The Discovery Partners Institute, part of the University of Illinois System, and DESY today announced a partnership to advance the commercialization of their research and support the launch of businesses in each city. The cooperation will focus on joint work to foster entrepreneurship and tech commercialization in Hamburg and Chicago between the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), an innovative research center within the University of Illinois System and DESY. The respective innovation ecosystems in Hamburg and Chicago are to be connected and thus strengthened.

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• In 2026, DESY will open an integrated start-up hub, The DESY Innovation Factory, to commercialize technologies built on its basic research and foster open innovation initiatives together with industry, which will be the primary connection point for joint activities with DPI. Spin-offs from DESY are focusing on photonics and laser systems, detector and sensor technologies as well as robotics and life sciences.
• Also in 2026, DPI plans to open its new innovation center on the Chicago River south of its three-pronged mission: Training people for high-demand tech jobs, conducting applied research and development; and building businesses upon this research to grow Chicago’s tech ecosystem.

“DESY and DPI are on a parallel path and timeline in terms of supporting entrepreneurs and taking academic research from the lab into the real world,” said DPI Executive Director Bill Jackson. “And when you want to get your research out to the entire world, you need to have global partners.”

Arik Willner, CTO at DESY added: “Together with the DPI we will provide an advantageous framework for deeptech start-ups from infrastructure to an interdisciplinary network for impactful innovation activities to translate scientific insights into successful business models.”

Katharina Fegebank, Hamburg's Second Mayer and Senator for Science, Research, Equalities and Districts explained: "This new cooperation strengthens and builds on the ties between the two partner cities of Chicago and Hamburg. It is a stellar example of how we want to further expand international cooperation and exchange in the Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld. It is an important path to translate scientific findings into patents and social progress. Plus, Hamburg-based researchers and start-ups have the additional possibility to take their innovations to an international stage. A cooperation of this kind contributes to Hamburg's international appeal as an attractive location for science and innovation.”

The partnership will include joint technology commercialization by bringing new partners from Germany to DPI and vice versa. For star-tups, DPI will be an entry point for the American market and DESY for the European market. We will jointly promote each other’s strengths through marketing and events. In addition, we will each host exchange programs for research faculty.

“The University of Illinois System has global ambitions for invention and innovation,” said System President Tim Killeen. “Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have played pivotal roles in the invention of many technologies we use today: From the LED light bulb to the first web browser, Mosaic. We plan to pair up our researchers and hook into Germany’s dynamic and world-leading Innovation System to move ideas to market faster.”

DESY’s Director Helmut Dosch added: “Working together across borders in science and innovation is a part of DESY’s DNA - we are looking forward to this new cooperation and the positive impact of each innovation ecosystem.”

Further Information

About DPI

The Discovery Partners Institute empowers people to jumpstart their tech careers or companies in Chicago. DPI, part of the University of Illinois System, does three things: trains people for high-demand tech jobs; conducts applied R&D; and supports business building. With state investment, a new innovation district in development, and a high-powered network of university partners, DPI has the resources to attract, develop, and leverage the most ambitious people and companies the region has to offer — and keep them here.
 
About the Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld
The Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld is a new flagship for interconnecting science, business, administration and civil society in Hamburg's west. For the first time, the Bahrenfeld neighborhood offers the opportunity to combine living, research, working and recreation in one of the most exciting places of the coming years and decades: An integrated location is being created on 125 hectares - with research and development space for more than 4.000 researchers and teachers as well as 3.000 students. In addition, an attractive new residential location with high leisure quality is to be integrated into the existing district.

The interplay of internationally competitive basic research, the training of urgently needed academic specialists and knowledge and technology transfer give the development of Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld its unique character. Important impulses for the economy arise from research, for example through exciting start-ups that create new jobs. An urban environment with culture, sports and restaurants round off the concept of Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld and set the course for a lively new neighborhood. The Science City is the central example of a new type of urban development for the future and a unique model for interconnecting science, research and neighborhood development and creating positive societal impact.

The cooperation will focus on joint work to foster entrepreneurship and tech commercialization in Hamburg and Chicago between the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), an innovative research center within the University of Illinois System and DESY.