Berlin-Brandenburg business plan competition: First place for BTU researchers

With its visionary business idea, the start-up "quantum grade materials (qgm)" from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg has secured the main prize in the second phase of the Berlin-Brandenburg business plan competition. The founding team produces high-purity speciality gas, which is required for use in quantum computers and X-ray optics, among other things. The basis for this is a novel, patented process that efficiently processes a raw material that was previously unusable in industry, making it available for industrial applications for the first time. (Find out more about the raw material from the stars here)

Well received: technically demanding topic was explained in an easily understandable way

The announcement of the winners and the award ceremony took place on Tuesday 29 April at the Auditorium Friedrichstraße in Berlin. Dr David Uebel and Roman Brendler accepted the award on behalf of the entire team. Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises and Mayor of Berlin, particularly recognised the application example of quantum computers in drug research related to Alzheimer's disease. The jury also emphasised that the founders from BTU knew how to explain the technically demanding topic in an easily understandable way.

Dr David Uebel was delighted to win the main prize of 15,000 euros: "Winning the prize is an important signal for us and a confirmation of our work. Together with the EXIST Transfer of Research funding programme, it provides us with targeted support for the next financing and growth steps." Uebel can only recommend participating in the BPW to founders: "The high quality of the event, the jury and the feedback are a real help in the further development of your own project."

About the Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition (BPW)

The Berlin-Brandenburg Business Plan Competition (BPW) is Germany's largest regional start-up initiative. It is a cross-state initiative organised jointly by Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB). The BPW is organised by the universities in Berlin and Brandenburg. The competition is co-financed by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises of the State of Berlin, the Ministry of Economics, Labour, Energy and Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg and funds from the European Union.