WTT projects selected for internal university funding 2020

August 6, 2020

Almost 300,000 euros for six promising projects: the rectorate is funding prototypes and demonstrative projects, as well as interdisciplinary knowledge transfer projects.

In 2013, the rectorate established an internal university fund to support knowledge and technology transfer. Since then, 200,000 euros have been awarded annually to fund prototypes, demonstrative projects, and interdisciplinary knowledge transfer projects. This year, 18 projects were submitted and six promising projects have been chosen to receive a total of just under 300,000 euros.

It can be hard to finance projects, despite the fact that they are of great relevance to society.

The fund is intended to increase the visibility and acceptance of the university in the wider society. The university’s humanities departments in particular have a wealth of ideas pertaining to knowledge transfer, and these have proved difficult to finance with external finding, despite their relevance to society. This is why the university is supporting knowledge transfer projects that are relevant to society and that demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach both within and between faculties.

Funding can help bridge the gap between theoretical and practical work

Alongside interdisciplinary knowledge transfer projects, the funding is also being used to support prototypes and demonstrative projects. The fund helps to bridge the gap between research and business, the so-called “Valley of Death”. The projects are often already on the home stretch. Further development work and practical demonstrations that go beyond the usual scope of research findings are often required to make new research findings and inventions more attractive for the business sector, and to prove their use. For example, this funding allows scientists to build a prototype, which helps to pave the way for entering the market.

In order to make better use of the commercial potential of the findings of research conducted at the University of Stuttgart, and to raise the revenue of technology transfer, the rectorate supports prototypes and demonstrative projects that are particularly innovative and that have a high market potential.

Overview of all projects that were granted funding in 2020

Adaptive path planning for laser volume removal

Institute of Laser Technologies

Actuator with an active core

Institute of Design and Production in Precision Engineering

Contactless energy transfer in the field of (industrial) intralogistics

Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion and Institute of Mechanical Handling and Logistics

Flectuator – Pneumatic actuated flexible joint zones for adaptive building shade

Institute of  Building Structures and Structural Design
Institute for Textiles and Fiber Technologies

Learning by Building – from a platform for exchanging experiences, to the evaluation of social innovations (Plattform 1 to 1)

Institute of Space Constructions and the Fundamentals of Design

Recycling procedures for composite components made from carbon fibers with thermosetting matrix systems

Institute of Aircraft Design

Further information about internal funding for knowledge and technology transfer projects, and a description of the chosen projects, can be found here.[dt]

 

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