For Berufsakademie Sachsen, research means generating innovative concepts, strategies and technologies in cooperation with practice partners from the three areas of economy, technology and social and health management.

In its mission statement, Berufsakademie Sachsen considers the initiation of practice-oriented research activities and the intensification of knowledge and technology transfer as current and essential tasks. Two documents form the basis of the strategic development, on the one hand the position paper of the German Council of Science and Humanities (PDF 446 kB) (PDF 446 kB, in German language only), on the other hand, as a regional starting point, the innovation strategy of the Free State of Saxony (PDF 2.15 MB) (only in German).

As an institution of the tertiary education sector, Berufsakademie Sachsen has been committed to cooperative development work since 1991. In modern laboratories, computer labs and consultations, students receive intensive individual support in order to acquire scientific knowledge and methods, thus being prepared for their professional career. Diploma and bachelor theses form the foundation for application-oriented research and sustainable knowledge transfer.

Science covers a broad spectrum of different performance dimensions. Transfer is a core task in this context and, together with research, tuition and scientific infrastructure offers, one of the essential tasks of scientific institutions. Apart from technological transfer, this performance dimension also includes the dialogical mediation and transfer of scientific findings in society, culture, economy and politics. Against the background of current social challenges, scientific institutions and thus also Berufsakademie Sachsen are increasingly faced with the task of advancing the science-based development of society. This is specified by the term "knowledge and technology transfer" and forms part of the strategy of Berufsakademie Sachsen.

The strategic concept for knowledge and technology transfer of Berufsakademie Sachsen is based both on the recommendations of the German Council of Science and Humanities (2013) and on the innovation strategy of the Free State of Saxony (2013) and its updates (most recently 2020). The key objectives formulated there (innovation strategy, p. 9) are also guiding principles for Berufsakademie Sachsen. Three objectives of particular importance for Berufsakademie Sachsen are:

•     Growth by strengthening the innovative ability and performance of existing companies
•     Advancement of science and increased use of research results of the Saxon economy
•     Strengthening of innovative forces in society as a whole

The aim is to appropriately position Berufsakademie Sachsen with its strengths in the Saxon research and innovation system and to take advantage of the potentials of the cooperative system efficiently and effectively. Particularly the intensive contacts to our practice companies ensure the transfer of knowledge and technology to the (Saxon) economy and thus contribute sustainably to the implementation of the key objectives formulated in the innovation strategy of the Free State.

In order to enhance the profile of resources and activities in knowledge and technology transfer, it is necessary to define areas of emphasis and to communicate in a clearer and more targeted manner in the future. Following the innovation strategy of the Free State of Saxony as well as the local economic structure and its regional and global challenges, Berufsakademie Sachsen has defined five application-oriented fields of competence that are particularly oriented towards knowledge and technology transfer. In doing so, Berufsakademie Sachsen also complies with the profile development of universities as required by the Saxony University Development Plan (p. 33ff.).

For its transfer activities, Berufsakademie Sachsen has defined the application-oriented and cross-locational fields of competence that have also been identified for the performance dimension of teaching. In future, knowledge and technology transfer activities will be allocated to one or more of these fields in order to increase the visibility of the specific transfer competencies of Berufsakademie Sachsen.

With its 2019 "Guideline for the Promotion of Research at Universities of Applied Sciences in Cooperation with Companies" (FH-Kooperativ) as part of the "Research at Universities of Applied Sciences" program, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is continuing research funding in a strategically important area. The continuity of this funding and the support of young scientists are thus emphasized to an even greater extent.

The funding guideline "FH-Kooperativ" (www.forschungfachhochschulen.de/fh-kooperativ), published in June 2019, aims to further establish long-term research cooperations between science and industry. This permanent, open-topic funding instrument has two annual submission deadlines and is intended to combine the advantages of the long-established measures of "Research at Universities of Applied Sciences with Companies" and "Young Engineers - Cooperative Doctorate". Newly appointed and experienced professors at universities of applied sciences are provided with a permanent and reliable opportunity for innovative project ideas.

This results in the following key points for FH-Kooperativ:

• Project durations of up to 54 months are possible, provided that the project is coordinated and managed by a newly appointed professor and includes (cooperative) doctorates.
• Outline proposals by newly appointed professors (deadline: 15 October of each calendar year) and experienced applicants (deadline: 15 April of each calendar year) are submitted separately and reviewed in separate peer review groups.
• FH-Kooperativ is currently designed as a permanently available funding measure with annually recurring submission deadlines.
• The research projects are to be carried out in active cooperation with corporate partners from trade and industry that contribute at least 7.5 per cent of eligible expenditure (less expenditure for investments in research equipment, facilities and demonstrators) in the case of newly appointed staff and at least 15 per cent in the case of experienced staff in the form of binding co-financing.

 Furthermore, universities of applied sciences are granted facilitated investment conditions. FH-Kooperativ continues to allow project-specific investments in research equipment and facilities or demonstrators. Thus, larger-scale R&D projects are promoted and the basic structural research framework conditions of the university of applied sciences are decisively improved and facilitated in the long term. Especially projects with a particularly innovative orientation and a high technical and/or research risk can be funded. 

The first submission deadline of FH-Kooperativ, 15 October 2019, is restricted to newly appointed professors. Professors appointed to a university of applied sciences for the first time after 15 October 2016 can be considered here. The submission deadlines are updated in subsequent years for experienced and newly appointed professors.

Project outlines must be submitted to the VDI TZ as the project management organization by the respective deadline. For further information on the funding guidelines, please contact the project management organization or consult the website www.forschung-fachhochschulen.de. There you will also find the updated FAQ. 

Our cooperative approach is reflected in the practical business focus of transfer-oriented research. It is sustainably implemented in the publications of our full-time and part-time lecturers, thus sharpening the profile of Berufsakademie Sachsen.