Our university has many types of partnerships with external research institutions and innovative companies. A major focus of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Section is therefore to promote and support work with research and transfer partners, especially those in the region. We maintain an extensive network of potential partners and provide support in all matters relating to project planning, costing, financing and management.
Contract Research and Research Services
Collaborating with research institutions and research-intensive companies, researchers at Leipzig University work on about 778 projects annually with a contract volume of approximately 9.2 million euros (2017). These projects focus on customer-specific assignments in the areas of research, research-related services and consulting. Their spectrum includes all university research fields – from medicine and natural and life sciences to the humanities and social sciences.
Partnerships
Basic and applied research is carried out together with research institutions and companies as part of collaborative projects. In order to achieve a common goal, usually one that will benefit the public, Leipzig University carries out many ambitious subprojects. The synergistic effects result in advantages and application opportunities for all partners involved. Such joint projects are possible thanks to financing from a large number of funding programmes.
Funding Programmes at the Interface of Industry and Research
The Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM) supports a number of projects throughout Germany each year. ZIM provides funding, for example, for cooperation projects between companies and research institutions that aim to develop innovative products, processes or technical services. This programme is open to all sectors and fields of technology. The University serves as a professional research partner that provides innovative services. Through the associated technology transfer, we effectively support the innovative capacity and competitiveness of companies and promote their growth, which in turn helps create and safeguard jobs.
In order to make it easier for companies to access new technologies, the Free State of Saxony has established a number of funding programmes. The aim is that companies can increase their competitiveness by bringing innovative products and processes to market.
One aim of its R&D project funding is to support collaborative projects between companies and research institutions. Our university supports these projects in the development of new or improved products and processes.
Thanks to the Free State’s technology transfer funding, companies can receive a grant for the acquisition of the technological knowledge they require, for example, to develop new products or processes or adapt existing ones. In this context, our university is an innovative and reliable technology provider that welcomes partnerships with companies in Saxony.
The InnoTeam programme supports partnerships between small and medium-sized companies and higher education or research institutions by setting up teams of experts. In these teams, our researchers engage in industrial research and experimental development to strengthen the innovative capacity and competitiveness of participating companies in Saxony.
Networks and Projects
The SEPT (Small Enterprise Promotion + Training) programme supports technology transfer and promotes business start-ups at Leipzig University. In addition, SEPT is involved in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in non-European countries and helps eastern German companies enter foreign markets. The SEPT programme has a branch in Hanoi, Vietnam, and a network of partners in more than 20 countries.
In 2003, the Leipzig Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and the city’s higher education institutions jointly launched the regional initiative “Wirtschaft trifft Wissenschaft” (“Industry meets research”). At regular events, the members discuss current issues related to the promotion of knowledge transfer and present best practice examples. Each of these events includes an exhibition, where higher education institutions and regional organisations present their range of services.