Saarland is repositioning the transfer of technology between research and business. Minister for Innovation Jürgen Barke announced around 5.5 million euros from the transformation fund to finance a four-year joint project by saarland innovation und standort GmbH (saaris), FITT gGmbH and Triathlon Transfer GmbH. The aim of this is to help innovations be translated more quickly into marketable applications, and in particular to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with access to research, funding and new technologies.
Minister for Innovation Jürgen Barke officially launched the project on Wednesday 28 January: ‘We are bringing skills and services together under one roof. In doing so, we are making it much easier for companies in Saarland to develop specific innovations from research findings. Shorter channels, clear points of contact and better access to funding – exactly what small and medium companies need to quickly transform new ideas into added value.’
For the first time, three key players in Saarland’s innovation system are pooling their skills in a joint, coordinated approach to transfer. Each institution is contributing their own specific strengths: saaris as an interface for companies and site development, FITT with their proven expertise in knowledge and technology transfer as well as in practical research and development at htw saar, and Triathlon with their focus on market-oriented commercialisation, IP strategies and industrial implementation.
In the future, the partners will operate with clearly defined roles, coordinated processes and joint tools. Companies will receive support throughout the entire innovation process – from determining requirements, to research and development partnerships, to commercialisation, market launch and scaling.
Mirjam Schwan, CEO of FITT gGmbH: ‘As the Institute for Technology Transfer at htw saar, we are contributing our experience in practical research and as a facilitator between companies and university expertise. The aim is to achieve more innovation partnerships and effectively contribute to structural change.’
Michael Jung, CEO of Triathlon Transfer GmbH: ‘Our strengths lie in systematically translating outstanding research into marketable solutions. We create connectivity together, from identifying usable findings, to IP strategies, to industrial partnerships – for example, in the fields of AI, life sciences and sustainability.’
Valentin Holzer, CEO of saaris: ‘Our pooled expertise makes technology transfer in Saarland faster, more efficient and more effective. This provides SMEs with clearer access to research and shorter implementation channels.’
One key component is the development of shared data-based infrastructure that ensures transparency regarding skills, technologies, funding opportunities and cooperation partners. This is paired with new transfer formats, targeted company outreach, systematic matching between science and business, and identifying and exploiting research findings with market potential.
