Meet the Team | Meet Jakob Pohlisch

How would you describe your role at the EIZ?

I lead a great team that oversees different areas of the EIZ: from innovation management to start-ups, project management, events, communication and ecosystem engagement. My role is to ensure that our research reaches industry, policy and regional stakeholders through proactive technology transfer channels - in particular through our EIZ-SPARK initiative, which funds the development of start-ups and the commercialisation of technologies.

Tell us something less well-known from your career that has contributed to your development as a leader.

Before I went into science, I co-founded a start-up - at the time I had almost no idea how to actually do something like that. I was more focused on developing the technology. These early experiences taught me the importance of agility, user-centred iteration and combining academic theory with practical implementation - principles that I now incorporate into what we are building with EIZ SPARK.

Which current research areas at the EIZ excite you the most?

We currently have more than 100 researchers working on many interesting topics - it would be unfair to pick just a few. In general, I'm excited by ideas that show a clear path: from fundamental innovations in the lab to real-world impact. We currently have several teams working on exciting potential start-up projects in the areas of green methanol, simulation and smart controls. It's a very cool part of my job to help incredibly smart people bring their research to market.

Dr Jakob Pohlisch has been Head of Innovation, Management and Communication at BTU's Energy Innovation Centre since September 2023. Before joining the EIZ, he was an assistant professor at WU Vienna and conducted research at TU Berlin, where he also completed his doctorate. His background: statistics, innovation economics – and a keen interest in cutting-edge technologies.