LIT Partners with GeneNovate to Support Gene and Cell Therapy Entrepreneurship in the WERA Region

The Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT) is pleased to announce its partnership with GeneNovate, Germany's first nationwide entrepreneurship program designed to foster innovation in gene and cell-based therapies. As a key regional partner for the WERA region (Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, and Augsburg), LIT is supporting the launch of GeneNovate's 2026/2027 program year.

Learn more about GeneNovate.

Date Published

October 27, 2026

Over the past months, LIT has collaborated with numerous university and non-university partners across the WERA region to strengthen the transfer of innovations from clinical research in gene and cell therapy and biotechnology. This partnership with GeneNovate represents a strategic commitment to build a robust biotech entrepreneurship ecosystem that connects researchers, physicians, students, and innovators with the resources and expertise needed to advance their ideas toward practical application.

GeneNovate is Germany’s comprehensive entrepreneurship initiative under the National Strategy for Gene and Cell-Based Therapies. The program empowers scientists, physicians, doctoral candidates, postdocs, and advanced students to develop research findings into viable startup ventures. While emphasizing gene and cell therapies, it welcomes applications from complementary fields including biotechnology, diagnostics, bioinformatics, and medicine. Applicants should demonstrate a committed founder’s mindset and a clear startup vision. No prior entrepreneurial experience is required. GeneNovate supports the program participants in developing a concept from their initial idea to pitch-ready proposal. The program is conducted in English and welcomes teams from clinics and universities across the WERA region.