Alongside research and development, knowledge and technology transfer is playing an increasingly central role at universities.
In recent years, the THU has successfully implemented numerous inter-university and cross-disciplinary projects – mostly as collaborative ventures with regional and national partners. These include not only research-based transfer projects, but also initiatives in the areas of start-up support and recruitment.
Project manager: Prof. Dr. Stephan Schlüter
Professors involved: Prof. Dr. Marc-Oliver Otto, Prof. Dr. Walter Commerell
Project duration: 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2028
Funding provider: EU
Program name: ERASMUS-EDU-2024-CBHE-STRAND-3
The project Development of Research & Development Strategies and Centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (RDBIH), funded through the Erasmus+ CBHE program (101177753-RDBIH-ERASMUS-EDU-2024-CBHE), aims to transform the research landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) within four years. Led by the University of Novi Sad and in cooperation with EU and local partners, the initiative focuses on developing modern research and development (R&D) strategies aligned with European standards, establishing six R&D centers at leading universities and creating a digital R&D network to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
This project addresses critical challenges such as the lack of research infrastructure, limited research output and weak collaboration between academia and industry. By combating brain drain and promoting applied research, the project will improve scientific relevance, societal impact and labor market alignment. It also includes capacity building activities to train researchers and staff to effectively manage the new R&D centers.
The RDBIH project aims to create a sustainable research ecosystem that supports innovation, economic growth and the global competitiveness of universities in BiH. By fostering partnerships between academia, industry and policy makers and establishing an inclusive digital platform, the initiative will contribute to the country's transition to a knowledge-based, sustainable society.
Project manager: Prof. Dr. Steffen Reik
Project duration: 01.10.2024 - 31.12.2028
Funding provider: MWK
The aim of the StartupSÜD+ project is to continue the EXIST Potentials-funded StartupSÜD network of the University of Ulm, the TH Ulm and the HS Biberach in the Ulm/Biberach region and to integrate the academic startup ecosystem of the East Alb region around the HS Aalen, the HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd and the DHBW Heidenheim. With the vision "from the minds, for the world", the project strengthens the existing joint activities of the universities and regional multipliers for start-up teams along the start-up journey. The focus is on leveraging technology potential and transferring it into technology-based start-up projects. The project is characterized by co-creative formats on future topics with industry, access to regional, agile financing options for start-up teams and professional stakeholder and alumni management.
Further information: StartupSÜD and THU-Startup Center
Project management: Dr. Christian Elmo Wolff (Chancellor), Prof. Dr. Barbara Streppel (Professor of Physics and Equal Opportunities Officer)
Funded by: BMBF and the state of Baden-Württemberg
Program name: FH-Personal
As specialists, especially engineers, are in high demand on the job market, THU is in competition with companies for the brightest minds. As a university with a technical profile, it faces the challenge of filling technical professorships with qualified candidates and, in particular, recruiting women as professors. We are therefore working towards the goal of increasing the number of applications from women and promoting diversity. Our measures should help to increase the attractiveness of a HAW professorship as a career. As the job description of a professorship is changing in the 21st century, our project supports THU in developing requirement and competence profiles for future professors. The project supports THU in becoming more visible as an attractive employer in the region.
THUProf4.0 pursues four key areas:
If you would like to find out more about the project or are interested in working with us, please contact Dr. Christian Elmo Wolff(Christian.Wolff(at)thu.de) or Prof. Dr. Barbara Streppel(Barbara.Streppel(at)thu.de).
Further information
Project management: Prof. Dr. Reinhold von Schwerin
Project duration: 01.10.2020 - 30.09.2024
Funded by: Federal Government - BMBF
Program name: innoVET
The project is developing a comprehensive training concept for the "Certified Vocational Specialist", "Bachelor Professional" and "Master Professional" qualifications together with the partners HWK Ulm, SAPS and Biberach University of Applied Sciences from the THU.
The digitalization of the living and working environment and in particular the field of Ambient Assisted Living will serve as the guiding principle. In this context, programmable controllers and especially their safety play an important role in electrical engineering. The data supplied by the sensors and their use, including innovative business models, are also of great interest. This is reflected in the planned modules at THU: in the field of electrical engineering, these are PLC and system networking as well as safe automation, and in the field of digitalization and data science, databases and data analytics
as well as data science for IoT and digital business models.
THU is responsible for the quality assurance of the academic modules and for the content of the modules in the field of electrical engineering and digitalization.
workshops serve to coordinate the educational institutions with each other in order to ensure well-integrated further training that takes into account both the practical needs of the trade and the academic requirements for the modules of the participating universities of applied sciences. The THU pursues blended learning/flipped classroom approaches in particular, which allow great flexibility in terms of time.
As part of the long-term quality assurance of the educational measures, a system is being sought that guarantees the accreditability of the academic modules and is able to ensure a comparable system for the professional qualification at DQR 6 and DQR 7 level.
To this end, THU will consistently develop the modules in a competence-oriented manner and design, implement and continuously carry out suitable evaluation measures for the implementation.
The training and examination regulations to be developed must be designed in such a way that they comply with the regulations of the chambers of crafts and trades as well as those of the academic environment. The THU will develop this in consideration of content and qualitative aspects and will implement the developed modules and the associated evaluation instruments at all levels of the training measures and document the testing on the associated cohorts.
Further information can be found at www.exzellenz-handwerk.de
Thematic and project-related publications are categorized according to the respective research areas at THU. Interdisciplinary and cross-departmental publications are listed here.
2025
Brenn, Charlotte; Brunner, Silvia; Denzel, Theresa; Janisch, Kinga; Krinke, Theresa:
HAWKarriere Mentoring Program – A cross-university tool for personnel development and talent promotion,
in: Results from the University of Applied Sciences Personnel Program. Volume 1: Qualification for University of Applied Sciences Professorships through Tandem Programs and Talent Management, HsH Applied Academics, 2025, pp. 257–268.
DOI: 10.25968/opus-3645
ISBN: 978-3-69018-014-6
2024
Mysior, Marek; Iniotakis, Christian; Iwan, Dominik:
Comparative Modular Product Development Using TRIZ, AI, and VA++,
in: World Conference of AI-Powered Innovation and Inventive Design. TFC 2024. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 736, Cavallucci, D., Brad, S., Livotov, P. (eds.), Springer Nature, 2024, pp. 265–274.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-75923-9_16
ISBN: 978-3-031-75922-2
Watty, Robert; Weiand, Achim:
Role Clarity and Role Clarification,
in: Developing Personnel in Higher Education and Research, Franz Steiner Verlag, 2024, pp. 265–285.
ISSN: 2567-8507
2023
Aigle, Thomas; Bleicher, Andre; von Schwerin, Marianne:
Transfer-Oriented Research Through the Use of Innovative Transfer Formats: Practical Examples from the InnoSÜD Collaborative Project,
in: Transfer Innovations and Innovation Transfer between Science and Industry, Pfannstiel, Mario A., Dautovic, Alma (eds.), Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden, 2023, pp. 27–56.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-658-37157-9_3
ISBN: 978-3-658-37156-2 (print)
Boin, Manuela; Fujan, Kim; Lunde, Karin; Boger, Achim:
The WiMINT Math and Physics Clubs of the cosh Working Group,
in: Proceedings of the 5th MINT Symposium on Higher Education in the MINT Subjects, BayZiel, Munich, 2023, pp. 63–73.
ISSN: 1612-4537
Dürrschnabel, Klaus; Dürr, Rolf; Erben, Wolfgang; Gercken, Matthias; Lunde, Karin; Schatz, Torsten; Wurth, Rita; Zimmermann, Marc:
Math Is a Must! Well-Prepared for a WiMINT Degree Program,
in: You Need This Much Math! Well Prepared for a STEM Degree, 2nd edition, Springer Spektrum Berlin, Heidelberg, 2023, p. 207.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-57951-0
ISBN: 978-3662671931
Käß, Hanno; Knebusch, Anselm; Rieck, Ina; Lunde, Karin; Kammerer, Markus; Brösamle, Karen:
From School to College – Smoothing Transitions, Improving Academic Success: cosh,
in: Proceedings of the 5th MINT Symposium on Higher Education Teaching in the MINT Subjects, BayZiel, Munich, 2023, pp. 44–52.
ISSN: 1612-4537
Iniotakis, Christian:
Functional Value of TRIZ Components – Universal Concept and Direct Implications,
in: Towards AI-Aided Invention and Innovation. TFC 2023. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 682, Cavallucci, D., Livotov, P., Brad, S. (eds.), Springer, Cham, 2023, pp. 301–316.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-42532-5_24
ISBN: 978-3-031-42531-8, ISSN: 1868-4238
Luwes, Nicolaas; van Heerden, Leanri; Commerell, Walter:
Student perceptions of a remotely operated motor-driven generator in engineering education,
in: International Conference on Higher Education Advances, Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, Universitat Politècnica de València, 2023, pp. 1391–1398.
DOI: 10.4995/HEAD23.2023.16871
ISSN: 2603-5871, ISBN: 978-84-1396-085-2
von Schwerin, Marianne; Aigle, Thomas; Bleicher, André; Frühwirth, Heike; Kühl, Michael; Steurer, Elmar:
InnoSÜD Transfer Formats in the Innovation Process and Their Effectiveness,
in: The Call for Transformation in Research and Education: Concepts, Projects, Empirical Perspectives, Jennifer Blank, Claudia Bergmüller, Sonja Sälzle (eds.), Waxmann, Münster - New York, 2023, pp. 251-270.
ISBN: 978-3-8309-4677
Watty, Robert + VDI Committee:
Industrial Design—User-Centered Design in the Product Development Process,
in: VDI Guideline VDI/VDID 2424, Association of German Engineers, VDI Verlag, Düsseldorf, 2023, pp. 90.
Watty, Robert; Weiand, Achim:
Selection Process 2.0 for Rectors and Presidents at Universities of Applied Sciences,
in: Developing Personnel in Higher Education and Science, Issue 4/2023, Buyken, M. et al., Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart, 2023, pp. 15–31.
ISSN: 2567-8507
Watty, Robert; Weiand, Achim:
Faculty/Department Leadership – Some Suggestions. Helpful Tools for Deans,
in: Developing Personnel in Higher Education and Science, Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart, 2023, pp. 28–42.
ISSN: 2567-8507
Watty, Robert; Brix, Torsten; Hirte, Uwe; Husung, Stephan:
Building Agile Product Design Competences in Student Projects,
in: 60th Ilmenau Scientific Colloquium, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Ilmenau, 2023, pp. 11.
DOI: 10.22032/dbt.57069
ISBN: 978-3-86360-274-1
2022
Data Science to go - From Theory to Practice: Proceedings of the 3rd Ulm Innovation Congress | Neu-Ulm 2022,
by Schwerin, Marianne; Reichert, Manfred; Urban, Karsten (eds.)
May 17, 2022, Ulm University of Applied Sciences. OPARU, 2022, 73 pages.
DOI: 10.18725/OPARU-44168
ISBN: 978-3-9820843-3-6
Download Conference Proceedings
Individual reports by THU authors:
Iniotakis, Christian:
VA++ - The Next Generation of Value Analysis in TRIZ,
in: Systematic Innovation Partnerships with Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology. TFC 2022. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 655, Nowak, R., Chrząszcz, J., Brad, S., Springer, Cham, 2022, pp. 29–38.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-17288-5_3
ISBN: 978-3-031-17287-8
2021
Rethinking Energy: Proceedings of the 2nd Innovation Congress Ulm | Neu-Ulm on May 6, 2021,
by Schwerin, Marianne; Kühl, Michael; Becker, Martin (eds.), OPARU, 2021, 101 pages.
ISBN: 978-3-9820843-3-6
Download conference proceedings
2019
The Smart Mobility of Tomorrow: Conference Proceedings from the 1st Ulm | Neu-Ulm Innovation Congress on May 9, 2019,
by Schwerin, Marianne (ed.), 2019, 71 pages.
ISBN: 978-3-9820843-0-5
Individual contributions by THU authors:
Programmable processing for the autonomous/connected vehicle: Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop, Ulm University of Applied Sciences, July 17, 2019
Terzis, Anestis (ed.), 2019, p. 107.
ISBN: 978-3-9820843-1-2
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Marianne von Schwerin
Project duration: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2024
Funding Body: Federal Government – BMWK
Program Name: EXIST Potentiale
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. rer.nat. Marianne von Schwerin
Project duration: January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2022
Funding Body: Federal Government + State
Program Name: Innovative University
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Michael Schlick
Project duration: February 1, 2020 – December 31, 2021
Funding body: Federal Government – BMBF
Program Name: City of the Future
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. rer.nat. Marianne von Schwerin
Project duration: January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2021
Funding body: State – MWK
Program Name: FESt
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. rer.nat. Marianne von Schwerin
Project duration: March 1, 2019 – August 31, 2019
Funding Body: Federal Government – BMWi
Program Name: EXIST Potential Concept Phase
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Marianne von Schwerin
Project duration: January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018
Funding Body: Federal Government – BMBF
Program Name: City of the Future
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Marianne von Schwerin
Project duration: September 1, 2019 – August 31, 2021
Funding Body: State of Baden-Württemberg
Program Name: Academic Libraries Shaping the Digital Transformation
Project Leader: Annika Halder
Project duration: January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2020
Funding Body: State of Baden-Württemberg – MWK
Program Name: FESt
