HZB strengthens its technology transfer
Dr. Paul Harten heads the new "Technology Transfer and Innovation" department
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) wants to bring technologies to market faster together with industrial partners and use its expertise in materials and energy research to investigate questions from industry in joint projects. The newly established "Technology Transfer and Innovation" department will identify cooperation partners and applications that are of industrial interest.
"The HZB has a high level of systems competence that covers the entire innovation chain from basic research to application, making it an important partner for industry and society. We want to further expand this with the new staff department," says Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech, Scientific Director of HZB for the Energy Division.
"HZB conducts research on many topics that are also of interest to industry. In addition, there is an excellent research infrastructure here, with which materials can not only be characterized in a variety of ways, but also synthesized and modified. This gives us enormous potential for cooperation with industry," says Dr. Paul Harten, head of the "Technology Transfer and Innovation" department. "We want to actively approach industry and promote these offers. We also plan to intensify contacts with former employees and guest scientists. The establishment of an ALUMNI network is an opportunity to gain existing contacts for joint new projects.
Short biography:
Dr. Paul Harten studied physics and received his doctorate in optics from the University of Arizona. He has gained a wide range of professional experience in order to advance the usability of technologies. Among other things, Harten worked in the development department of a large German corporation, in the management of a medium-sized company and was involved in the founding of several start-ups. Most recently, he worked at the Helmholtz Innovation Lab HySPRINT on industrial partnerships for the establishment of large-area laser material processing methods in various industries.
- Synchrotron radiation sources: toolboxes for quantum technologiesSynchrotron radiation sources generate highly brilliant light pulses, ranging from infrared to hard X-rays, which can be used to gain deep insights into complex materials. An international team has now published an overview on synchrotron methods for the further development of quantum materials and technologies in the journal Advanced Functional Materials: Using concrete examples, they show how these unique tools can help to unlock the potential of quantum technologies such as quantum computing, overcome production barriers and pave the way for future breakthroughs.
- Peat as a sustainable precursor for fuel cell catalyst materialsIron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts have the potential to replace the more expensive platinum catalysts currently used in fuel cells. This is shown by a study conducted by researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and universities in Tartu and Tallinn, Estonia. At BESSY II, the team observed the formation of complex microstructures within various samples. They then analysed which structural parameters were particularly important for fostering the preferred electrochemical reactions. The raw material for such catalysts is well decomposed peat.
- Helmholtz Investigator Group on magnonsDr Hebatalla Elnaggar is setting up a new Helmholtz Investigator Group at HZB. At BESSY II, the materials scientist will investigate so-called magnons in magnetic perovskite thin films. The aim is to lay the foundations for future terahertz magnon technology: magnonic devices operating in the terahertz range could process data using a fraction of the energy required by the most advanced semiconductor devices, and at speeds up to a thousand times faster.