Research and Transfer

Our university also makes its knowledge accessible and usable outside of higher education settings, thereby ensuring its long-term impact. An innovative pioneer, it takes research insights and transfers them to the most diverse areas of society.

Knowledge and Technology Transfer

Strategy and How Leipzig Sees Itself

Strategy

The idea of transfer is firmly anchored in the overall profile of our university. At Leipzig, all manner of activities are founded on the ambition to make our knowledge contribute to the greater good.

Our transfer strategy describes the vision behind this approach and the challenges of knowledge and technology transfer in detail.

We are pursuing the following objectives:

  • Promoting the idea of transfer.
  • Increasing the scope and quality of transfer services.
  • Raising the University’s profile on the basis of these services.

Our key priorities include

  • Raising awareness of the needs and opportunities related to transfer
  • Qualifying those involved in transfer
  • Supporting projects that promote knowledge and technology transfer.

How the University Sees Itself

Our university promotes the transfer of knowledge to society, industry, politics and culture. By making the knowledge gained in its name accessible and effective, it lives up to its social responsibility.

In addition, Leipzig University is available as a point of contact and partner for those outside the University. As a knowledge centre, Leipzig also wants to motivate people outside the University to actively participate in the transfer of knowledge. Leipzig University is a pioneer of innovation and creates spaces for dialogue.

Members of our university generate knowledge for the provision and safeguarding of public goods, they train professionals for education, law, healthcare and other important areas of public life. In this way, Leipzig University makes an important contribution to the provision of public services of general interest.

Our university’s transfer strategy takes into account knowledge from all disciplines. The activities are closely aligned with societal needs and challenges. In this way, we identify new knowledge potential early on, enter into successful partnerships and optimise our infrastructures for the sake of transfer.

Our knowledge communication is based on target groups and transparent.

Defining Transfer

For us at Leipzig University, knowledge transfer – or simply transfer – means using dialogue to impart and transfer academic insights from all fields of research between the University and society, in particular between the University and the worlds of business, politics and culture. Transfer is thus a participatory process of exchange from which all those involved benefit. Transferable knowledge comprises knowledge in the sense of concepts, statements, models and theories as well as methods and procedural knowledge.

Transfer accompanies and complements the University’s activities in research and teaching. In this context, transfer is often also referred to as universities’ “third mission”. At Leipzig, we use these terms interchangeably.

Transfer Diagram

The diagram represents the resources, structures, channels and stakeholders at Leipzig University that are of relevance when it comes to our transfer strategy.

enlarge the image:
Transferschema der Universität Leipzig, Quelle: Universität Leipzig

Zentrale Strukturen

The Vice-Rectorate for Development and Knowledge Transfer is responsible for all fundamental, strategic and higher education policy issues relating to knowledge and technology transfer. It promotes cooperation, takes up external suggestions and implements them for the benefit of all those involved in knowledge and technology transfer.

The Department of Research Services is the point of contact for practical issues relating to knowledge and technology transfer.

The Technology Transfer Office advises on innovation processes, supports researchers in the protection and exploitation of their intellectual property at trade fair presentations or when founding companies, and establishes contacts with companies, chambers and associations.

The Continuing Education and Distance Learning team are the central point of contact for all questions about academic continuing education formats for people outside the University, while the Career Service assists studies and companies with matters of professional orientation and starting a career.

The Office for University Communications coordinates the University’s overall public relations work with regard to knowledge and science communication, supporting the faculties and institutions in their own communication projects and their transfer-related needs.

The Fundraising and Development Team are responsible for internal and external relationship management, the Deutschlandstipendium programme and fundraising.

The SMILE start-up initiative offers a range of services to support members of the University who are interested in founding a company.