At the 10th Berlin Transfer Conference, deputies from politics, science and business discussed the future of transfer in Germany at the Baden-Württemberg state representative office in Berlin. One of the invited speakers was the President of Aalen University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Harald Riegel. In his speech, he emphasized the central role of the Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) for SMEs and the regional economy, cost-effective.
"In view of demographic change and the increasing shortage of skilled workers, HAWs are more important than ever due to their pronounced practical relevance. The innovative strength of Germany - and East Württemberg in particular - will be decided by SMEs," explained Prof. Dr. Harald Riegel, President of Aalen University of Applied Sciences, during his talk; lecture in Berlin. A lack of qualified professionals, high costs and risks in research-based development are increasing the pressure on companies. Universities of Applied Sciences are close to industry, especially to small and medium-sized companies with their specific questions relating to the current transformation challenges. They also consist of; have many years of experience in working with industry partners to transfer scientific expertise directly into practice; practical experience and production. "This is precisely why we need universities of applied sciences so urgently right now," emphasized Riegel.
Around half of all engineering sciences students in Germany are enrolled at UASs. These institutions of higher education are important drivers of innovation and train the qualified professionals of tomorrow - especially for SMEs. The regional impact of Aalen University of Applied Sciences is also strong, as Riegel emphasized: "Around 70 percent of students come from the region, and many graduates stay in East Württemberg. The institution of higher education thus makes a significant contribution to retaining qualified professionals and young talent in the region."
Successful project partnerships with companies
With research projects such as "SustBearing" - funded by the Ministry of Science and Research of the state and carried out together with the regional high-tech company Franke - Aalen University of Applied Sciences shows how practical excellence is created from materials science and photonics. The focus is on the students: They are experts, problem solvers and doers that companies urgently need.
In terms of research, Aalen University of Applied Sciences is now one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Germany. In addition to selected basic research, the majority of projects are carried out in direct collaboration, cooperation with companies. This combination creates an exceptionally broad expertise and is a key success factor in turning ideas into marketable innovations. In the "Smart-LIGHT" project, for example, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and implemented as part of the SmartPro cooperation network, the leverage effect of the collaboration is particularly clear, according to Riegel: "Every euro from industry triggers four euros of federal funding. Aalen University of Applied Sciences is thus acting as an active innovation driver for the regional economy, business."
