TUM Open Lab – Your gateway to research
If you want to conduct research yourself, the TUM Open Lab is the place to start: practical, interdisciplinary, future-oriented, and open to your ideas!
Would you like to finally test your own idea in the lab, but lack the access, structure, or suitable framework? This is exactly where the TUM Open Lab comes in: a new, future-oriented teaching and research format for TUM students that gives you supervised access to modern laboratory infrastructure. The focus is on your own interdisciplinary research projects related to sustainable biotechnology and alternative proteins.
The program begins with a joint brainstorming session as part of a hackathon. There, you will develop initial project approaches together with other students, form a team, and steer your idea in a feasible direction. Teams of 1 to 5 people can apply, regardless of whether you already have a finished concept or are just finding your focus in the hackathon.
The thematic focus at the TUM Open Lab can include the following:
Alternative proteins (e.g., precision fermentation for functional proteins, cultured meat, or fats for sustainable food production)
Artificial intelligence in cellular agriculture & biotechnology (e.g., design, monitoring, and optimization of bioprocesses)
Sustainability in the laboratory (e.g., circular systems, bioconversion efficiency, or sustainability assessments)
The TUM Open Lab closes a crucial gap in your studies: Instead of doing research “according to plan” late in your studies as part of a thesis or a traditional internship, you can do independent scientific work here early on. If your team is selected, you will receive weekly supervised access to the laboratory over the course of a semester to put your idea into practice step by step. In the process, you will not only learn laboratory practice and safety standards, but also develop important skills such as scientific communication, teamwork, and structured working in everyday research.
The program is organized and supervised jointly by the Chair of Cellular Agriculture at the TUM School of Life Sciences and the student initiative Future Foods e.V., in close cooperation with TUM Venture Labs.
Please feel free to send any questions to: openlab.cellag@ls.tum.de
The new module will kick off with an open kick-off event for all participants:
📍 Wed, April 29, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. | BayWa Coworking Space
The module is scheduled to start in early May 2026.