It was no coincidence that the five dedicated professors were chosen. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heike Karbstein, partial institute management of the Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences Food Process Engineering, covers the perspective of division I "Biology, Chemistry and Process Engineering". While Prof. Dr. Michael Beigl, head of the Chair for Pervasive Computing Systems, thematically represents the disciplines of division II "Informatics, Economics, and Society". In division III "Mechanical and Electrical Engineering", Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Zwick, director of the Institute of Radio Frequency Engineering and Electronics, is very familiar with innovation topics. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Dehn heads the Institute for Solid Structures and Building Material Technology as well as the Materials Testing and Research Institute and represents the perspective of division IV "Natural and Built Environment" in the TT commission. And Prof. Dr. Jasmin Aghassi, managing director of the KIT Network for Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies and head of the research group "Low Power Electronics with Advanced Materials" at the Institute of Nanotechnology is more than familiar with the main topics of division V "Physics and Mathematics".

The team was complemented by Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth, Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs at KIT and permanent guest of the advisory commission, as well as by Dr. Jens Fahrenberg, Dagmar Vössing and Dr. Rainer Körber, who implement the advisory commission's decisions at KIT within the service unit innovation management.

Change of perspective is guaranteed 

The TT comission advises the executive board of KIT in the selection of technology transfer projects at KIT. These projects are supported with funds from the NEULAND Innovation Fund and serve to strengthen the cooperation between science and industry.

Despite their different professional focuses, the members of the advisory commission combine their experience in and enthusiasm for the transfer of ideas, research results and technologies from KIT to industry. Technology transfer is not uncharted territory for the five scientists. Due to their experience in the industry or regular cooperation with industry partners, they each own a great understanding of technology utilization and of success factors of innovation projects between science and industry.

They see themselves as ambassadors of technology transfer. Using their expertise, they advocate for innovations from KIT with a high utilization potential being recognized and recommended for funding from the NEULAND Innovation Fund. "My four colleagues and I, we are delighted about the fact that we as the TT commission can help to initiate the process which it takes for promising technical developments from KIT to reach the market," confirms Prof. Dr. Michael Beigl.

Product development with the KIT innovation fund

The work of the TT commission has a tangible impact on the selection of eligible projects from the NEULAND innovation fund. Generally, ideas, research results or technologies from scientific institutes require further development to turn into a marketable product or process. This development lies at the core of technology transfer projects (TT project) for which an industrial partner cooperates with KIT.

KIT and the industrial partner are jointly responsible for the financial expenditure of a TT project. The industrial partner bears the costs, which he incurs in the project, while the project costs incurred by the institute at KIT are financed by the NEULAND Innovation Fund. When the developed product is ready for the market, it is subsequently marketed by the industrial partner. After the market launch of the product, a share of the later return on investment (ROI) of the company flows back to KIT, also into the innovation fund.

Accordingly, the potential market success of the product is decisive for the individual funding from the NEULAND Innovation Fund, which flows to the participating institutes. The higher the later market potential and thus the expected turnover is estimated, the more the KIT can invest in product development.

Reviewing and recommending projects is on the agenda

Projects and research groups applying for funding from the KIT innovation fund are jointly evaluated by the advisory commission on the basis of specific criteria and, in the best case, recommended for funding. The advisory commission may also make recommendations with reservations - for example, if it advises that project application need to be improved first. These technical recommendations of the TT commission serve the KIT Executive Board as a basis for their decision making.

Common commitment

The new members of the TT commission face the tasks ahead of them with curiosity and enthusiasm. With a fresh view, they continue the valuable and highly appreciated work of the professors formerly belonging to the advisory commission. The technology transfer team would like to thank the long-standing former members of the TT commission and extends a warm welcome to its new representatives.