context of the ongoing development of energy technologies and the need to rapidly implement innovative solutions, the TUM.EnergyLab is a key initiative. Hartmut Spliethoff, the initiator of the TUM.EnergyLab, explains:
"The TUM.EnergyLab is intended to allow scientists, student initiatives, and founders to work on tomorrow’s technologies in a realistic environment. This closes a critical gap between applied research and the commercialization of energy technologies, true to TUM’s mission as an entrepreneurial university."

Florian Lintl, Operations Director of the TUM Venture Labs, adds:
"With the TUM.EnergyLab, we are creating a place where the energy transition is not just theorized but practically implemented — directly on campus. The center will serve as a real-world lab for innovative energy technologies where scientists and companies can jointly develop solutions. The support from Maximilian Böltl gives us a valuable boost to implement the next steps swiftly and responsibly."

A fitting occasion to announce this partnership was the semifinal of the MIT Climate & Energy Prize, which took place on March 14, 2025, in Garching — hosted by the TUM Venture Labs at the SAP Campus. This competition is the world’s most prestigious contest for student startups in the climate and energy sector, highlighting the international significance of the TUM ecosystem.

Maximilian Böltl expressed his delight at the success of his proposal:
"With the TUM.EnergyLab, an innovation center is emerging in the Munich district where new ideas from the university can be directly transformed into marketable products. On the journey from patent to product, we can ensure that the economic cycle completes itself here in our region. Too often, founders relocate and produce their first series or prototypes elsewhere. Now, we will have an offering that will also allow surrounding business areas to benefit permanently through new settlements emerging from the TUM.EnergyLab. Especially for the energy transition and climate protection, we need more innovations that harmonize ecology and economy!"