LMU Innovation Incubator receives 2026 MöglichMacher award

MöglichMacher awards, presented by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the Bavarian Industry Association (vbw), recognize outstanding achievements in entrepreneurship and startup support at Bavarian universities. The LMU Innovation Incubator has won joint second prize in the Universities category this year and will receive an award of 5,000 euros.

Led by Annie Weichselbaum and established in 2022, the multi-month program has become an integral part of LMU’s new one-stop shop approach to entrepreneurship under the vice presidency of Dr. Philipp Baaske. The program provides support to LMU researchers, students, and staff in translating scientific discoveries and innovative ideas into market-ready products, services, and startup ventures. Participants learn how to systematically validate their ideas, develop viable business models, and prepare for launching a company.

Bridging the gap between research and entrepreneurship

“I’m truly delighted with this award,” says Annie Weichselbaum, Director of the LMU Innovation Incubator. “It recognizes work that often remains invisible: supporting LMU researchers and students in that crucial moment when they take the leap from a research project to founding a startup. Making that leap possible is what motivates me. At the same time, this award sends an important message: To fully unlock the entrepreneurial potential of one of Germany’s largest universities, we need a stable, mature program infrastructure. This is our clear goal for the years ahead.”

Since 2022, the LMU Innovation Incubator – with only one funded staff position, highly creative use of resources, and the dedication of many internal and external supporters – has assisted 45 teams from twelve LMU faculties. Twenty-five of these teams have gone on to secure places in prestigious funding programs such as EXIST, GO-Bio, and EIC Transition. Following their participation in the Innovation Incubator, the teams collectively secured more than 7.6 million euros in public funding with support from the LMU Spin-off Service.

The LMU Innovation Incubator is open to researchers, doctoral candidates, master’s students, academic and administrative staff, and LMU alumni. Applicants must have an idea – ideally research-based – with clear application potential that is in an early stage of development. The current round of applications is open until 31 July 2026.

Innovations with impact

“The MöglichMacher award recognizes an achievement of which LMU is immensely proud,” says Dr. Philipp Baaske, LMU Vice President for Entrepreneurship. “Through their outstanding dedication, Annie Weichselbaum and her team have built a program that durably strengthens knowledge and technology transfer at our university.” Baaske praises the Incubator for creating the conditions needed to transform outstanding research into innovations with meaningful societal and economic impact. Initiatives like this, he affirms, are a key pillar of a forward-looking university.

This year’s MöglichMacher awards ceremony took place at LMU on 14 July 2026. Markus Blume, Bavarian State Minister of Science and the Arts, and Bertram Brossardt, Chief Executive Officer of the Bavarian Industry Association (vbw), presented the awards during a ceremony at LMU’s Great Assembly Hall. The MöglichMacher awards are bestowed in cooperation with the HOCHSPRUNG entrepreneurship network for Bavarian universities, the Bavarian Center for Innovative Teaching (BayZiel), and ProfiLehrePlus, the network of higher education pedagogical institutions at Bavarian universities.