Innovation Life - The future podcast from Bayern Innovativ

Creative Tech from Bavaria: Technology Needs Creativity (September 16, 2026)

How does technology become true innovation? Barbara Groll talks with Andreas Auberger from CreativeTechHUB about why creative perspectives are crucial for AI, robotics, and other deep tech technologies to reach their full potential.

Audio file length: 00:21:18 (hh:mm:ss)

High-Intensity Lasers: How Laser Research Is Revolutionizing Medicine and Energy (August 19, 2026)

How can high-intensity lasers accelerate particles, enable medical applications, and contribute to fusion research? Prof. Dr. Jörg Schreiber and Prof. Dr. Stefan Karsch from CALA at LMU Munich provide insights into their research and the next technological steps.

Audio file length: 00:27:35 (hh:mm:ss)

6G Health: How Real-Time Telemedicine Can Save Lives (July 15, 2026)

Clemens Möllenhoff (ICCAS / University of Leipzig) talks with host Barbara Groll about the opportunities the next generation of mobile communications offers for telemedicine, AI, and digital healthcare, and why 6G could be the key to many medical innovations.

Audio file length: 00:28:37 (hh:mm:ss)

Humanoid Robotics: How Design Builds Trust (July 1, 2026)

Barbara Groll speaks with Prof. Daniel Nusser, CEO of designflow, about why design is much more than just form and aesthetics, and what role creativity, ethics, and user-centered design play in the development of humanoid robotics.

Audio file length: 00:24:28 (hh:mm:ss)

Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Security for the Medicine of Tomorrow (June 17, 2026)

How secure is the digital hospital? Barbara Groll and Andreas Mangerich from Microsoft Germany discuss cybersecurity in healthcare, risks posed by connected medical devices, outdated IT systems, and the growing threat of ransomware attacks on hospitals.

Audio file length: 00:19:08 (hh:mm:ss)

Innovation Pioneer Robin Allert on the Journey from Research to a Deep Tech Startup (June 3, 2026)

Innovation pioneer Robin Allert speaks with host Dr. Tanja Jovanovic about his journey from academia to a deep tech startup, the responsibility of science, and his mission to turn research into practical applications.

Audio file length: 00:20:21 (hh:mm:ss)

Innovation Pioneer Halgard Stolte on Courage, Risk, and Future Opportunities in Rural Areas (May 20, 2026)

Halgard Stolte, CEO of ArtFlex Software GmbH, speaks with host Dr. Tanja Jovanovic about AI in small and medium-sized businesses, innovation in rural areas, and why the future isn’t limited to big cities.

Audio file length: 00:24:39 (hh:mm:ss)

How VR Modulates Pain: Neurotechnology in Clinical Practice (May 6, 2026)

Virtual Reality Is Transforming Pain Management: Dr. Tanja Jovanovic and Martin Koppehele from Magic Horizons GmbH discuss how immersive technologies influence pain and why VR is increasingly being adopted in clinical practice.

Audio file length: 00:22:58 (hh:mm:ss)

Cyberattacks on Wheels: Is Your Car More Vulnerable Than Your Laptop? (April 22, 2026)

Modern vehicles have long been computers on wheels—and thus potential targets for cyberattacks. In this episode, Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Hof (Ingolstadt University of Technology) explains how the threat landscape is changing and why entire vehicle fleets are increasingly being targeted.

Audio file length: 00:36:52 (hh:mm:ss)

The Sun as a Business Partner – Opportunities in Nuclear Fusion for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (April 8, 2026)

Nuclear fusion is considered one of the major future technologies of our time. If successful, it could not only transform energy supply but also open up entirely new markets. This holds particularly exciting prospects for industry and small and medium-sized enterprises. The construction of fusion facilities requires materials, precision technology, control systems, and engineering. In our podcast “Innovation Leben,” host Barbara Groll speaks with Francesco Sciortino, CEO and co-founder of Proxima Fusion, and Dr. Rainer Seßner, CEO of Bayern Innovativ GmbH, about how companies can become part of the emerging fusion ecosystem. You can find the episode, including subtitles, on YouTube:

Audio file length: 00:25:02 (hh:mm:ss)

6G: The Invisible Operating System of Our Future (March 25, 2026)

6G will be more than just faster communication: It will create an intelligent network that processes data in real time and actively supports applications. Dr. Tanja Jovanovic speaks with Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kellerer (Technical University of Munich) about specific scenarios in medicine, industry, and mobility—and why companies should start thinking about 6G today.

Audio file length: 00:12:25 (hh:mm:ss)

Digitalization Made in Bavaria: How Companies Have Been Shaping the Future for 30 Years (December 10, 2025)

What groundbreaking innovations have particularly driven digitalization over the past 30 years? And where is the industry headed? Dr. Malte Kohring, head of the Digitalization Innovation Network at Bayern Innovativ, shares these and other fascinating insights.

Listen to the podcast

30 Years of Manufacturing: Industry, Change, Visions (November 12, 2025)

What groundbreaking innovations have shaped manufacturing over the past three decades? And which ones will revolutionize it in the future? Dr. Maximilian Bock, Head of the Manufacturing Innovation Network, shares these and other fascinating insights.

Listen to the podcast

30 Years of Innovation Management in Flux: Methods, People, and Courage (October 15, 2025)

What has changed the most over the past 30 years when it comes to innovation management and mindset? And how will innovation management continue to evolve in the coming years? Dr. Tanja Jovanovic, Head of Marketing & Innovation and member of the Executive Board at Bayern Innovativ GmbH, provides answers to these and other fascinating questions.

Listen to the podcast

30 Years of Healthcare: How Innovations Are Transforming the Healthcare System (October 1, 2025)

What innovations have revolutionized healthcare over the past 30 years? And what innovations will revolutionize the healthcare system in the future? Sebastian Hilke, Head of the Healthcare Innovation Network, provides answers to these and other fascinating questions.

Listen to the podcast

Future Skill: Business Succession—Thinking Ahead About Responsibility to Shape the Future (September 17, 2025)

A well-planned and structured succession plan is far more than just an administrative formality. It not only determines the future of a company but also influences its capacity for innovation, employee security, and regional value creation.
Host Barbara Groll speaks with Dr. David Hoeflmayr. He is an expert in increasing corporate value and knows how to successfully structure succession processes.

Listen to the podcast

30 Years of Patent History: The Future of Inventions (September 3, 2025)

Patents are far more than dry documents and legal provisions. They are the silent guardians of ingenious ideas, strategic shields in global competition—and at the same time a reflection of the technological trends of our time. Bruno Götz, Director of the Bavarian Patent Center, takes us behind the scenes of this fascinating triangle of technology, law, and the market. He explains how a vision becomes a protective foundation and why the future is decided right here.

Listen to the podcast

30 Years of Energy & Construction: How Companies Are Shaping the Energy Transition Through Sustainable Innovations (July 23, 2025)

Join us as we look back on 30 years of Energy & Construction. Learn about industry-changing innovations and megatrends. Host Christoph Raithel speaks with Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Oliver Mayer, head of the Energy & Construction Innovation Network at Bayern Innovativ GmbH, about the future of energy supply and the challenges of the energy transition. So it’s not just a look back, but above all an exciting look ahead to the coming years.

Listen to the podcast

The Secret to Success in Time Management: Innovation Despite Time Pressure (July 2, 2025)

In a world that is constantly changing, time management is becoming a key skill. Those who consciously set priorities not only create space for creativity and innovation but also enable clear decisions between safety and risk.
Barbara Groll discusses with Anna Wörner, owner and founder of leadventure, how to achieve effective time management and which tools can help.

Listen to the podcast

Creative Tech from Bavaria: Technology Needs Creativity (September 16, 2026)

How does technology become true innovation? Barbara Groll talks with Andreas Auberger from CreativeTechHUB about why creative perspectives are crucial for AI, robotics, and other deep tech technologies to reach their full potential.

Listen to the podcast

High-Intensity Lasers: How Laser Research Is Revolutionizing Medicine and Energy (August 19, 2026)

How can high-intensity lasers accelerate particles, enable medical applications, and contribute to fusion research? Prof. Dr. Jörg Schreiber and Prof. Dr. Stefan Karsch from CALA at LMU Munich provide insights into their research and the next technological steps.

Listen to the podcast

6G Health: How Real-Time Telemedicine Can Save Lives (July 15, 2026)

Clemens Möllenhoff (ICCAS / University of Leipzig) talks with host Barbara Groll about the opportunities the next generation of mobile communications offers for telemedicine, AI, and digital healthcare, and why 6G could be the key to many medical innovations.

Listen to the podcast

Humanoid Robotics: How Design Builds Trust (July 1, 2026)

Barbara Groll speaks with Prof. Daniel Nusser, CEO of designflow, about why design is much more than just form and aesthetics, and what role creativity, ethics, and user-centered design play in the development of humanoid robotics.

Listen to the podcast

Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Security for the Medicine of Tomorrow (June 17, 2026)

How secure is the digital hospital? Barbara Groll and Andreas Mangerich from Microsoft Germany discuss cybersecurity in healthcare, risks posed by connected medical devices, outdated IT systems, and the growing threat of ransomware attacks on hospitals.

Listen to the podcast

How VR Modulates Pain: Neurotechnology in Clinical Practice (May 6, 2026)

Virtual Reality Is Transforming Pain Management: Dr. Tanja Jovanovic and Martin Koppehele of Magic Horizons GmbH discuss how immersive technologies influence pain and why VR is increasingly being adopted in clinical practice.

Listen to the podcast

Cyberattacks on Wheels: Is Your Car More Vulnerable Than Your Laptop? (April 22, 2026)

Modern vehicles have long been computers on wheels—and thus potential targets for cyberattacks. In this episode, Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Hof (Ingolstadt University of Technology) explains how the threat landscape is changing and why entire vehicle fleets are increasingly being targeted.

Listen to the podcast

The Sun as a Business Partner – Opportunities in Nuclear Fusion for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (April 8, 2026)

Nuclear fusion is considered one of the major future technologies of our time. If successful, it could not only transform the energy supply but also open up entirely new markets. This presents exciting prospects, particularly for industry and small and medium-sized enterprises. The construction of fusion facilities requires materials, precision technology, control systems, and engineering. In our podcast “Innovation Leben,” host Barbara Groll speaks with Francesco Sciortino, CEO and co-founder of Proxima Fusion, and Dr. Rainer Seßner, CEO of Bayern Innovativ GmbH, about how companies can become part of the emerging fusion ecosystem. You can find the episode, including subtitles, on YouTube:

Listen to the podcast

Cybercrime in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses – A Real-Life Case from the World of Operational Technology (February 25, 2026)

Cyberattacks on transportation systems, machinery, and technical equipment often have far-reaching consequences beyond the loss of data. What begins in the digital realm can quickly lead to very real operational disruptions. Dr. Tanja Jovanović speaks with Martin Aman of TG alpha GmbH about a real-life cyber incident from the field of operational technology.

Listen to the podcast

Rethinking Bones: How 3D Printing Is Revolutionizing Healing (January 28, 2026)

When traditional therapies reach their limits, innovation begins. In this episode, Dr. Tanja Jovanovic, along with Daniel Seitz, CEO of Agensmed GmbH, and Leandro Seitz, product manager at Agensmed GmbH, shows how 3D-printed bone implants are reimagining healing—tailored to the individual, biologically compatible, and forward-looking.

Listen to the podcast

Humanoid Robotics: A New Team Member Is Changing the World of Work (January 14, 2026)

Humanoid robotics is becoming increasingly important in industry, research, and everyday life. In this episode, host Christoph Raithel speaks with Dr. Jürgen Baier, CEO of isento GmbH, about what characterizes humanoid robots and why they are increasingly viewed as supportive team members in the workplace. The focus is on the question of what capabilities robots must possess to truly and meaningfully alleviate the workload for humans.

Listen to the podcast

Cybercrime in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses – A Real-Life Cybersecurity Case from Everyday IT (October 29, 2025)

How can you protect yourself against cyberattacks? Find out the answer in this podcast with expert Silke Lilienberger-Hauke (CEO of secudor GmbH).

Listen to the podcast

Nuclear Fusion in Detail: How Do You Tame Plasma? (June 11, 2025)

Join Prof. Dr. Hartmut Zohm, a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics and an honorary professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, as he takes you inside a reactor.

Listen to the podcast

The Future Tastes Different – Technology for Sustainable Enjoyment (March 11, 2026)

In this podcast episode, host Barbara Groll speaks with Maximilian Marquardt, co-founder and CEO of Planet A Foods, about the idea behind the innovation, early experiments in the kitchen, and the journey to becoming an international food-tech startup. Elke Büttner from Bayern Innovativ also explains how companies can find suitable funding programs and why grants can be particularly helpful in early stages of development—for example, when developing initial prototypes or conducting scientific tests.

Listen to the podcast

Shaping the Digital Future: How Funding Enables Innovation (February 11, 2026)

Funding gives innovation time and space. Host Barbara Groll speaks with Dr. Detelf Hühnlein, CEO of ecsec GmbH, and Elke Büttner, funding expert at Bayern Innovativ, about a success story in innovation.

Listen to the podcast

Green High-Tech: AI for Forests with a Future (November 26, 2025)

Ocell GmbH demonstrates how modern technologies can protect our forests: Smart data makes reforestation more efficient, forest management more sustainable, and tree protection more precise. This was made possible in part by suitable funding programs—identified with the support of Bayern Innovativ. In the new episode of “Funding Programs Explained Simply,” David Dohmen, CEO of Ocell GmbH, Dr. Regina Bühl from Projektträger Bayern, and host Dr. Tanja Jovanovic discuss this topic in more detail.

Listen to the podcast

Supporting the Skilled Trades: On the Roofs of the World – ROOFFOX Bitumen Sheeting Cutter (August 6, 2025)

Did you know that small businesses and skilled trades companies in Bavaria can receive three innovation vouchers as financial support within two years?
Learn more in this episode from Anja Härtel, an expert on innovation vouchers, and Tobias Büttgen, CEO of ROOFFOX GmbH.

Listen to the podcast

Apply for Funding Now: Focus on the Cultural and Creative Industries (July 9, 2025)

Johanna Lison, project manager at the Creative Industries Innovation Network of Bayern Innovativ (bayernkreativ for short), and host Petra Blumenroth take a look at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs’ funding guidelines for economically oriented projects in the cultural and creative industries, answering questions such as: Who stands to benefit from this funding? What opportunities does it offer? And: What do you need to keep in mind to ensure your application is successful?

Listen to the podcast

Funding Program “Non-Publicly Accessible Charging Infrastructure for Electric Road Freight Transport in Bavaria (July 31, 2024)”

Trucks and other transport vehicles ensure stable supply chains and keep the economy running. But at the same time, they are responsible for a full six percent of CO2 emissions in the EU.

The solution? Electric trucks! They help reduce CO2 emissions. However, the transition poses challenges for freight carriers: It’s usually not enough to simply replace internal-combustion trucks with electric ones one by one. Having dedicated charging stations on company premises also helps immensely with the transition and should therefore be established. Fortunately, there’s a funding program in Bavaria that supports companies in this effort.

Alexander Wehr, managing director of the logistics company W & P, and Bastian Ritter, a technologist and project manager at the Bavarian Center of Excellence for Electric Mobility, explain how it works.

Listen to the podcast

Funding Program for Publicly Accessible Charging Infrastructure in Bavaria (June 5, 2024)

You see them more and more often because they promise significant emissions reductions in a very short time and are an indispensable step toward greater sustainability. But with more and more electric cars on the road, we also need more and more charging stations. And those cost money!

The good news: These can still be subsidized in Bavaria!

Stefan Sulzenbacher, Team Leader for Innovative Business Models at REWAG, and Bastian Ritter, Technologist and Project Manager at the Bavarian Center of Excellence for Electric Mobility, explain how this works.

Listen to the podcast

Innovation Voucher: The Funding Program for SMEs and Craft Businesses (May 8, 2024)

The “Innovation Voucher” funding program supports collaboration between small Bavarian companies and craft businesses and external research and development institutions. In this podcast with Elke Büttner from Projektträger Bayern, learn who exactly this funding program is intended for and what requirements must be met to benefit from the Innovation Voucher.

Listen to the podcast

BayTP+: The Funding Program for Innovation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (March 27, 2024)

Does your company have a new, innovative technology that’s worth funding? Then check out this episode to learn about the Bavarian Technology Funding Program Plus (BayTP+). Dr. Stephanie Rith explains the benefits and requirements in a short, concise, and—most importantly—easy-to-understand way.

Please note: Unfortunately, a slip of the tongue crept into the episode at the 02:15 mark. Medium-sized companies are defined as those with an annual revenue of up to 50 million €.

Listen to the podcast

BayTOU: The Funding Program for Technology-Driven Start-ups (February 7, 2024)

Have you started a business? But is financing, in particular, a major challenge for you? Then be sure to listen to this episode featuring Dr. Viktor Becher from Projektträger Bayern . He’ll explain the benefits of the BayTOU funding program : the funding program for technology-driven startups.

Listen to the podcast

Innovation Pioneer Robin Allert on the Path from Research to a Deep Tech Startup (June 3, 2026)

Innovation pioneer Robin Allert speaks with host Dr. Tanja Jovanovic about his journey from academia to a deep tech startup, the responsibility of science, and his mission to turn research into practical applications.

Listen to the podcast

Innovation Pioneer Halgard Stolte on Courage, Risk, and Future Opportunities in Rural Areas (May 20, 2026)

Halgard Stolte, CEO of ArtFlex Software GmbH, speaks with host Dr. Tanja Jovanovic about AI in small and medium-sized businesses, innovation in rural areas, and why the future isn’t limited to big cities.

Listen to the podcast

Innovation Pioneer Bastian Härzer on Managing Risks and Mistakes as the Foundation for Innovative Entrepreneurship (November 20, 2024)

Dr. Tanja Jovanović talks with innovation pioneer Bastian Härzer (Syngenity® GmbH) about how he, as a founder and executive, deals with mistakes in his company.

Listen to the podcast

Innovation Pioneer Sabine Kluge on the Skills of the Future – Work in 2030 (October 23, 2024)

Dr. Tanja Jovanović discusses with innovation pioneer Sabine Kluge (kluge+konsorten GmbH) how companies can achieve their visions for the future, what makes a good leader, and what the future of work looks like.

Listen to the podcast

From Science Fiction to Innovation: Welcome to the Year 2040! (December 3, 2025)

What will life be like in 2040? From smart assistants to hologram meetings to autonomous electric vehicles—much of this seems like science fiction, but it’s closer than we think. Host Dr. Tanja Jovanović speaks with foresight expert Kathrin Singer and science fiction expert Christoph Raithel about future scenarios and technologies that are already taking shape today.

Listen to the podcast

Innovation Pioneer Matthias Falk on Crisis Management and the Mindset of Doers (August 14, 2024)

Innovation pioneer Matthias Falk, founder and Chief Technology Officer of Spekter GmbH, speaks with host Dr. Tanja Jovanović about heavy rain risk management and how to turn business losses caused by natural disasters into opportunities.

Listen to the podcast

Innovation Pioneer Tobias Leisgang on Enthusiasm for the Future, Sustainability, and Innovation (May 22, 2024)

Tobias Leisgang is an executive at the Brose Group and also works as an independent consultant and trainer. AND on top of that, he’s a successful podcaster and author. Dr. Tanja Jovanović talks with him about how he juggles all these roles, what drives him, and why having a “scanner” personality is helpful in all of this.

Listen to the podcast

Digital Transformation – Learning Culture in SMEs – Innovation Pioneer: Annika Leopold (March 13, 2024)

Innovation pioneers are people, companies, or organizations that are active trailblazers in the introduction of new ideas, technologies, or business models. In this episode, Dr. Tanja Jovanović speaks with Annika Leopold. She is the founder of Digitalwerkstatt Forchheim and an innovation pioneer. She talks about what drives her, the role the region plays, and how the exchange of knowledge helps us all move forward.

Listen to the podcast

ePA: Two Perspectives on the Electronic Health Record (October 9, 2024)

Christoph Raithel speaks with Dr. Nicolas Kahl (physician specializing in general medicine) and Lena Dimde (gematik GmbH) about the opportunities and challenges of the electronic health record.

Listen to the podcast

Agile Work in Companies: Two Perspectives on the World of Work 4.0 (August 28, 2024)

Prof. Dr. Sabine Pfeiffer (FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg) and Dr. Hans Egermeier (CEO, talsen team GmbH) discuss the question “What does agile work mean in companies?” from two different perspectives with moderator Dr. Petra Blumenroth.

Listen to the podcast

E-Scooters: Two Perspectives on Five Years of Road Approval (July 17, 2024)

In this episode, Christoph Raithel speaks with Tobias Griesmeier, Head of Regulatory Affairs at TIER Mobility, and Maryna Pobudzei, Researcher & Project Lead – Shared Micromobility for the MORE Sharing project at the University of the German Armed Forces in Munich. Together, they look back on five years of e-scooter road authorization, discuss how e-scooters have made urban mobility more flexible so far, and explore the role they play in areas such as safety and environmental sustainability.

Listen to the podcast

AI & Quantum Computing: Two Perspectives on the Future of Work (June 19, 2024)

The 100th episode of the Bayern Innovativ podcast focuses on new technologies, how companies are dealing with them, and their impact on the world of work. But what opportunities—and risks—do they present for Bavarian SMEs today and in the future? What hurdles must be overcome, and what conclusions can be drawn for the future?

Dr. Tanja Jovanović discusses these topics—using artificial intelligence and quantum technology as examples—with sociologist Prof. Dr. Sabine Pfeiffer from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Bayern Innovativ Managing Director Dr. Rainer Seßner.

Listen to the podcast

Floating PV: Two Perspectives on Floating Solar Power Plants (April 10, 2024)

How can floating PV systems on bodies of water provide sustainable energy, and what role do they play in the energy transition? Find out the answers from expert Günther Obermaier (BayWa r.e. Solar Energy Systems GmbH) and expert Ina Schabesberger from the Energy Technology Cluster.

Listen to the podcast

How Will Bidirectional Charging Change Our Future? (February 14, 2024)

Have you ever wondered why we don’t use electric vehicles—which often sit idle for 23 hours a day—as mobile energy storage? Find out what opportunities bidirectional charging offers from Leo Ladenhauf (VISPIRON SYSTEMS), Martin Uhrig (Lechwerke LEW), and the Bayern Innovativ experts Prof. Oliver Mayer and Dr. Guido Weißmann.

Listen to the podcast