Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine
Trinational partnership connecting public research and industry
A lively exchange between science and business is the key to a region’s successful economic development. The targeted use of research output from universities by industry spurs unique innovations and solutions beneficial to society.
The Upper Rhine metropolitan region, located in the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, harbors outstanding innovation potential. In addition to a large number of highly capable companies—both start-ups and established businesses—this region is home to numerous universities that conduct top-level research in a wide range of disciplines. Along the Upper Rhine, thousands of the brightest minds are generating high-quality fundamental research and innovative inventions and discoveries on a daily basis. Research provides companies in the region with a rich palette of superb results and knowledge that can be utilized for production and creating value.
To ensure that existing knowledge and potential solutions are not squandered, six universities and six universities of applied sciences from the Upper Rhine Valley have established a cross-border network with trade associations and companies. Through regular exchange, the partners share their knowledge and expertise, jointly developing trinational structures and activities. The aim is to bring science and business in the region closer together, in order to accelerate the transfer of knowledge and technology and to foster even more mutual learning by working together. In this manner, short innovation cycles can be created, exploiting synergies for the entire Upper Rhine region.
What is Knowledge and Technology Transfer ?
Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) is a reciprocal, interactive process between the university, along with its representatives, and society as a whole. In this sense, ‘society’ holistically encompasses citizens, industry, cultural institutions, and the political sphere. The KTUR network, with its twelve institutions of higher education from Germany, France, and Switzerland, taps regional knowledge and technology transfer across borders. Having such a large number of partners, with their variegated focus, results in a range of expertise second to none. At the same time, the locations in three countries spark new perspectives and opportunities for cooperation. This special diversity and international quality distinguish KTUR, furnishing valuable opportunities for the exchange, further development, and application of new knowledge at the intersection of scientific endeavor, the business world, and society at large.
Are you seeking a technological solution to implement an innovative idea or to improve your product? You can benefit from the scientific findings and know-how on hand at the universities in the Upper Rhine region.
Continuing education increases motivation and job satisfaction, as well as preparing you for new professional requirements. The university partners offer a wide range of different measures for academic continuing education.
Starting a business
Are you a student, graduate student, or research assistant at a university on the Upper Rhine whose goal is to realize your business idea? Or have you already successfully founded your own business and now want to give it fresh impetus? The university partners maintain their own “spin-off communities” and intend to link them more closely in the near future. In addition, there are plans to create joint trinational offers for entrepreneurs founding new businesses.
The regional universities host events highlighting innovation, to provide an overview of inventions and new ideas emanating from science. At these events, you will have the opportunity to discover the latest developments in research and innovation in the Upper Rhine region and to network with potential cooperation partners.
about the project
The EU project Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine (KTUR), launched in the fall of 2019, marked the start of systematic cooperation among Upper Rhine universities, research institutions, trade associations, and companies in the field of knowledge and technology transfer. Within the framework of the INTERREG V Upper Rhine funding program, the EU will support KTUR with €1.6 million over the next three years. The project is being coordinated by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
“Bearing responsibility, living networking and diversity, being a source of inspiration” – this is what it means to be involved in cross-border projects.
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