Technology transfer: Schwandorf will become a university site

The idea behind the project to build a Technology Transfer Center, or TTZ for short, is this: business, science and communities in the region must be linked with it. Companies such as EMZ, Gerresheimer, Krones and Nabaltec work with the Amberg-Weiden University of Applied Sciences and are members of the circle of partners there. “Transferring technology from the university to the company is an essential part of entrepreneurial success,” District Administrator Thomas Ebeling said when the technology transfer center project was presented to the county council.

Together with the two universities, OTH Amberg-Weiden and OTH Regensburg, Schwandorf District has applied to the Ministry of Science for funding for a Technology Transfer Center. “The application and focus of our concept has been closely coordinated with local businesses and science in advance,” confirmed the district manager.

Resources and sustainability

The focus of the Technology Transfer Center should be on the circular economy and sustainability; The focus will be on the strategic areas of energy, digital optimization, resources and sustainability. “With this orientation, TTZ Schwandorf should and will become an engine of innovation for the regional economy,” she said. Prime Minister Markus Söder gave a promise to the state government to create the TTZ. Mathematically speaking, around 6.86 million euros can be expected for the Schwandorf district.

With its financial support, the Free State supports the employees for five years. It consists of two professors, a general manager, four scientific staff, two laboratory engineers, and a foreman. There is also money for ongoing material costs, as well as one-off equipment for labs and offices.

The county pays for the buildings

In turn, the district of Schwarzendorf builds the building and bears the operating costs. The initial planning assumed a university building of about 1,500 square metres. It will be built in the intercommunal business district of Schwandorf-Wackersdorf, not far from the OMV filling station there. The region wants to build a middle-class center right next to it. It is currently located in Maxhütte-Haidhof, but will be moved from there to Schwandorf.

Promoting knowledge and technology transfer is not only of great importance to existing companies, but also important to the creation of innovative startups, the district official promoted the project. Transport, and in particular startups, are “guarantees of future viability and innovation strength,” according to Ebeling.

corporate partners

Technology transfer centers at the Bavarian universities of applied sciences and technical universities consider themselves “engines of science-based innovation for the regional economy.” With TTZ it has the opportunity to issue targeted research contracts.” Universities will become development partners for local companies.

In addition to approval, there were also four votes against the project in the end. Before the vote, Rudi Sommer (the Greens) and Reinhard Mixel (the AfD) were particularly critical. The documents for the TTZ were distributed very late in the summer – for which the District Administrator then apologized. The Green Council would have liked to postpone the matter until he could get to know himself more, but it was not heard in the County Council. Mixl also spoke out in favor of the delay. “Few people in so much space,” he complained, looking at the staff.

maybe cycle?

District Administrator Ebeling declared that the Technology Transfer Center was initially a research facility “but one might set up a training course there in the future”. Martin Scharff (Free Voters) spoke to most of the council when he said: “The location of the university in the Schwarzendorf district – that’s something!”

Finally, the District Council with a large majority supported the decision of the Technology Transfer Center on the topic “Circular Economy and Sustainability”. The basis is a concept jointly developed by OTH Amberg-Weiden and OTH Regensburg. The concept was also introduced to the councils.