Innovation through collaboration: Science parks as drivers of transformation

The Stifterverband, the University Vice Chancellors’ Conference, the German Association of Cities and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg invited representatives from the fields of academia, urban development and innovation ecosystems to the TransformationsFORUM University City in Halle (Saale).

Following inspiring presentations by Volker Meyer-Guckel and Uwe Schneidewind, among others, our panel discussion ‘Innovation through Cooperation – How Science Parks Shape Cities and Academia’ addressed the question of how close collaboration between cities, academia and industry enables innovation.

Science parks as spaces for future prospects

Where academia and business work closely and continuously together, new ideas, start-ups and strong innovation ecosystems emerge. Science parks create the right framework conditions for this. Although they differ in location, facilities, thematic focus and ownership, what they have in common is the aim of creating optimal conditions for research, knowledge transfer and collaboration. Particularly in times of sectoral and regional transformation, such as the structural change in Lusatia or within the automotive sector, science parks can serve as centres of stability, but also as places offering new prospects for the future.

Our panel brought together the following experts:

• Michael Hübner (Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg / Lausitz Science Park)
• Agnes von Matuschka (Potsdam Science Park)
• Frank Drewes (Brainergy Park Jülich GmbH)
• Roland Sillmann (WISTA Management GmbH)

The panel was moderated by Johannes Staemmler (Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg).