InfectoGnostics is part of the Research Campus initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and is built on the concept of a committed public–private partnership. Within this framework, researchers, industrial developers and end users regularly come together “under one roof” to work collaboratively across disciplines. Through this close, transdisciplinary cooperation, complex research questions can be addressed jointly and translated into solutions that are developed all the way to market readiness.
Germany’s industrial future will be shaped by knowledge-intensive deep-tech fields at the intersections of photonics, biotechnology, medical technology and digitalization. Maintaining international competitiveness in these areas requires strong innovation ecosystems in which science, industry and end users collaborate closely. Public–private partnerships and particularly research campuses provide effective structures for accelerating the transfer of scientific discoveries into industrial applications and marketable products. At the same time, they contribute to strengthening Germany’s technological sovereignty and resilience in strategically important sectors such as health, energy and digital infrastructure. Expanding such translational innovation structures is therefore a key element for safeguarding the long-term competitiveness of Germany as an industrial and innovation hub.
Across Germany, the BMFTR currently supports eight research campuses addressing different thematic areas. An overview can be found here. As a Thuringian innovation cluster, InfectoGnostics has received additional support from the Free State of Thuringia since 2022. This support further strengthens the cluster’s ability to connect small and medium-sized enterprises with research institutions and clinical partners, initiate new collaborative projects and product developments, and reinforce Thuringia’s role as an internationally significant and attractive location for innovation.
At the InfectoGnostics Research Campus located at the Jena Center for Applied Research (ZAF), this concept is already being implemented successfully. The close collaboration between partners accelerates the development of innovative diagnostic approaches that enable the rapid detection of pathogens and their antimicrobial resistances. Research at InfectoGnostics at the ZAF is characterized by:
Proximity
- over 1,000 square metres of laboratory and office space
- direct connection to the neighbouring Institute for Physical Chemistry
- central location for meetings, symposia and daily work in collaborative projects
- joint use of research infrastructure (e.g. photonic instruments, BSL-2 laboratories)
Interdisciplinary research for rapid translation
- Modular and open technology platforms for continuous improvement and adaptation by different partners
- Clinical expertise flows directly into technology development
- Pipeline concept for a continuous value chain
Committed partnership as a PPP
- Partnership as equals with clear cooperation agreements
- Joint decision-making, committees with equal representation, clear governance