Entrepreneurship for Max-Planck Scientists - by MPF Start-up Initiative

#1 I'm a Tinkerer, that's why I'm a Top Scientist" | Prof. Eberhard Bodenschatz

🎙️ Episode Summary Episode Title: The Scientist as a Tinkerer: Prof. Eberhard Bodenschatz on Curiosity, Failure & the Leap into Entrepreneurship Short Description (for Buzzsprout / Podcast Directories) What do fixing cars, failed experiments, and world-class research have in common? More than you'd think. In this episode, Andreas Reiser sits down with Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Eberhard Bodenschatz, Managing Director at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, for a remarkably candid conversation about what it truly takes to push the boundaries of science — and then take those discoveries into the real world. Drawing on experiences from Cornell, Santa Barbara, and decades at the frontier of experimental physics, Prof. Bodenschatz makes the case that "tinkering" — that relentless, hands-on curiosity — is not a hobby trait but the very engine of breakthrough science. He shares why failure is non-negotiable, what "educated stubbornness" means in practice, why Open Science is the only sustainable path forward, and what scientists need — beyond funding — to make the leap into entrepreneurship. A conversation that is equal parts philosophy, career advice, and honest reality check. Extended Show Notes Guest: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Eberhard Bodenschatz, Managing Director, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization Host: Andreas Reiser, Technology Scout & Mentor, MPF Start-up Initiative Duration: ~22 minutes What you'll learn in this episode: * Why tinkering (Tüfteln) is the hidden foundation of high-level scientific research — not a detour from it * How Prof. Bodenschatz made the leap from theoretical to experimental physics, and what that transition demanded of him personally * The role of failure, stubbornness, and conviction in the discovery process — and why giving up too early is the real risk * Why building your own instruments makes scientists better thinkers, not just better engineers * What "educated stubbornness" means — and how to know the difference between persistence and denial * The case for Open Science and Open Data as drivers of both innovation and trust * What a genuine "safety net" for scientist-founders looks like, and why it matters more than most accelerator programs admit * Why work-life balance isn't a soft topic — it's a structural requirement for a healthy, productive scientific community Timestamps: * 00:00 – Introduction: The Scientist as a Tinkerer * 00:18 – Fixing cars & early interest in technology * 00:46 – From theoretical to experimental physics * 02:00 – Learning from failed experiments * 04:09 – The courage to take risks in science * 05:48 – The importance of listening to others * 06:18 – "Educated stubbornness" * 07:34 – Why scientists build their own instruments * 08:18 – The power of open communication * 10:04 – The moment of discovery: chiseling through the wall * 11:05 – Conviction, stubbornness, and optimism as a mindset * 12:44 – Bridging the gap between science and industry * 14:43 – Why Open Science and Open Data matter * 16:00 – The entrepreneurial leap: moving from science to startups * 18:14 – What helps scientists become founders? * 19:43 – Work-life balance in high-level research * 21:30 – Creating a family-friendly ecosystem in science Links & Resources: * Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization [https://www.ds.mpg.de] * MPF Start-up Initiative [https://startupinitiative.maxplanckfoundation.org]

#2 The Future of Chemistry: Prof. Peter Seeberger on Sustainability & Innovation

🎙️ Episode Summary Episode Title: The Future of Chemistry: Prof. Peter Seeberger on Sustainability, Glycoscience & the Circular Economy Short Description (for Buzzsprout / Podcast Directories) What does it take to reinvent an entire industry from the ground up? In this episode, Andreas Reiser sits down with Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger — Director at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and Founding Director of the newly established Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) — to explore one of the most ambitious scientific projects in Europe today. With initial funding of €1.25 billion, the CTC is on a mission to transform Germany's chemical industry from a linear, fossil-fuel-dependent system into a true circular economy. Prof. Seeberger shares how his journey from MIT to ETH Zurich to Potsdam shaped his vision, why glycoscience and carbohydrates are vastly underestimated in medicine and materials, and how AI and automation are accelerating the path from lab discovery to real-world application. A conversation about science, entrepreneurship, and the chemistry of change. Extended Show Notes Guest: Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces / CTC Host: Andreas Reiser, Technology Scout & Mentor, MPF Start-up Initiative Duration: ~67 minutes What you'll learn in this episode: * Why the chemical industry's linear model is broken — and what a circular alternative actually looks like * The origin story and mission of the CTC, one of Germany's largest new research centers (€1.25B funded) * How glycoscience — the study of complex carbohydrates — is unlocking new frontiers in medicine, immunology, and materials * The often-overlooked gap between fundamental research and real-world application, and how to bridge it * The role of AI and lab automation in compressing discovery timelines * Prof. Seeberger's long-term vision: a chemical industry that uses local, renewable raw materials with zero fossil-fuel dependency Timestamps: * 00:00 – Introduction by Andreas Reiser * 07:30 – The Vision of the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) * 14:10 – Glycoscience: Why carbohydrates matter in health & innovation * 24:00 – Bridging the gap from basic research to application * 34:15 – Sustainable chemistry & the circular economy * 45:00 – AI and automation in the modern lab * 53:30 – Long-term impact: What success looks like for the CTC Links & Resources: * Center for the Transformation of Chemistry [https://transforming-chemistry.org] * MPF Start-up Initiative [https://startupinitiative.maxplanckfoundation.org] * Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svyWu-lkDBo]

#3 Naivety, chaos theory, and a near-fatal contract mistake — the Terraplasma founders hold nothing back.

🎙️ Episode Summary Episode Title: From Cold Plasma to Company: Julia Zimmermann & Gregor Morfill on Science, Chaos, and the Leap into Entrepreneurship Short Description What does it actually take to turn cutting-edge physics research into a company — and keep your life together in the process? In this episode, Andreas Reiser sits down with Julia Zimmermann, founder of Terraplasma, and Prof. Gregor Morfill, one of the world's leading scientists in cold plasma research and former Director at the Max Planck Institute, for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about the journey from lab to market. Gregor shares how decades of fundamental research — including work connected to the International Space Station — ultimately laid the scientific groundwork for Terraplasma. Julia opens up about navigating the realities of being a scientist, entrepreneur, and parent simultaneously, including the crises, the near-fatal mistakes, and the moments that made it all worthwhile. Together, they reflect on whether scientists make good founders, why a little naivety can be a genuine advantage, and what practical advice they'd give anyone standing at the threshold of their first startup. Extended Show Notes Guests: Julia Zimmermann, Founder of Terraplasma; Prof. Gregor Morfill, Cold Plasma Scientist & former Director, Max Planck Institute Host: Andreas Reiser, Start-up Mentor, MPF Start-up Initiative Duration: ~60 minutes What you'll learn in this episode: * How fundamental cold plasma research — including experiments on the ISS — became the scientific foundation for a real-world company * Whether naivety is a bug or a feature when founding a DeepTech startup * How Julia balances the demands of science, business, and family — and what happens when the wheels come off * Why Gregor's "chaos theory" of business turns out to be surprisingly accurate * The near-fatal mistake of taking on military contracts — and what it cost * Why market access is a skill set scientists rarely have and always need * Practical, unfiltered advice for researchers considering the step into entrepreneurship Timestamps: * 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction: From Science to Startup * 01:35 – Cold Plasma Physics and the ISS: The Scientific Foundation * 05:10 – Founding Terraplasma: Was Naivety a Success Factor? * 08:23 – Chaos Theory in Business: Unexpected Paths and Hard Lessons * 11:13 – From Paper to Product: What Keeps You Going? * 14:10 – Building the Right Team: Bridging Physics and Medicine * 17:08 – Are Scientists Good Entrepreneurs? * 21:28 – The Role of the Max Planck Ecosystem in Supporting Founders * 23:35 – How Julia Navigated a Personal and Professional Crisis * 25:38 – Advice for Founders: On Naivety, Security, and Taking the First Step * 29:20 – From Argon Prototype to Consumer Product * 36:00 – The Almost Fatal Mistake: Military Contracts and What They Cost * 40:30 – Why Market Access Requires Outside Expertise * 42:38 – Closing Reflections and a Look Ahead Links & Resources: * Terraplasma [https://www.terraplasma.de] * MPF Start-up Initiative [https://startupinitiative.maxplanckfoundation.org] * Watch on YouTube [https://youtu.be/ozP4wAtx7NI]