Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Patents and Licenses

The importance of the “third mission” encompassing knowledge and technology transfer (in addition to research and teaching) has steadily increased for universities over the past years. Through the identification of the creative potential of scientists and students and a beneficial intellectual property rights strategy, those research innovations can be marketed and distributed more widely and successfully and thus better benefit society.

The top priority for effectively entering a market is to secure the rights to its inventions which also is the foremost goal of the university. The university combines the scientific excellence of the research results with optimal intellectual property protection and signals this excellence through its patents.

The strategies, processes and procedures of university IP are set out in the patent and licensing strategy.


For companies: The scientists at HU are constantly developing new technologies. Those are available for licensing or purchase. Are you looking for specific technologies? Find solutions on research.expertise.de or contact us.

For confidentiality agreements/non-disclosure agreements or material transfer agreements, please contact the legal team.


For HU Scientists and Staff: We offer the following services to all HU staff who are planning to register intellectual property rights for an interesting idea, project, finished product, etc.

  • Individual inventor advice
  • General information about intellectual property rights
  • Information on the Employee Invention Act (ArbnErfG)
  • Identification of patentable research results
  • Advice before filling out invention disclosure forms
  • Submission of invention disclosure

For more information, please visit our intranet pages.