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University Hospital is one of the three most research-intensive hospitals in Germany and one of the seven most innovative in Europe, according to a recent evaluation by the European Patent Office / Research successes directly benefit patients

Medical Center - University of Freiburg is one of Europe's top hospitals in terms of research, according to a study published by the European Patent Office (EPO) on October 22, 2025. With 369 European patent applications between 2001 and 2020, it ranks third in Germany - and seventh in Europe. The study was carried out in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) and illustrates the strong links between clinical research and applied development in Germany.

"This evaluation shows in black and white that Freiburg is one of the most innovative medical locations in Europe," says Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "Our research always aims to directly improve patient care - be it through new diagnostic procedures, modern medical technology or innovative therapies. The fact that our ideas receive international protection as patents shows that they also have an impact beyond Freiburg."

Innovation from Freiburg: from the idea to the benefit for patients

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg works closely with the Freiburg Innovation Alliance Foundation, which brings together the city, the University of Freiburg, the Medical Center, regional industry and scientific organizations. It specifically promotes the exchange between research and practice - so that new findings can be applied more quickly.

The hospital's Innovation Advisory Board also provides important impetus. It has been supporting new projects, identifying trends and supporting transformation processes since 2022. The "Industry on Campus" concept also creates direct collaborations between scientists and companies - for example for digital healthcare solutions or new biomedical procedures.

Targeted support for medical start-ups

In addition, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg provides targeted support for medical start-ups from its own research. Physicians and scientists who develop an innovative idea are supported on their way to becoming a spin-off - from feasibility testing to market launch. In this way, more and more young companies are being created in Freiburg that translate medical progress into concrete applications and strengthen the business location.

Example: Innovative cancer therapy through a spin-off from the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the University of Freiburg

Cancers such as advanced colorectal cancer pose major challenges for medicine. The start-up EMUNO Therapeutics GmbH, a spin-off of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the University of Freiburg, is working on the foundations for the future clinical application of a new active substance to support the immune system in the fight against cancer. For this project, the company was awarded an EIC Transition Grant of around 2.5 million euros at the beginning of 2025. The funding will enable the further development of the active substance EMT-224, which was developed in Prof. Dr. Olaf Groß 's research group at the Institute of Neuropathology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg with the support of the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies at the University of Freiburg. More...