KMU meets THI: Impulse für Innovation und Transfer

The event "KMU meets THI" focused on how scientific findings can be applied and what role universities play in the future viability of SMEs. Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) developed the format together with Der Mittelstand. BVMW and the IFG Ingolstadt.

Successful collaboration between academia and industry: THI President Professor Walter Schober (left) and Günter Band (“Der Mittelstand. BVMW”) (Photo: Stefan Pitterle/IFG).

Direct insights into research: Participants explored current developments on site (Photo: Stefan Pitterle/IFG).

The exchange centred on the close integration of research and business practice. The THI offers a broad spectrum of application-oriented research activities and thus opens up a wide range of points of contact for co-operation with industry. At the same time, small and medium-sized enterprises are faced with the challenge of developing new business models and tapping into existing innovation potential in a targeted manner.

Insights into current developments at the university showed the range of study programmes and existing interfaces with the regional economy. A special focus was placed on the topic of Artificial Intelligence: Institut AImotion Bavaria supports companies in the introduction and application of corresponding technologies. The "KI-Transfer PLUS" funding programme helps small and medium-sized enterprises in particular to strengthen their competitiveness in the long term.

Another impulse came from Dr Gerhard Schönhofer, who presented the Future Navigator (Zukunftsnavigator - Trends erkennen & Zukunft gestalten) developed at the Bavarian Foresight Institute. The free programme supports small and medium-sized companies in particular with practical foresight tools. It was developed as part of the "Mensch in Bewegung" knowledge transfer project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space as part of the "Innovative University" programme.

Participants were given practical insights into the THI's research infrastructure during guided tours of various laboratories. Among other things, applications from Robotics, vehicle safety at CARISSMA, virtual reality research and drone technology were presented. The projects presented emphasised the high level of innovation at the university and its importance for the region.

In addition to the technical impulses, the event offered space for dialogue and networking between representatives from science and industry. It emphasised the central role of close cooperation for a successful transfer of knowledge and technology and the long-term strengthening of the innovation location.

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