How do research results from science find their way into business and politics? How can society actively participate in the solutions to problems or new developments? In order to solve these and other questions, it is necessary to keep pace with the trends and future technologies that shape the cooperation between business and science. To this end, Bayern Innovativ has conducted a scenario study to develop possible future images for the field of technology transfer. As the Bavarian society for knowledge and technology transfer, Bayern Innovativ plays a leading role and pursues as an important goal the further development of the transfer ecosystem in Bavaria with all relevant actors and partners.
Kathrin Singer, project manager in technology and innovation management at Bayern Innovativ, explains in an interview on the study why further development is so important at this point: "Technology transfer is highly significant, as the exchange of knowledge and technological findings between different actors from business and science holds the potential for innovation."
The transfer landscape in Bavaria offers the best conditions
The project team responsible for the study first took a fundamental look at the Bavarian transfer landscape, in particular at the transfer agents and their methods. To this end, a large number of stakeholders in Bavarian technology transfer and their needs were included in the analysis. Furthermore, the main factors influencing transfer were identified by analyzing the current situation and condensed into 14 key factors. These include collaboration with science and industry, government funding, private-sector investment, number of skilled workers, sustainability and added value for society, artificial intelligence and internationalization, to name just a few. What is clear is that they all have a significant impact on the shape of future technology transfer.
In the further course of the study, the key factors were reflected upon with various industry and science experts and ultimately provided the basis for the development of four consistent scenarios for the year 2030. These visions of the future were again validated and further developed with the support of experts from science and industry as well as intermediaries. Philip Frankl - coordinator of transfer projects in the area of fortiss Mittelstand - participated in the study as an expert. He was able to contribute his expertise from technology transfer at fortiss in a targeted manner and states: "Technology transfer from science to industry enables effective implementation of research results in marketable solutions and thus contributes to more innovation and success of companies. The special transfer focus of fortiss is clearly on providing Bavarian SMEs with access to the results of current research in the field of digitization and supporting them in taking further steps."
Knowing how it works - technology transfer at fortiss
The Research Institute of the Free State of Bavaria for software-intensive systems fortiss already shows how technology transfer can be implemented in an exemplary manner. In the last ten years, fortiss has carried out more than 300 publicly funded joint research projects with a large number of practical partners. The fortiss SME division is a partner of Bayern Innovativ and bundles an attractive range of information, qualification and implementation services for small and medium-sized enterprises in Bavaria. In addition, the fortiss staff coordinates customized solutions for innovation projects, including training programs, coaching, trend and technology scouting, as well as funding and financing consulting in all phases of the innovation process.
All success factors for a successful technology transfer can be found in the study Future of Technology Transfer - On Expedition to the Year 2030, which can be accessed at the bottom of this page at Bayern Innovativ.
