Launching BioLabs | TUM: Where science powers startups

Chaimaa Asri
4 days ago
4 min read

A new biotech hub for Munich

Munich, Germany – BioLabs, TUM Venture Labs, and Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) today launched BioLabs|TUM, a new biotechnology innovation hub in central Munich. The initiative aims to empower early-stage biotech startups by providing access to state-of-the-art lab infrastructure, expert mentoring, and global industry networks.

Located in a refurbished 1,800-square-meter facility, BioLabs|TUM will offer fully equipped laboratories and office space for 15–20 startups. The hub is designed to accelerate the development of breakthrough therapies by connecting scientific talent with venture capital and pharmaceutical expertise.

“We are thrilled to announce this collaboration with TUM Venture Labs and Lilly to launch BioLabs|TUM in Munich—marking a major milestone in expanding our innovation ecosystem in Germany,” said Johannes Fruehauf, MD, PhD, Founder & CEO of BioLabs. “With world-class science, top academic institutions, and rising investor interest, Munich is the ideal launchpad for the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs.”

The collaboration brings together BioLabs’ proven coworking lab model, TUM Venture Labs’ academic innovation engine, and Lilly’s global R&D and venture capital reach. Startups selected for the program will benefit from tailored programming, strategic guidance, and access to Lilly’s scientific experts.

“This partnership strengthens our mission to translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact,” said Dr. Philipp Gerbert, CEO of TUM Venture Labs. “BioLabs|TUM adds world-class infrastructure and global connectivity to our vibrant startup ecosystem. The initiative reflects our shared commitment to translating scientific excellence into entrepreneurial success.”

“BioLabs|TUM is an exciting and unique collaboration, which supercharges our collective experience of catalyzing scientific innovation and empowering emerging biotech companies to navigate the complexities of therapeutic discovery and development,” said Julie Gilmore, Ph.D., Vice President and Global Head, Lilly Gateway Labs. “Lilly’s investment in BioLabs |TUM, through our Catalyze360 model, enables us to partner on our shared passion for creating bold scientific breakthroughs. Munich's robust scientific community and strong academic institutions make it an ideal location for fostering early-stage innovation and helping to accelerate the development of innovative therapies that can make a meaningful difference for patients in Germany and around the world.

The new BioLabs|TUM is anticipated to open in early 2026.

This collaboration is part of the Lilly Catalyze360™ model, which is a comprehensive approach to empower early-stage biotech startups across all therapeutic areas by providing access to funding as well as world-class lab space and/or drug development talent and resources through its three pillars: Lilly Ventures, Lilly Gateway Labs®, and Lilly ExploR&D™.

About BioLabs

BioLabs is a network of shared laboratory facilities located in key geographies within well-established as well as more nascent biotech innovation clusters in the US, Japan, France and Germany. BioLabs offers a unique environment of coworking spaces that pair fully equipped and supported laboratories with furnished office space, and active community-building. BioLabs provides entrepreneurs with unparalleled access to capital through its affiliated venture fund Mission BioCapital and numerous industry partnerships. These fertile, supportive ecosystems allow young companies to shift their focus from lab buildout and operations to experimentation and innovation so that they can quickly reach their scientific potential and achieve business success. The BioLabs network of coworking lab facilities now comprises 17 sites, with additional sites under development. Munich will be the third lab location for BioLabs in Germany after Heidelberg and Berlin.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/biolabs-tum/about/

www.Biolabs.io

About TUM Venture Labs

TUM Venture Labs, a non-profit joint venture of the Technical University of Munich

(TUM) and UnternehmerTUM, is shaping Europe’s leading deep-tech and life sciences

entrepreneurship hub. By bridging entrepreneurial mindset with technical expertise, the

initiative supports over 600 ventures, accelerating the creation of scalable start-ups in

12 strategic fields/labs such as Healthcare, Chemspace / Biosystems, Robotics,

Software / AI, Quantum & Semiconductors, Food / Agro / Biotech and Sustainability.

With its extensive network of industry leaders, policymakers, and access to state-of-the-

art facilities, TUM Venture Labs offers a dynamic environment for turning pioneering

research into market-ready solutions.

About Lilly

Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We’ve been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world’s most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer’s disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we’re motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more about Lilly in Germany, visit us here: