Chemnitz University of Technology: The Journey of an Idea—From Basic Research to a Company

Research at a university is not merely an end in itself. It serves to gain insights and shape developments that (ultimately) lead to practical applications. Research is the foundation of innovation for our economy and our society. However, it can sometimes be a long journey from a research idea at a university to the point where users benefit from a development in their everyday lives. Industry and corporate partners are particularly important for the transfer of research from the laboratory to society. In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, Vice Rector for Transfer and Continuing Education at Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz), will discuss how successful transfer can work, what steps are involved, which stakeholders are key, and how much time it takes. Using hydrogen research as an example, he will demonstrate how the economies and societies of entire regions can benefit significantly from research and what impact today’s research will have on our lives in the future.