programs & events
Expand your horizons with our events and programs. Here, you can gain new knowledge, explore skills you’ve always wanted to develop, and connect with our community and experts. Check out our event calendar and programs, and be part of the experience!
join our events
May
life science factory @ HTGF Family Day
May 19, 2025 — May 20, 2025 / 8:00 am
The flagship event of the High-Tech Gründerfonds brings together founders, investors, and industry experts. With engaging panels, networking opportunities, and insights into innovative start-up projects, the HTGF Family Day serves as a platform for exchange and innovation.
May
Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon
May 24, 2025 — May 25, 2025 / 9:00 am
The Life Science Factory is hosting the German location of the Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon on May 24-25, 2025. Innovators from research, industry, and healthcare will collaborate on solutions for global health challenges such as infection prevention, healthy aging, and sustainable healthcare. Sign up – either with your own team or to join a team and work together on innovative solutions.
Jun
life science factory @ Bavarian founders' days
June 03, 2025 — June 05, 2025 / 8:00 am
From June 3 to 5, 2025, a variety of events across Bavaria will focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and business creation. Workshops, start-up pitches, and networking events provide inspiration and opportunities for exchange among founders, young businesses, and interested participants.
Jun
Festival der Zukunft
June 03, 2025 — June 05, 2025 / 9:30 am
A unique event bringing together thought leaders, scientists, and innovators to shape the future. Featuring inspiring keynotes, interactive formats, and a focus on technologies and ideas that can change the world.
Accelerator programs
Entrepreneurial Life Science Accelerator
The Entrepreneurial Life Science Accelerator ELSA program helps life science start-ups shape their business ideas to make them viable and propel them to the next level in the shortest possible time. As a continuation of the former AHEAD Life Science Track, the program is conducted by the Life Science Factory in collaboration with our partner Fraunhofer, Helmholtz Munich and H3 Health Hub. Selected life science start-ups receive free support in a condensed period of 3x2 days, focusing on technology, market and customer understanding, as well as strategy and investor outreach.
mentor match
In the business world, innovation and experience are equally crucial for long-term success. Our 1:1 mentoring program pairs start-ups from the Life Science Factory with experienced mentors from IHK-affiliated industrial companies to create win-win situations and provide tailored mentoring and reverse mentoring. We prioritize quality over quantity, thus, we follow a "matching as a service" approach, carefully selecting the right contacts for each other to ensure each partnership delivers the maximum benefit.
elsa program
The Entrepreneurial Life Science Accelerator (ELSA) program is organized in cooperation with Fraunhofer AHEAD, Helmholtz Munich, and the H3 Health Hub. It helps life science start-ups to shape their business idea in a viable way and to take it to the next level within the shortest possible time. Selected life science start-ups receive free support in terms of technology, market and customer understanding, as well as strategy and investor approach, in a concentrated period of 3×2 days
life science valley
The Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs is funding a number of high-tech incubators at various locations throughout the state with the objective of accelerating the establishment of new high-tech companies in Lower Saxony, supporting innovations, and ensuring the viability of the region into the future.
Conferences & Events
Sahlgrenska global health hackathon
The Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon is a global initiative aimed at catalyzing solutions to pressing health challenges. The hackathon will make stops in six countries across three continents, with the Life Science Factory in Göttingen proud to host the event in Germany.
Investor matching
Our Investor Days is not only a forum for sharing ideas, but also a platform for potential partnerships. Bringing together startups at the forefront of innovation in areas such as drug development, therapeutics, tools, medtech, food, agritech and more, with investors looking for promising collaborations.
Future of life sciences
The Life Science Factory established a new Vertical, focusing on the "Future of Life Sciences". The event offers insights into the market perspective, investors' point of view, new leadership lessons, and success stories from leading life science entrepreneurs in the biotech and medtech industries.
LIFT-OFF start-up competition
This competition, sponsored by the University of Göttingen, is aimed both at people interested in creating a start-up and at active founders, in all sectors.
ELSA Pitch Bowl
The ELSA Pitch Bowl is the public pitch event of the Entrepreneurial Life Science Accelerator (ELSA) program, organized by the Life Science Factory in collaboration with Fraunhofer, Helmholtz Munich, and the H3 Health Hub, held at the end of the program.
life science start-up day
In Germany, start-ups are gaining more attention all the time, and “start-up founder” is now widely seen as a realistic career option. However, researchers and start-ups in the life sciences face special challenges when it comes to implementing technology transfer and establishing themselves in the market.
Conversation & Workshop
leading life science entrepreneurs talks
Every start-up has its own unique story to tell. As part of our "Leading Life-Science Entrepreneurs Talk" series, we speak with inspiring founders and hear exciting start-up stories that encourage listeners to found start-ups themselves, and not to give up when the going gets tough.
Young entrepreneurs in science
The aim of this program is to open up new career and development perspectives for highly qualified scientists who want to become entrepreneurs before or soon after completing their doctorate. Applying both design thinking and interdisciplinary teamwork, participants are encouraged to discover their existing skills as well as their potential.
3d printing
In this learning module, we give you a thorough grounding in the various 3D printing technologies so you can turn your ideas into reality. Whether it’s your first sample from FDM printing or high-quality functional prototypes from the polyjet printer, we cover all the 3D printing technologies available at the Maker’s Factory and give you a glimpse into the wider world of possibilities available in the field of 3D printing.
cutting & engraving
From data generation in the vector graphics program, to the cutting plotter, to the laser cutter. In this learning field we focus on the 2D area. We deal with cutting, marking and engraving a wide range of materials.
3d data generation
In our introductory program, we want to give you a solid grounding in the many possibilities within the Maker’s Factory. We want to work together in a hands-on format in four learning areas on the knowledge you need to realise your own project on this site.
cnc milling
From wood to aluminum to plastic materials; from semi-CNC entry on the shaper to CNC milling on the portal milling machine, we want to introduce you step by step to this widely used manufacturing technology. In addition to 3D printing, we offer you the possibility to realise your idea from materials other than thermoplastics.
Meet us here
Bio-europe
We are excited to bring the Life Science Factory to Bio-Europe, aiming to expand our international network. This event presents an excellent opportunity for potential partners to discover how we can collaboratively drive success in the life sciences sector. Visit us at our booth to discuss innovative solutions tailored to your needs.
biovaria
As sponsors of this life sciences event, we are excited to support innovative start-ups and engage with leading industry experts.
Durchstarter-Preis
As part of an initiative jointly sponsored by Lower Saxony's Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Housing and Digitalisation; the Ministry of Science and Culture; the NBank; the "startup.niedersachsen" initiative, and the UVN – Lower Saxony's organization of employers' and trade associations – the state of Lower Saxony will be selecting the best start-ups.
LIFT-OFF start-up competition
This competition, sponsored by the University of Göttingen, is aimed both at people interested in creating a start-up and at active founders, in all sectors.
SynBio World Cafe
This is an annual series of events that brings together key players from science and industry to discuss the current state and the future of synthetic biology in Germany.
Past Events
Sprind podcast live on stage in göttingen
On September 06, 2023, the Life Science Factory invites innovation lovers, startup enthusiasts and visionaries nationwide when the renowned SPRIND podcast from the Federal Leap Innovation Agency will be recorded live on a stage for the first time.
Investor Days Thuringia
Thuringia Investor Days are held once a year, bringing start-ups and investors together. The aim of the event is to highlight new innovations, create new collaborations, and generate the best possible deal flow. Last year the Pitch Stage platformed as many as 36 start-ups and scale-ups.
Analytica / Finance Days
Nach der Pandemie scheint es mehr Geld auf dem Markt zu geben als je zuvor. In den letzten Jahren wurden immer größere Fonds aufgelegt und auch die finanzierten Summen werden immer größer. Gibt diese Entwicklung Anlass zur Hoffnung auf mehr Neugründungen und eine dynamischere Entwicklung der gesamten Branche?
Bits & Pretzels Healthtech
Bits & Pretzels HealthTech puts the spotlight on start-ups. It's a gathering of the best founders and investors; healthcare providers; medtech, pharma, and insurance executives; tech giants, and policy makers. The goal is to work together to shape the future of healthcare.
BIONNALE
BIONNALE is the largest networking event for the life sciences and healthcare industry in the German capital region. We are pleased to be a Gold Sponsor again in 2023.
Life Science Day in Lower Saxony
Over the past seven years, Life Science Day in Lower Saxony has become the unmissable event where people in the life science sector from the around the state get together, and many guests from further afield are welcomed as well.
Bits & Pretzels
Bits & Pretzels is a three-day conference for folks who have founded start-ups and those who would like to, held in Munich between mid-September and early October.
Deutsche Biotechnologietage
The German Biotechnology Days will take place on 28 and 29 March 2023 in Wiesbaden. The event is a national forum for the German biotechnology sector, where entrepreneurs exchange ideas with scientists and partners from politics, funding institutions and administration.
Wildcard Challenge
Do you have a sound idea for a start-up? Is your idea embedded in the field of life sciences (biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, etc.)? Do you want to develop your idea with excellent coaches and get straightforward feedback? Then you are a perfect contestant for our Accelerator Wildcard Challenge!