Communication with society and start-ups from universities are an essential part of value added creation through science. Throughout Europe, the Berlin University Alliance ranks among the university locations with the largest share of start-ups. In recent years, the Berlin University Alliance has created the conditions for this: Science & Start-ups, as a joint start-up service, bundle innovative strength in an excellence alliance. By way of its participation in UNITE, the Berlin alliance for a Europe-wide leading eco-system for science-based start-ups and the establishment of an own innovation platform for first-class research, the Berlin University Alliance is strengthening its commitment to Berlin as a location for knowledge and research. The “Innovate! lab” aims to promote the transfer of basic research in chemistry to sustainable materials and technologies, taking the next big step towards becoming the leading science-based innovation and start-up space in Europe – financed by the Joachim Herz Foundation during a period of four years with five million euros in total. Reason enough to provide new insight by sharing initiatives and success stories from the Start-up Alliance.