ABOUT SPARK-FLI

ADVISORS / MENTORING

Besides funding and education, mentorship and feedback from experienced professionals in the field of drug- and device development is crucial to the success of our technology transfer projects. Connecting industry partners with our academic group leaders has been the source for promising projects that may be developed into novel therapeutics or diagnostics.

Our advisory panel has currently over 20 tenacious experienced and highly talented industry executives, tech-transfer experts, medical doctors, investors and mentors, who regularly attend our meetings. They provide advice and share their wisdom with our teams. We are grateful to them for helping us fulfil the potential of our inventions and help advance them. All our external advisors are under confidentiality agreements.

To further foster the exchange of like-minded inventors, increase our critical mass of technology transfer projects and build on the advantage and spirit of collective expertise and experience, SPARK-FLI teamed up with SPARK-Poland and SPARK-Masaryk University for our joint mentoring events. 

If you like to join our mentoring nights (aka SPARK-Nights), please contact Sonja Schätzlein. 

SPARK-COMMUNITY

The SPARK-FLI program is actively cooperating with other SPARK-Programs around Europe and connected with partners around the globe:

• Basel (CH)
• BIH (Berlin)
• Bordeaux (France)
• Denmark
• Finland
• Global
• IIT (Italy)
• Masaryk University (Czech Republic)
• Nencki Institute (Poland)
• Norway
• Stanford, CA, USA
• Tel Aviv
• The Midlands (UK)
• Zurich (CH).

SPARK in NUMBERS

Since the beginning of the SPARK-PFLI program, we coached and mentored nearly 40 teams, raised over 4.8m€ in third party funding, and co-organized over 90 educational seminars / webinars. 

Approximately 40% of our supported teams were able to acquire third party funding of technology related funds for their SPARK-projects (Return of investment: 1:5).

JOIN SPARK

Interested in joining the SPARK-community? 

We provide a variety of formats and opportunities for researchers, advisors and tech-transfer interested individuals to join SPARK. 

• SPARK-Europe Webinar Series (open for everyone at FLI and beyond):
  • 1st Wednesday of the month 4-5PM (CET)
  • advertised via newsletter
• SPARK-Nights (confidential, upon invitation only):
  • 3rd Wednesday of the month 4-6PM
  • contact Sonja Schätzlein, if you like to join
• SPARK-FLI Program:
  • annual call opens in Fall
  • advertised in newsletter
• Biotech-Network Events:
  • fostering entrepreneurial and networking skills
  • advertised via newsletter.

Since the SPARK-FLI is a small Tech Transfer Program, we are always looking out to join forces in teaching, mentoring and networking with teams outside the FLI, pursuing our common goal: Supporting scientists in the translation of basic science observations into benefits for patient and society.

APPLICATION / CALL FOR PROJECTS

Call for projects

Once a year, typically in November, the FLI opens a call for projects targeting new solutions in health tech and life science space. At the moment only FLI members are eligible for financial support. But since 2021 the call is also open to scientists from other universities and institutes (mentoring and networking only). If you are interested in applying, please contact Sonja Schätzlein.

An expert panel of faculty and industry advisors reviews proposals submitted from across the academic and clinical landscape. Finalists are invited to present to the panel before final selections are made.

Who is eligible?

All employees of the Leibniz-Institute on Aging - Fritz-Lipmann-Institute e.V. (FLI) are eligible to apply for support of the CF Technology Transfer (funding / mentoring / networking / education). Since 2021 we also offer support (education and mentoring, no funding) for external researchers from universities and non-university research institutes.

If you are interested in pitching your project in front of our advisory board and get direct feedback and mentoring for your project during regular meetings, contact Sonja Schätzlein.
 

How to apply?

1. submit 2-page Application Form to Sonja Schätzlein (Deadline TBA)
2. pitch your project in front o our expert advisory panel (January / Februar / TBA)
3. receive feedback from our external mentor-panel and get selected for the next cycle

EDUCATION

The CF Technology Transfer is proud to team up  with our European SPARK-partners, to successfully launch the SPARK EUROPE WEBINAR SERIES in the beginning of 2021. The series takes advantage of the collective expertise and experiences from top-quality speakers and will cover topics from design thinking to challenges in selling complex high-tech products.

If you are interested in joining the lectures, suggest a topic or speaker, please contact Sonja Schätzlein and check our Events / Dates section for more information on our lecture series.

In addition, we can provide recordings and lectures slides of selected talks through our SPARK Europe Education Database, which will be accessible to all scientists of affiliated institutes.