iL-CURRENT
December 19, 2025
Cluster Manager Reza Taale:
"Those who come will get ahead."
The next iL event, "GENESIS 26 – The LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY," on March 12, 2026 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), will be all about exchanging ideas, interaction, and collaboration. "We don't see the day as a one-off event," says Dr. Reza Taale, Cluster Manager at InnovationLab, "but rather as the start of a partnership journey."
In our expert interview in the series "Five Questions for ..." Reza Taale explains why the high-profile workshop is being given the suffix "GENESIS 26," what participants can expect in terms of various highlights at the FRAUENBAD (women's bath) of Heidelberg's old indoor swimming pool, and why special attention is being paid in the preparation of content to a healthy mix of topics in the areas of drug screening and 3D cell models/organ-on-chip.chip is receiving special attention.
Organizing the InnovationLab workshop on life science technologies for the second time on March 12, 2026: Cluster Manager Dr. Reza Taale. Image: Lukas Adler
Five questions for... Reza Taale
Mr. language, which key idea behind behind behind the LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY 2026 – and what has it specifically to the label "Genesis 26" on ?
Reza Taale: We focus on a specific topic that meets the needs of our partners—and create a truly interactive environment for this purpose. Start-ups and academia come together with shared interests so that new ideas and innovations can emerge from discussions. "Genesis 26" stands for the beginning: we see the day not as a one-off event, but as the start of a partnership journey – towards new collaborations, projects, and solutions, which we actively support with our network, platform, and consulting services. In short: anyone who wants to come can join the conversation – and move forward.
As the iL organizer , what content do you want to focus on — in other words, why should the life science community not missthe event at FRAUENBAD under any circumstances ?
Taale: Genesis 26 focuses on engineered platforms for drug screening and 3D cell models/organ-on-chip—in other words, technologies that advance this science. We have specifically scouted for top technologies that can have a tangible impact on our partners' projects. In doing so, I have met many smart, passionate entrepreneurs—and it is precisely this energy that we are bringing to FRAUENBAD. As a participant, I would not miss this opportunity to see what has been created and engage in direct conversation.
Full house: The last workshop took place on April 29, 2025, at the iL premises. In the spring, the event for experts from science, industry, and technology development will be held in the historic FRAUENBAD of Heidelberg's old indoor swimming pool. Image: Lukas Adler
The right people in the right place
The workshop brings scientific excellence, high-techand and exciting start-upsups at one "table." How can from a networkingevent with presentations, lightning talks, panels etc. genuine collaboration emerge?
Taale: Because we consistently design the day around exchange: compact presentations, lightning talks, time for networking—and then breakout rooms for each session where the speakers are available to talk. These rooms are specifically for questions, ideas, and next steps. Experience has shown that this works: when the right people come together in the right place, networking very quickly turns into collaboration.
As things stand now, which speakers and programhighlights can participants look forward to?
Taale: To be honest, I'm looking forward to all the presentations—it's the mix that makes it special. I'm particularly excited about the lightning talks from our network, including those with the DKFZ and POEM. These short, focused insights often open the door for discussions afterwards.
Finally, if you could wish for "only" one significant effect , what would you want this day on March 12 to triggerin the participants ?
Taale: Inspiration—and genuine collaboration. If every participant leaves the house with a clear idea and a concrete new contact, then we have achieved our goal.
About the person
Dr. Reza Taale, who was born in Iran, has been Cluster Manager at InnovationLab since June 1, 2024. Since then, he has been expanding the network in the field of life science technologies and is responsible for the second time for the content design of the annual LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY. Taale holds a bachelor's degree in materials science and a master's degree in biomedical engineering from the Iran University of Science and Technology and a doctorate in materials science from the University of Kiel. He then spent four years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Heidelberg and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). During the last three years of his postdoctoral research, he was a member of the "3DMM2O" cluster of excellence. Reza Taale also has four years of professional experience in the field of biomedical engineering.
About InnovationLab
InnovationLab GmbH, founded in 2008 in Heidelberg's Bahnstadt district, is a joint venture between leading global corporations (HEIDELBERG, BASF) and two top German universities, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of Heidelberg. iL has proven expertise in printed electronics and repositioned itself in 2024 with the spin-off FLEXOO. In addition to the four aforementioned shareholders, iL's platform offering is aimed in particular at innovative start-ups and excellent research. This enables all partners at the location to engage in close cooperation, future-oriented technology transfer, and industrial implementation.
Workshop in brief
"GENESIS 26 – The LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY:
Title:
Engineering Next-Generation Platforms for Disease Modeling and Drug Screening
When?
Thursday, March 12, 2026 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Where?
WOMEN'S POOL in the Old Indoor Swimming Pool in Heidelberg, Bergheimer Straße 45, 69115 Heidelberg
Note:
GENESIS 26 – The LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY will be held in English.
Participation fees:
Early bird tickets available until December 31, 2025:
€30.00
Regular price from January 1, 2026:
70.00 euros
Contact:
iL‒Cluster‒Manager Dr. Reza Taale, Tel. +49 (0) 157 806 444 92, E‒Mail reza.taale@innovationlab.de
Catering:
Sufficient catering will be provided at the FRAUENBAD premises on March 12.
Joachim Klaehn
Communications
This website is not part of the Facebook website or Facebook Inc. Furthermore, this website is in no way endorsed by Facebook. Facebook is a brand of Facebook, Inc. We use Google remarketing pixels/cookies on this website to re-communicate with visitors to our website and ensure that we can reach them with relevant messages and information in the future. Google places our ads on third party websites on the internet to communicate our message and reach the right people who have shown interest in our information in the past.