Martin Reichel to be new spokesman for the Bavarian Research and Innovation Agency (BayFIA) from July 2024

Martin Reichel, Managing Director of the Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR), will take over as Spokesman of the Bavarian Research and Innovation Agency (BayFIA) on 1 July 2024. He succeeds Dr Christian Haslbeck, Managing Director of the Bavarian Research Foundation. This is the third time that Martin Reichel has served as spokesman for the agency - a position he also held in 2016 and 2020.

Four partner organisations work hand in hand under the umbrella of BayFIA at the two sites in Nuremberg and Munich: Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR), Bavarian Research Foundation, Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH (BayPAT) and Bayern Innovativ.

Martin Reichel has been managing director of the Bavarian Research Alliance since October 2011. Before this, he worked for eleven years at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, most recently as an authorised signatory, member of the extended management board and head of the Legal & Technology Transfer department.

Commenting on his new role as spokesman for BayFIA, Reichel said: " I am delighted to once again take on the role of spokesperson for BayFIA and look forward to maintaining and further expanding Bavaria's leading position as a location for research and innovation in international competition. We use our expertise to advise small and medium-sized companies, universities and other research and innovation players on their innovative projects: in the acquisition of state, federal and EU funding and in all matters relating to inventions, patents and licences. This broad portfolio of free services to support innovative projects is unique in Germany.”

Background information

BayFIA - four strong partners working together for Bavaria

The Bavarian Research and Innovation Agency (BayFIA), initiated by the Bavarian State Government, supports Bavarian companies and research institutions with innovative projects. With the four institutions Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR), Bavarian Research Foundation, Bayerische Patentallianz GmbH (BayPAT) and Bayern Innovativ, it brings together four powerful partners under one roof. Together, they offer a comprehensive range of services and consulting for the promotion of innovation.

Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR)

The Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR), which is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Sciences and the Arts, provides comprehensive advice and support to Bavarian players from science and industry (especially SMEs) in the acquisition of European funding for research, development and innovation. The focus is on the EU's current framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe. It also networks scientists with each other and with industry. BayFOR is active in four areas: EU funding programmes for research and innovation, scientific coordination office, Bavarian/national collaborative research and "BayIntAn" cooperation funding. It is also a partner in the Enterprise Europe Network. This excellent regional and European networking makes internationalisation projects possible.