The Bavarian-Swabian Transfer Innovation Prize, which was awarded for the first time this year, honoured three outstanding examples of application- and society-oriented transfer achievements by non-academic partners in cooperation with one of the three universities. Under the motto ‘Society meets Science’, a total of three prizes were awarded - one prize per university. The prize money donated by the respective sponsoring organisations amounted to 5,000 euros each; the town of Illertissen provided 1,000 euros in the form of an audience award.
Honouring the ‘lighthouse projects for regional transfer’
The event was hosted by Werner Martin, Managing Director of the Vöhlinschloss University Centre and initiator of the Transfer 2024 Innovation Award. 50 university members, representatives from business and politics as well as interested members of the public attended the award ceremony alongside the prizewinners. In their welcoming speeches, the university management emphasised the relevance of the exchange between science, business and society with regard to the joint development of innovative solutions for pressing future issues:
Prof Dr phil. habil. László Kovács, Vice President for Studies and Teaching at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences: ‘It is very remarkable how these transfer projects recognise and tackle an issue that has not yet been resolved in our society in order to develop the best possible solution and achieve an impact. In the winning project Architecture. Im Kreis. the Augsburg State Building Authority, in cooperation with Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, has succeeded in recycling a demolished building in the best possible way. I am happy to share our recipe for successful transfer activities, at least here in Augsburg: Pooling expertise. I have the greatest respect for everyone who does this. I would like to see this transfer commitment receive even more financial support - the Bavarian-Swabian Transfer Innovation Award is a start. Our thanks go to the Förderverein Regio Augsburg Wirtschaft, which donated the prize money for the THA.’
Prof Dr Wolfgang Hauke, President of Kempten University of Applied Sciences: ‘The transfer of knowledge and technological innovations has become a core task of universities of applied sciences. The winning project of the Bavarian-Swabian Transfer Innovation Award, 'Digitalisation of planning boards - digitalisation for a paperless company', is a shining example of our university's transfer strategy in action. It combines start-up spirit, collaboration with SMEs and new digital processes. The vision and skilful actions of the project team not only optimise work processes, but also pave the way for more sustainable production methods. The integration of Dr Werner Röhrs GmbH into the development process is further proof of the close links between science and business. My special thanks go to the Förderkreis für die Hochschule Kempten e. V., which is supporting us with this valuable transfer prize.’
Prof Dr Uta M. Feser, President of Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences: ‘The knowledge and technology transfer that takes place at universities of applied sciences is invaluable, as it initiates and accompanies social, technological and economic change. The wealth of productive ideas presented today shows how well we succeed in this - innovation is created here through cooperation and interdisciplinarity. With its focus on digital transformation, the IDT Open Lab stands for sustainable networking between science and business: an important aspect that significantly characterises the understanding of transfer at HNU. I am proud of what this project has achieved so far and excited about its new forward-looking focus on the field of AI. My thanks go to the Förderverein der Hochschule Neu-Ulm e.V. for the financial support for today's award.’
Real added value in the region: award-winning projects impress with innovative ideas
The award winners presented their projects in the form of pitches - in some cases together with their respective practice partners. The range of topics presented reflected the wealth of innovation in knowledge and technology transfer that characterises the Bavarian-Swabian universities. ‘The diversity of the submissions and the quality of the award-winning projects speaks for itself - we want to continue the Transfer Award Innovation and provide a platform for further outstanding transfer activities in the future,’ summarised Werner Martin. He expressed his special thanks to the universities' sponsoring organisations, which provided crucial support for university transfer activities with the prize money.
Following the official presentation of the trophies and certificates, the town of Illertissen awarded its audience prize, for which the guests present were able to vote live after a video summary of the projects. Their choice fell on project „Architektur. Im Kreis“ of Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. ‘It is particularly important to us to make transfer as an important core task of universities tangible for our local citizens,’ explained Susanne Schewetzky, Head of Culture and Communication for the town of Illertissen. ‘Society as a whole benefits from an exchange at eye level.’
Open to the public: Poster exhibition of the award-winning projects at Vöhlinschloss
The poster exhibition of the award-winning projects was opened at the end of the award ceremony: The award-winning projects can be viewed on the first floor of Vöhlinschloss (Schlossallee 23, 89257 Illertissen) until 28 June. The exhibition is open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm.
The award-winning transfer projects in detail
Architecture. In a circle. Circular building: Shaping, designing and building with existing building materials | The winning project from Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
In the transfer project Architecture. Im Kreis. transfer project, the Augsburg State Building Authority and Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, together with Concular, a developer and provider of databases for circular building materials, took a new approach to demolishing a building: they pooled their expertise with the aim of recycling the Alte Stadtbücherei building in Augsburg in the best possible way. Prior to demolition, students identified, measured and catalogued recyclable components and sold them to interested parties via an online platform. In figures: 80 per cent of the recyclable components were not sent to landfill but were reused, 288 components were given a ‘second life’ and around 18 tonnes of CO2 were saved. What's more, the students acquired skills in the handling and design planning of circular components. The project was initiated by construction director Kathrin Fändrich from the Augsburg State Building Authority together with architect Professor Mikala Holme Samsøe from the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences.
Digitalisation of planning boards: digitisation for a paperless company | The winning project from Kempten University of Applied Sciences
The transfer project ‘Digitalisation of planning boards - digitalisation for a paperless company’ is an example of how paperless processes in factories can be replaced by electronic solutions to enable a paperless company. This innovation not only contributes to more efficient working methods and better adaptability to change, but also reduces the ecological footprint. Dr Werner Röhrs GmbH, a medium-sized company, was involved in the development process right from the start. The project was initiated by Matthias Haff and Nils Holthoff, two young entrepreneurs, in cooperation with the Institute for Production and Information Technology in Sonthofen under the direction of Prof Dr Bernd Lüdemann-Ravit.
IDT Open Lab: A series of events organised by the Institute for Digital Transformation | The winning project of Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences
A bridge between science and SMEs: This is what the Open Lab of the Institute for Digital Transformation - IDT Open Lab - offers, which takes place twice a year under the direction of Prof Dr Klaus Lang, Prof Dr Daniel Schallmo and Prof Manfred Plechaty in the Innovation Space at HNU. Keynote speeches from science and practice on trends, technologies and best practices of digital transformation promote the exchange between experts from business and science. The prize money will be used to expand the project focus to include artificial intelligence: In the new ‘AI Innovation Circle’ transfer format, companies will be informed about the latest AI trends and research, and joint research projects will be implemented.
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Werner Martin
