Science4Life 2025 strong winning teams in life sciences and energy

The 27th competition round of the Science4Life start-up initiative ends with a record: 94 submissions from the fields of life sciences, chemistry and energy make 2025 the most successful year in the history of the initiative. The most innovative start-up teams were honored with the Science4Life Venture Cup and the Science4Life Energy Cup. The award ceremony took place at the Reinhard Ernst Museum in Wiesbaden.
Record participation in the 27th year
Science4Life, founded in 1998 and supported by the Hessian state government and the healthcare company Sanofi, is Germany's largest business plan competition for life sciences, chemistry and energy. In 2025, the initiative recorded the highest participation since its inception with 94 applications.
Start-ups close gaps where established business models reach their limits. They are drivers of innovation, create resilience and new jobs.
Kaweh Mansoori, Hesse's Minister of Economics
Winner of the Science4Life Venture Cup 2025

1st place HeartGate The team from the field of medical technology has developed a new type of implantation system with which heart support systems can be implanted in the beating heart without the use of a heart-lung machine. The solution is intended to make interventions safer, faster and more cost-efficient. This has positive effects for patients, medical staff and cost bearers. The prize money amounts to 25,000 euros.
2nd place CiX The start-up from Erlangen offers ready-to-connect water purification modules that use electricity to remove pollutants such as PFAS, drug residues and bacteria from water. The prize is 10,000 euros.
3rd place Blueprint Biomed The company is developing a resorbable biomaterial implant for bone regeneration that makes additional surgical interventions superfluous. This is rewarded with 5,000 euros.
4th place X-ECD A new, non-radioactive pollutant detector is to replace the previously established ECD (Electron Capture Detector) - with advantages for occupational safety, the environment and cost structure. Prize money: 3,000 euros.
5th place Plantman The Cologne-based start-up is researching plant-based therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease. The prize is 2,000 euros.
Winner of the Science4Life Energy Cup 2025

1st place WeldNova The Berlin-based start-up uses an electromagnetic bath support to enable the use of laser beam welding for thick sheet metal. A real innovation with high relevance for the industry. The process promises an increase in productivity by a factor of 10 and cost savings of up to 90%. The prize is 10,000 euros.
2nd place Radiant Solar The Constance-based team's solution simplifies the installation of solar systems on apartment buildings by means of a technical solar power distributor. The prize money amounts to 5,000 euros.
3rd place TwinWatt The Darmstadt-based start-up develops wind turbines for urban areas. The technology accelerates even low wind speeds and increases the energy yield. This is also done in combination with photovoltaics. It receives 2,500 euros for this.
Science4Life as a springboard for deep-tech start-ups
We see enormous potential in the field of biotechnology in particular - but also high hurdles. Science4Life offers a strong network and targeted support to bring ideas into application.
Dr. Marion Zerlin, Managing Director of Research and Development at Sanofi and patron of Science4Life
In addition to prize money totaling around 77,000 euros, the Science4Life Academy offers all competition participants access to further training, coaching and industry-specific workshops. The network of over 300 experts from science, business and investor circles is on hand to support the start-up teams.
Science4Life e.V. is an independent non-profit initiative for the promotion of start-ups in life sciences, chemistry and energy. Since 1998, more than 9,500 people have taken part in the competition. Over 3,000 business ideas have been submitted and more than 1,500 start-ups have been successfully founded. The aim of the initiative is to sustainably strengthen technology-oriented start-ups in Germany.

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