Hi-Acts News & Events

The first Helmholtz Tech & Industry Day brought together leading voices from research, industry and politics to explore how stronger partnerships can accelerate innovation and technology transfer. Watch our event recap and relive the key moments, inspiring discussions and new connections that shaped this inaugural event at the DESY campus in Hamburg.

The DASHH Data Science for Innovation (DS4I) programme enables companies to collaborate with leading researchers on interdisciplinary PhD projects at the interface of data science and the structure sciences. It offers a unique opportunity to strengthen long-term collaboration between academia and industry. Click to learn more about the programme, the application process, and how to get involved.

Strong partnerships drive innovation: During the visit of Volkswagen Group Innovation to HZDR, the focus was on cutting-edge technologies, world-class research infrastructures, and new opportunities for future collaboration.

Hi-Acts was represented at the IAEA's ACCONF 2026 in Vienna, one of the leading international conferences on accelerator technologies. Dr. Sonia Utermann presented the Hi-Acts co-creation approach, demonstrating how collaboration between research and industry accelerates innovation and maximizes societal impact.

The ErUM-Data Transfer Workshop 2026 at Startup Labs Bahrenfeld brought together researchers and industry representatives from across Germany. The event focused on current developments in computing, artificial intelligence, and research software, while fostering exchange between science and industry. It provided a valuable platform for networking, knowledge transfer, and the development of new collaborations.

TWO DAYS. ONE INNOVATION CYCLE. Through the Helmholtz Tech & Industry Day 2026 and the Innovation Challenge Arena, Hi-Acts brought together stakeholders from research, industry, and policy – from strategic discussions on future technologies to the co-creation of concrete innovation ideas. Together, the two events demonstrated how dialogue creates partnerships and how ideas can evolve into future collaborations. Read More:

The Schleswig-Holsteinische Bildverarbeitungstage 2026 brought together more than 50 experts from industry, research, and academia at DESY in Hamburg to exchange ideas on the latest developments in imaging and machine vision. Highlights included talks on cutting-edge imaging technologies, industrial applications, and the presentation of the Fokusfinder Awards for outstanding academic theses. Read more about the event and its highlights!

During the 3rd Hi-Acts Network Meeting on June 10, five innovation challenges will be presented, bringing together researchers, industry representatives, and technology experts to collaborate on real-world problems. The focus is on challenges with strong application and technology transfer potential. Explore the challenges, connect with experts, and contribute your ideas to future technologies for research and industry. Discover the Challenges!

The HZDR Technology Transfer Award 2025 has been awarded to the Hi-Acts Technology Lab team consisting of Dr. Martin Kreller, Dr. Santiago Brühlmann, and Dr. Martin Walther from the Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research. The team successfully established the production of the radionuclides copper-61, copper-64, and copper-67 at HZDR, making a significant contribution to the development of novel copper-based radiopharmaceuticals in Europe.

GSI/FAIR contributed to the Artemis II mission with radiation tests at its accelerator: a modified space camera was successfully tested under cosmic conditions. It proved reliable in operation and delivered impressive images from space. The results highlight the importance of GSI/FAIR for future space missions.

Hi-Acts presented its work at the CDU/CSU Innovation Congress in the German Bundestag, highlighting key applications of accelerator technologies. Experts from HZDR showcased advances in personalized medicine and semiconductor technologies, attracting strong political interest. The event emphasized the importance of exchange between science and policymaking.

The German Science and Humanities Council recommends the rapid implementation of PETRA IV, DALI, and HBS-I, highlighting the broad expertise across Helmholtz centers. Hi-Acts serves as a single entry point to five Helmholtz centers—three of which, DESY, HZDR, and Hereon, are part of the recommended projects. A strong signal for the future of Europe’s research and innovation infrastructure.