Saxony5 - Intelligent networking of knowledge flows

The five Saxon universities of applied sciences (HAW) look back on four exciting years of knowledge and technology transfer as part of the Saxony5 transfer network and look forward with optimism to the final year of the funded project.

How does knowledge transfer work at Saxony⁵?

Companies are constantly reliant on innovation to further develop or create new products and services. The five Saxon HAWs—namely HTW Dresden, West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, HTWK Leipzig, and Mittweida University of Applied Sciences—took this situation as an opportunity to launch a joint collaborative project in the field of knowledge and technology transfer in 2017. Research topics being addressed at the universities of applied sciences are to be shared externally and implemented in concrete projects with partners from industry and society. In turn, companies also have the opportunity to establish targeted contact with researchers through so-called transfer officers at the universities to have their ideas assessed for feasibility or to receive support in their implementation. This takes place in the so-called Co-Creation Labs. Here, through technology transfer and interdisciplinary collaboration, the universities’ know-how, various expertise, ideas, processes, and technologies are pooled to conduct research and develop innovations both internally and with external partners.

Science Communication for Everyone

Research is complex and often difficult for outsiders to understand. An important part of technology transfer work is therefore to present research findings and explain them in an accessible way. What good way is there to do this than through events that aren’t just designed for academic staff? Even amid the pandemic, the network organized 45 events in 2021, including“A Beer with Researchers,” “Citizens Meet Science,” “Knowledge Transfer Impulses,” “Matchmaking Sessions,” and the“Science Slam.” In the Science Slam, researchers are challenged to explain their field of research in an engaging way in 10 minutes. They compete against one another, and the audience decides—through applause—who presented their topic most convincingly and vividly. A live stream on YouTube makes the event accessible to everyone. The goal is to showcase researchers’ enthusiasm for their science and to foster lively discussions, engaging exchanges, and new connections.

Confident Through the Pandemic

The Saxony⁵ network has grown steadily over the past four years. Numerous non-university research institutions, large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, chambers of commerce, and associations—such as NABU—have already participated. Despite the pandemic, over 90 projects were successfully completed in 2021 alone—that’s nearly 40% of all Saxony⁵ projects carried out over the past four years. The fact that the network also benefits the HAW on an individual basis is evident from the sometimes enormous increase in third-party funding. These funds are an important source of financing for universities. In 2020 alone, up to 50% more third-party funding was secured compared to 2018. This is a strong indication that collaborative work leads to increased efficiency and effectiveness in knowledge transfer activities over the long term and drives universities forward despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.