Promoting and supporting early career researchers in their efforts to transfer knowledge and technology is a central component of the University of Stuttgart's transfer strategy. Following its successful certification as a Young Entrepreneurs in Science Campus in 2021, the University of Stuttgart achieved follow-up certification for the fourth time in June 2025. This distinguishes the university as a partner institution of the Young Entrepreneurs in Science Initiative (YES) of the Falling Walls Foundation, which is committed to promoting more entrepreneurial spirit in science and research. With the certificate, the foundation recognizes the partnership-spirited cooperation in the promotion of an entrepreneurial mindset in young researchers. Fulfilling the quality criteria proves that the desired close link between research and transfer at the University of Stuttgart is progressing successfully.
"The transfer of research results to industry and their impact on society as a whole relies on strong, sustainable partnerships. The cooperation with the YES Initiative of the Falling Walls Foundation impressively demonstrates how such alliances can effectively advance the transfer of science - which is also visible in our projects such as Elements4Founding and QCLUB. The successful recertification highlights the sustainability and future orientation of this collaboration," says Professor Alexander Brem, Vice Rector for Transfer and International Affairs and Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science (ENI).
The activities of the Elements4Founding and QCLUB projects are central to raising awareness and promoting start-ups among early career researchers. Joint formats such as the RISE workshop series, which is currently in its fifth edition, offer a wide range of tailored training courses that help researchers to recognize the innovation potential of their scientific findings and apply them in practice. This is made possible through collaboration with strong network partners such as YES, the Graduate Academy (GRADUS), the Transfer Center of the University of Stuttgart (TRACES), TTI GmbH and the NXTGN initiative.
Support for early career researchers through strong intitiatives
Elements4Founding is a project of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science (ENI) at the University of Stuttgart. The aim of the project is to develop a holistic, sustainable approach to sensitizing and qualifying doctoral students and post-docs for the topic of entrepreneurship over the project period between 2022 and 2025. Various formats such as workshops and events are intended to involve the target group at the levels of awareness-raising, qualification and advanced planning. Elements4Founding is supported by the Vector Foundation.
The project QCLUB-2 (Cluster Building Measures) is an initiative within the future cluster QSENS, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Based at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science (ENI) and the Institute of Smart Sensors (IIS) at the University of Stuttgart, we focus on significantly strengthening the transfer of knowledge between science, industry and society.
The Young Entrepreneurs in Science Initiative is a free continuing education program of the Falling Walls Foundation, which has been inspiring Master's students, doctoral candidates and postdocs from all disciplines in Germany to think entrepreneurially since 2018. Through close cooperation with an extensive network of over 150 universities, research institutions and commercial enterprises, Young Entrepreneurs in Science creates new perspectives and promotes the potential for innovation in research. The aim is to promote a cultural change in science towards more entrepreneurial spirit, transfer and innovation.