INNOVATIONLAB GMBH

Their core work

InnovationLab is a Heidelberg-based technology SME specializing in printed electronics, organic semiconductor devices, and energy harvesting systems. They develop thin-film multilayer devices and thermoelectric materials that convert waste heat or mechanical vibrations into usable electricity. Their core competence lies at the intersection of materials science and scalable printing processes — taking lab-grade organic electronics and moving them toward manufactureable products. They serve as a bridge between academic research and industrial application in the printed electronics value chain.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

InnovationLab's early H2020 work (2015) focused on fundamental opto-electronic thin-film interfaces through the INFORM training network, with no specific application keywords recorded — suggesting a materials-science foundation phase. From 2020 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward applied energy harvesting: piezoelectric devices, polymer batteries, and thermoelectric systems using organic and hybrid materials. The trajectory shows a clear move from understanding thin-film device physics toward building functional energy-generating products based on printed organic electronics.

InnovationLab is converging on printed, flexible energy harvesters — expect them to pursue IoT self-powered sensors and wearable energy solutions next.

How they like to work

InnovationLab consistently participates as a partner rather than leading consortia, which is typical for a specialist SME contributing deep technical know-how to larger research efforts. With 35 unique partners across 11 countries from just 3 projects, they work in sizable international consortia and appear comfortable integrating into diverse teams. Their participation in both MSCA training networks and RIA research actions suggests they are valued for both knowledge transfer and hands-on R&D contributions.

Despite only three projects, InnovationLab has built a broad network of 35 partners across 11 countries, indicating they join large, well-connected consortia. Their reach spans much of the EU, with no apparent geographic concentration beyond their German base.

What sets them apart

InnovationLab occupies a rare niche as a private SME with deep expertise in both the materials science and the manufacturing processes for printed organic electronics — most comparable actors are university labs or large corporates. Their Heidelberg base places them in one of Germany's strongest organic electronics ecosystems. For consortium builders, they offer something hard to find: an industry partner that genuinely understands the science but thinks in terms of scalable production.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SYMPHONY
  Largest funding (EUR 330K) and most application-oriented project, combining piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and polymer battery technologies into a single multimodal harvesting platform.
• HORATES
  Represents their most recent and specialized direction — hybrid organic thermoelectrics — signaling where the company is heading strategically.
• INFORM
  An MSCA training network that built foundational expertise in thin-film device interfaces, seeding the knowledge base for their later applied energy projects.