University consortium for a combined knowledge transfer strategy in the region (TRIO)

From ad hoc collaboration towards a comprehensive transfer consortium: The Transfer and Innovation in Eastern Bavaria (TRIO) programme, which is co-ordinated by OTH Regensburg, seeks to strengthen the knowledge and technology transfer activities of universities in the administrative districts of Upper Palatinate and Lower Bavaria. The proposal was drafted under the academic supervision of Professor Burkhard Freitag of the University of Passau. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has granted the participating universities a sum of approximately 15 million euros for the next five years from the 'Innovative University' funding line. The consortium members in the BMBF programme 'Innovative University' are OTH Regensburg, OTH Amberg-Weiden, Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Landshut University of Applied Sciences and the University of Passau; the University of Regensburg participates as a co-operative partner. The programme is further supported by the 'BayernLabs' project of the Chamber of Crafts and Skilled Trade for Lower Bavaria/Upper Palatinate (Handwerkskammer Niederbayern/Oberpfalz), the chambers of commerce and industry for Lower Bavaria (IHK Niederbayern) and Upper Palatinate/Kelheim (IHK Oberpfalz/Kelheim) as well as the Bavarian Finance Ministry.

Co-operation among the TRIO consortium members will follow a jointly-developed knowledge transfer strategy of the participating universities. The consortium will implement a number of co-ordinated projects aimed at facilitating, establishing and enhancing research-based knowledge and technology transfers in the Eastern Bavarian region. The aim is to achieve vibrant two-way communication between academic, social and business actors by further professionalising existing partnerships with business enterprises and public-sector institutions within the region and enhancing the visibility of universities in the region.

TRIO's six large consortium projects are scheduled to start in January 2018. An internal transfer portal, which is currently being planned, will vitalise collaboration between universities and regional actors. At the same time, innovation laboratories as well as other effective transfer and innovation structures are being established to support this endeavour. The consortium will adopt joint rules concerning the legal and organisational preconditions for co-operation and use a central communication concept for all members.

What the University Presidents said:

• Professor Wolfgang Baier, President of OTH Regensburg: 'TRIO will make the knowledge and know-how emanating from the participating universities more accessible, comprehensible and usable for companies and other partners in the region and across the universities in the consortium. This will lead to intensified co-operation and knowledge transfer and deliver a strong impulse for innovation across the entire Eastern Bavarian region.'
• Professor Andrea Klug, President of OTH Amberg-Weiden: 'The INDIGO network of the six Eastern-Bavarian universities has proven a suitable and efficient basis for success, even at the federal level. Consortia are the way forward. Now, with the help of the BMBF funding for TRIO, we are in a position to boost our transfer activities in Eastern Bavaria through additional innovative structures.'
• Professor Peter Sperber, President of Deggendorf Institute of Technology: 'Each university brings its particular strengths and competences to bear in TRIO. Our success shows that together we are visible across Germany. The consortium should be a model for even closer co-operation as equals among the Eastern-Bavarian universities in the future.' Professor Karl Stoffel, President of Landshut University of Applied Sciences: 'Landshut University of Applied Sciences is responsible for making the transfer process between universities and businesses or social actors in the Eastern-Bavarian region more efficient, and for providing the required technical support. This strategic measure for structured use of research findings will set in motion various transfer projects, particularly in the area of digitalisation, which are subjected to a rigorous monitoring process.'
• Professor Carola Jungwirth, President of the University of Passau: 'Within the TRIO consortium we can act in unison with our partner universities to boost innovation and offer impulses to society at large, thus allowing us to play a visible and strong role in shaping our modern knowledge society. With our colleague Burkhard Freitag at the helm of the project, it is in capable and very experienced hands.'

The consortium members in the BMBF programme 'Innovative University' are OTH Regensburg, OTH Amberg-Weiden, Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Landshut University of Applied Sciences and the University of Passau; the University of Regensburg participates as a co-operative partner.