IKZ launched four start-up companies in current evaluation period
The start-ups focus on advanced materials, precision instrumentation, and AI-supported data management
During the evaluation period from 2019 to 2025, the Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ) has initiated four spin-offs. These spin-offs are a crucial part of technology transfer, as they translate research results into market-ready products and applications, create new jobs, and promote innovation. The projects cover a broad spectrum - from innovative semiconductor materials and X-ray optics to data science solutions - thus strengthening the connection between research and industry.
Overview of the four IKZ Spin-offs:
NextGO Epi was founded in April 2025 and specializes in the production of large-area gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) epitaxial wafers using MOVPE. Based on many years of IKZ research, the company develops customized layers for high-performance electronics that are more cost-effective, compact, and efficient than conventional semiconductor solutions. Ga₂O₃ offers special advantages due to its wide bandgap and enables applications beyond 10 kV. With AI-supported process optimization and international market access, NextGO Epi aims to supply pilot customers worldwide in the future.
TXproducts is a spin-off founded in 2021 in Hamburg from the IKZ X-ray Optics group in cooperation with DESY. The company develops active X-ray optics such as the WaveGate PulsePicker, which adapts the time structure of synchrotron radiation for experiments at large research facilities, enabling significantly faster measurements. The basis for this are tailored materials from IKZ that allow efficient manipulation of X-rays. TXproducts currently works on pilot projects with DESY and ESRF and was awarded the InnoRampUp funding by IFB Hamburg in 2021.
quantum grade materials [qgm] develops isotope-pure semiconductors such as Silicon-28 and Germanium-73 to market maturity for applications in quantum computing, X-ray optics, and low-temperature technology. The goal is the sustainable supply of research and industry in Europe with these strategic materials. The business idea originated from IKZ research on SiGe heterostructures for quantum computers. Since 2024, the team has been working at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg to meet the special requirements of chemical synthesis processes and continues to receive support from IKZ in the form of crystal growth expertise and networks. The project was awarded the Lausitz Start-up Prize and received EXIST funding of over €900,000 in 2024.
Glaide Data GmbH was founded in March 2025 in cooperation with Humboldt University of Berlin as part of the FAIRmat project. The company offers AI-supported research data management based on the NOMAD-Oasis platform to efficiently capture, organize, and make scientific data accessible. The target group consists of research institutions and companies benefiting from improved data quality and long-term archiving. With its expertise in data infrastructure and cloud services, Glaide Data supports the implementation of FAIR principles ("Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable") in scientific practice.
More information on IKZ Spin-offs
IKZ would like to thank the Leibniz Transfer Office for its support of spin-offs.
Contact:
Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ)
Dr. Maike Schröder
Strategic Science Management
+49 30 246499-107
maike.schroeder(at)ikz-berlin.de
www.ikz-berlin.de
IKZ press release, 15 August 2025
Editor's note: Each Leibniz institution is regularly evaluated externally to verify its eligibility for funding. If the evaluation is successful, a recommendation is made to the federal and state governments to continue funding the research institutions. The last evaluation of the IKZ was conducted in 2019 and is to be repeated after a regular cycle of seven years.