IQ selects its target companies based on the following criteria:

• companies created from research and development departments of former East German “Kombinate” (state-owned trusts)
• companies that emerged from the former East German Academy of Sciences and universities
• companies that developed from the conversion process of GDR military research
• companies that emerged from universities and state-sponsored R&D institutions (Heinrich Hertz Institute, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft among others)
• existence of innovative, market-proven products and technologies
• potential for sustainable, international growth
• positive business development for at least 3 years
• experienced, highly technically qualified management team

The core personnel are teams which worked together in research and product development at industry and research institutions and which have set up their own companies in order to commercialize their work.