Dresden, May 20, 2026 – Recently, the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW) welcomed representatives from the Saxon State Bank (SAB) and the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport (SMWA). The occasion was the on-site audit of the institutional funding program "IQ@IFW – Innovation Quest," which aims to significantly accelerate technology transfer by validating materials and technologies at early readiness stages.
Efficient Structures for Maximum Impact
During a detailed presentation by the Head of Knowledge and Technology Transfer and the program management, the strategic orientation of IQ@IFW was outlined. At the core of the program is a needs-based process that enables a holistic evaluation of innovations through the Innovation Readiness Level™ Model.
The flexibility of the program was particularly highlighted: by distinguishing between "Fastmove" (for rapid, focused validations) and "Impact" (for complex, multi-dimensional objectives), and by integrating a consortium of experts from the innovation ecosystem, optimal market readiness is ensured. The efficiency of the program is reflected in impressive figures: ten validation projects were successfully launched within just ten months.
Direct Insights into the Future of Technology
In the second part of the visit, selected project teams showcased their progress at a project fair. Using demonstrators and prototypes, the guests were given direct insight into current materials research and its practical applications. The intensive technical exchange between the project teams and the representatives of the Ministry and the Bank underscored the relevance of the work performed at IFW for the Saxon business location.
Conclusion and Outlook
The visit concluded with a very positive balance. The representatives of the SAB and the SMWA expressed great satisfaction with both the organizational and content-related implementation of the program.
IFW extends its sincere gratitude to the Saxon State Ministry and the SAB for their valuable support, which makes it possible to sustainably bridge the gap between excellent research and industrial application.
Have a research idea with market potential? Learn more about IQ@IFW Validation Funding:
https://ifw-innovation.de/p/validation-program/
Note: This article was drafted with help of the on-premises AI system "LIA - Local Intelligent Assistant" using the LLM Gemma 4 (31B) and reviewed and supplemented by the program management.
