Research and innovation: New opportunities for Rostock startups

Research and innovation: New opportunities for Rostock startups

On July 31, 2025, two new professors were appointed at the University of Rostock. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Volker Friedrich Branding and Prof. Dr. phil. Philipp Sebastian Rhabanus Kobusch received their certificates of appointment in the Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs from State Secretary Susanne Bowen. Branding will work at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and will focus on the field of analysis. He previously researched and taught at the University of Vienna. The 43-year-old physicist and mathematician studied in Potsdam and Berlin.

Kobusch, 45 years old, will represent classical archeology at the Faculty of Philosophy. He brings extensive scientific expertise, which he acquired at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, where he received his doctorate. His academic career took him through important universities in Kiel, Heidelberg and Cologne before he most recently worked at the University of Würzburg.

Start-up culture in Rostock

Parallel to the appointment of the new professors, the development of the start-up scene in Rostock is becoming more and more remarkable. The start-up deeeper.technology GmbH was founded in February 2022 by the twin brothers Jakob and Dr. Johann Heller and her friend Joshua Becker. Their goal is to digitize the map market through innovative software that analyzes aerial and satellite images with high precision.

A remarkable example of the efficiency of this software is the coverage of the area of ​​Rostock in just 1.8 seconds. Johann Heller studied electrical engineering and wrote a doctoral thesis in applied mathematics. The company follows a sustainable approach, particularly in coastal zones, and uses satellite observation to develop digital maps.

deeeper.technology currently employs 13 people, 10 of whom are graduates of the University of Rostock and 6 of whom are women. The company has developed methods to extract 15 classes from aerial photographs that are important to energy companies and government agencies in terms of land use. The start-up receives support from Professor Ralf Bill and regional institutions, including the Center for Entrepreneurship.

Support for start-ups

The University of Rostock also plays a central role in supporting start-ups in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. A study in which Professor Christian Brock from the University of Rostock and Professor Michel Clement from the University of Hamburg are involved sheds light on the funding landscape for start-ups in the region. The aim is to improve accessibility to funding measures and increase the chances of success for start-ups.

The health systems research infrastructure in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is well developed. Various offerings, such as start-up centers and a patent and standards center, are available. Professor Brock highlights the importance of the results for greater transparency and better opportunities for start-ups.

For further information about the available funding opportunities, which are available online, those interested can use the database or contact Professor Dr. Turn to Christian Brock. His contact information is as follows: University of Rostock, Chair of Business Administration: Marketing, Tel.: +49 381 498-4370/-4377, Email: christian.brock@uni-rostock.de, Website: www.bwl.uni-rostock.de/marketing.

The developments in the university landscape and the start-up scene in Rostock show the dynamic growth of the region and the desire to promote young companies and academic excellence. The exchange between universities and business will therefore be even more important in the future.