More than thirty heads of industrial IP departments and operational IP experts are active as mentors for the Diesel Medal Graduate School. Thanks to the mentors, the research work at the graduate school is successfully embedded in industrial practice. The mentors are experienced representatives of innovation and IP management and contact persons for the doctoral students of the college in technical and professional questions.

They have a recommendatory function when it comes to questions relating to the content of research and further training projects. The mentoring program gives the mentees access to a personal, committed network of decision-makers in order to promote professional orientation, reflection and development for management tasks.

The mentors represent the breadth of the medium-sized industrial landscape in the DACH region. Companies such as Fresenius Med. Care, Carl Zeiss, Trumpf, MTU Aero Engines, B. Braun Melsungen, Swarovski, Recaro Aircraft Seating, Osram, Kuka, Rolls-Royce, Wilo, Hilti, MAN, Festo, Google, Schott, ThyssenKrupp, ZKW , AT&S, Wacker Neuson, Windmöller & Hölscher, Deutz, Goldbeck, Maschinenfabrik Rieter, Ziehl-Abegg, Stiebel Eltron, Erich Netzsch, BRP-Rotax, Umdasch Group Ventures and Peri support the mentoring program.

The mentoring program is supported by the supporting members. They promote the work of the doctoral students, the graduate college and the design of the infrastructure. Meetings and scientific formats also give the Diesel Medal Graduate Schnool its special character in order to ensure that it is practically oriented both in industry and the advising legal profession.

Industry-oriented research on current topics such as IP strategies, the development and protection of digital business models, protecting brand personalities in digital eco-systems and the enforcement of digital patents is funded by the Diesel Medal Graduate School. For the challenges of the innovation competition, companies need employees who not only have the appropriate skills and competencies, but can also actively and creatively shape the future. The competition for the smartest minds requires the initiative of companies, which is why the Diesel Board of Trustees supports the graduate school under the direction of the Deans, which provide the scientific guidelines for the research programs.