How can new transfer networks, such as FutureSAX, actively leverage the potential of Saxony’s long-standing and well-established industrial research to strengthen Germany as a business location?
Heute fand zu dieser Frage das erste Sondierungsgespräch zwischen der Sächsischen Industrieforschungsgemeinschaft e.V. und futureSAX am Institut für Luft- und Kältetechnik in Dresden statt. SIG-Vorstandsvorsitzender und Geschäftsführer des IHD Prof. Steffen Tobisch verwies auf die Vorteile der gemeinnützigen Institute. Im Bereich der Ingenieurwissenschaften unterstützen sie die Industrie, die KMUs und die Handwerksbetriebe im gesamten Innovations-Workflow - angefangen bei der Navigation und Antragstellung auf finanzielle Unterstützung über technische Evaluierungen und Konzeptphasen bis hin zum ersten Prototyp einer neuen technischen Anlage oder eines neuen Produkts.
The industry values the strong implementation capabilities of non-profit research institutes because it trusts their established structures. This includes, for example, permanent employment contracts for researchers, as well as the technical and personnel resources available at experimental sites and laboratories. “This broad spectrum is unique within the overall framework of ‘research and development’ and needs to be positioned much more prominently in the marketing and communications mix of the State of Saxony! The enormous flexibility and implementation strength on the one hand, as well as the in-depth expertise of the SIG institutes on the other, contribute significantly to our state’s competitive advantage,” said Professor Tobisch.
The mission of Susanne Stump, Managing Director of FutureSAX, and her team is to foster a strong shared culture of innovation, support innovation in Saxony, make it visible and accessible to everyone, and increase the effectiveness of innovation processes. There are many parallels here as well, considering that the 19 institutes represented by SIG, with a total of approximately 1,000 employees, generate total annual revenue of approximately 97 million euros. It remains to be seen how the two interest groups will ultimately align. A draft agreement, serving as the basis for more intensive cooperation, is currently being developed.
