Universities of applied sciences get €100m for collaboration

Germany’s federal education ministry has launched a programme to strengthen research at the country’s schools of applied sciences by supporting strategic partnerships with industry.

The ministry will provide up to €100 million to support 10 partnerships for up to eight years, to promote longer-term, systematic development of research at universities of applied sciences, particularly in collaboration with small and medium-sized businesses.

To apply for funding, universities must present a strategy for long-term cooperation with companies. The strategy must be based on a research area that is already a focus of the institution, has high transfer and commercialisation potential, and fits the needs of the participating companies.