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According to a recent analysis by the European Patent Office (EPO), the Medical Center – University of Freiburg ranks among the three most innovative hospitals in Germany and the top seven in Europe. Its research successes directly benefit patients.

Freiburg has earned a place at the forefront of European medical innovation: A study published by the EPO on October 22, 2025, identifies the Medical Center – University of Freiburg as one of Europe’s strongest research hospitals. With 369 European patent applications filed between 2001 and 2020, it ranks third in Germany and seventh across Europe. The study, conducted in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI), highlights the close link between clinical research and applied development in Germany.

“Our research always aims to improve patient care – whether through new diagnostic methods, advanced medical technology, or innovative therapies. The fact that our ideas receive international patent protection demonstrates their impact far beyond Freiburg” says Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, CMO of the Medical Center – Univerity of Freiburg.

From Idea to Patient Benefit: Innovation Made in Freiburg

The Medical Center – University of Freiburg works closely with the Innovation Alliance Freiburg Foundation, which brings together the city, the University of Freiburg, the Medical Center, regional businesses, and research institutions. The foundation promotes collaboration between research and practice, helping new findings reach patients more quickly.

The hospital’s Innovation Advisory Board, established in 2022, also plays a key role. It supports new projects, identifies trends, and guides transformation processes. Through the “Industry on Campus” concept, direct partnerships are created between researchers and companies—driving developments in areas such as digital health solutions and new biomedical technologies.

Supporting Medical Startups

The Medical Center – University of Freiburg actively supports medical startups that emerge from its own research. Physicians and scientists with innovative ideas receive guidance from the initial feasibility phase through to market entry. As a result, more and more young companies in Freiburg are turning medical progress into practical applications, strengthening both healthcare and the regional economy.

Example: Innovative Cancer Therapy from Freiburg Startup

Cancers such as advanced colorectal cancer continue to pose major medical challenges. EMUNO Therapeutics GmbH, a spin-off from the Medical Center – University of Freiburg and the University of Freiburg, is developing a new compound designed to boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer.

In early 2025, the company received a €2.5 million EIC Transition Grant to advance the development of its promising drug candidate EMT-224. The compound was discovered in the research group of Prof. Dr. Olaf Groß at the Institute of Neuropathology, with support from the CIBSS – Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies at the University of Freiburg. This collaboration showcases how innovative research from Freiburg is paving the way for the medical treatments of tomorrow.