Start-ups

Start-ups take our solar energy research results and bring them to market. Our institute has already spawned several companies that commercialize and further develop the institute's technological advances.

In order to promote start-up activities, DLR has developed a comprehensive support programme for interested parties known as the „DLR_Startup Factory“.

CSP Services GmbH

CSP Services GmbH was founded in Cologne in 2007 as a spin-off of the solar research of the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics. The company implements development results, knowledge and experience of DLR in industrial applications, but also researches and develops with its own workforce. The product spectrum ranges from quality assurance for solar thermal power plants to the optimisation of heat and power yield.

heatbrAin

The heatbrAIn team has set itself the goal of accelerating the heating transition with precise data and models. To this end, planning offices, heat suppliers and local authorities are provided with reliable, geo-referenced basic data for any area in Germany - high quality, fast and yet customised to individual needs and interfaces.

Lumoview Building Analytics GmbH

The DLR spin-off company Lumoview Building Analytics GmbH was founded in February 2019 by Dr.-Ing. Silvan Siegrist, Dr.-Ing. Arne Tiddens and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Hoffschmidt. The company, based in Cologne, has developed a measurement system that identifies inefficiencies in thermal insulation easily and quickly. Based on collected data, the system creates 3D models and floor plans of buildings.

Synhelion Germany / formerly Heliokon GmbH

Heliokon GmbH was founded in April 2016 as a spin-off company of the DLR Institute of Solar Research by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Hoffschmidt together with Patrick Hilger. In September 2021, Heliokon merged with the Swiss company Synhelion and changed its name to Synhelion Germany. Synhelion Germany GmbH continues the successful work of Heliokon: The company develops and produces innovative system solutions for the heliostat field of solar thermal plants.

Volateq GmbH

Volateq GmbH was founded in 2020 by Dr. Christoph Prahl, Wolfgang Reinalter and Anne Schlierbach from the DLR Institute for Solar Research. The founding team has already been active in research and development for the solar industry for many years. More than 10 years ago, the paths of the three crossed in sunny Almería in southern Spain, where they worked together on research projects and industrial contracts at the Plataforma Solar De Almeria (PSA). They saw potential to improve solar energy performance and founded their start-up in autumn 2020.