Viessmann Foundation partners with TUM Venture Labs to foster next-generation climate ventures

October 21, 2025 – The Viessmann Foundation, which represents the core of the philanthropic activities of the Viessmann Generations Group, has committed a seven-digit Euro sum over three years to support TUM Venture Labs. The partnership has an ambitious goal: to increase climate-relevant impact tenfold over the next 10 years, with an emphasis on climate-relevant spinouts.

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Max Viessmann, CEO Viessmann Generations Group: “The climate crisis calls for bold entrepreneurs that put climate at the very heart of their companies. Therefore, we are excited to partner with TUM Venture Labs, a joint initiative of TU München and UnternehmerTUM who are building one of Europe’s most vibrant ecosystems for deep tech and climate innovation. Together, we believe Munich’s strong ecosystem can grow tenfold in climate-relevant activity — and we are committed to helping make that happen.”

Philipp Gerbert, CEO TUM Venture Labs: “Our goal at TUM Venture Labs is to mobilize and empower the next generation to build novel scalable solutions addressing climate change, strengthening resilience and moving towards a circular economy. In this endeavor, the global perspective and the business imperative of driving the ‘green premium’ to zero are critical. We are proud and grateful to join forces with the Viessmann Foundation, a global pioneer in this field, and receive support from their deep expertise and global network.”

Lars Eiermann, Chief Sustainable Officer and Managing Director of the Venture Lab Climate & Circular: “Munich’s innovation ecosystem — led by TUM and strengthened through partnerships with LMU, Max Planck, Helmholtz, and others — provides an exceptional foundation to transform world-class deep tech research into companies with global climate impact. The Viessmann Foundation shares this entrepreneurial mindset and the determination to truly move the needle — helping our students and researchers turn excellence in science into measurable climate impact.”#

‍Philipp Schmaelzle, SVP Innovation, Viessmann Generations Group: "We believe in the powerful flywheel of deep tech, optimism and entrepreneurship, which created industries like solar, wind and batteries. With a climate crisis so real, dire and urgent, our best action is to lean into productive optimism – wherever it is rooted in facts and scaling potential. Through our partnership with TUM Venture Labs, we support students and researchers in aiming their deep tech R&D at climate and bringing innovations into the world through entrepreneurship."

TUM Venture Labs is a joint initiative of Technische Universität München (TUM), the EU’s top-ranked technical university, and UnternehmerTUM, Europe’s largest entrepreneurship center. It operates 12 thematic Labs in deep tech and life sciences, providing students, PhD candidates, and researchers with mentoring, incubation programs, and access to entrepreneurial networks to tackle pressing global challenges through scalable business creation.

With the Foundation’s support, the TUM Venture Labs will strengthen their focus on Climate — establishing a clear positioning through the Venture Lab Climate & Circular, addressing key challenges such as greenhouse gas reduction, climate adaptation, renewable energy, and resilience. The Climate & Circular Venture Lab will continue to build and expand strong international ties with leading institutions including Stanford, MIT, Breakthrough Energy, Imperial College London and the Earthshot Prize.

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Viessmann Foundation gGmbH

Founded in 2020, the Viessmann Foundation gGmbH is the philanthropic arm of the Viessmann Generations Group, united by a shared purpose: co-creating living spheres for generations to come. Rooted in family values, the Foundation acts where market solutions fall short - deploying catalytic capital to complement the Group’s investments and driving systemic change toward resilient, equitable communities. We focus on three high-impact areas, partnering with exceptional organizations: Climate & Ecosystems, Education & Democracy, Health & Wellbeing. More information here.

TUM Venture Labs

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TUM Venture Labs, a non-profit joint initiative 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 has already supported over 600 ventures, accelerating the creation of scalable start-ups in 12 strategic fields such as Sustainability and Circular Economy, Healthcare, Chemspace, Robotics, Software / AI, Additive Manufacturing, Mobility, Quantum & Semiconductors, Food / Agro / Biotech, Built Environment and Legal Tech. 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.

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