Minds from research and transfer

Ms Krautz, what are the focal points and tasks of the Technology and Innovation Department?
The main tasks of the department include company contacts, research services and research marketing. My colleagues and I are out and about in the region and visit local companies to inform them about the opportunities for collaboration with our university. We have the entire university in our luggage, e.g. who and what is available, what new projects have been launched, where there are interesting real-world laboratories. We also deal with enquiries from companies and arrange the right professional contact and accompany the initial discussions. In our experience, the initial idea is far from being the actual task and several rounds of talks are required to describe the actual problem and find solutions together. Here we also provide support in the search for suitable funding programmes or we have specialised in comprehensive advice and support in the area of ZIM funding.
It is important to us that scientists and companies can meet and exchange ideas. Once a year, we organise the BTU Transfer Day. We are also involved in the organisation of specialist conferences or networking events and organise exhibition areas so that BTU chairs can present themselves.
The BTU is also represented at various specialist and leading trade fairs. Our department also organises participation in trade fairs at joint stands in the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region.
And a very important tool in our daily work is the BTU transfer database with an overview of contacts, expertise and equipment for possible cooperation projects as well as opportunities for recruiting academic specialists.

What role does the department play at BTU?
Our unit is part of the Transfer of Knowledge and Technology department. Together with our colleagues from the patents and licences departments, the offices in Spremberg and Finsterwalde and other players at the BTU in transfer projects and structural change initiatives, we are a building block of services for companies in the region.

What specific areas of innovation funding does the Technology and Innovation Department specialise in, also with regard to ZIM funding?
My colleagues and I support scientists in science/industry cooperation projects, for example by researching suitable funding programmes, helping to clarify eligibility to apply, providing the necessary forms and documents and giving tips and advice. We also advise on funding policy content, in particular cluster allocation, in the Brandenburg funding programmes. We support BTU sub-projects in the ZIM programme with a comprehensive service. We provide sample cooperation agreements, advise on the requirements of the funding programme, help with the calculation of person-months and "translate" milestones and work packages into the BTU application form.
We work closely with our colleagues in the research department on the application service. This also includes participating in the series of events on third-party funding applications every semester. And every Friday we offer an online consultation hour on research funding - cooperation between science and industry.

What do you like most about your work?
Clearly, the variety of topics from a wide range of sectors and disciplines. I come across a new topic every day, whether it's an imaging process, new materials, logistical processes or measurement technology. We are currently in dialogue with a health insurance company about support options and monitoring a study.

Do you need good contacts to work in the department?
Yes, good internal and external contacts and networks are extremely important for the work of the department. First and foremost are our contacts to the chairs and projects within the BTU. We also maintain many contacts with companies, in particular with small and medium-sized companies in the region, and we use a CRM system to maintain contacts. We also attach great importance to liaising with regional players from chambers, business development agencies and networks. The latter helps us a lot to further expand our contacts.
My many years of experience in technology transfer, which I first gained at the former Lausitz University of Applied Sciences and now at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, is particularly valuable to me.

Are you particularly active in a network?
Yes, we work closely with the MinGenTec initiative. MinGenTec supports us with many events to make the BTU more visible and offers us very good opportunities to make contacts and exchange experiences and ideas. We also use synergy effects, for example we have organised the BTU Transfer Day in the last two years with the support of the MinGeTec initiative. The collaboration with MinGeTec is also exciting because MinGeTec is highly relevant to industry. And it's always worth thinking outside the box.

And what are you currently most excited about?
Currently, working on the development of our transfer strategy is particularly valuable. Many discussions and workshops have shown the potential of transfer and the many ways in which transfer is already being practised at our university. Together with other transfer stakeholders, I was able to contribute to this major project in several workshops.