Clusters of Excellence Accelerate Knowledge Exchange and Transfer
The initial focus was on the role that Clusters of Excellence can play in innovation processes and how to systematically harness synergies between research, business, industry, and society. Minister of Science Eva-Maria Holzleitner emphasized the importance of the Clusters of Excellence for Austria as a research location in strengthening competitiveness, increasing prosperity, and improving public infrastructure. Christof Gattringer highlighted the bottom-up approach with a focus on scientific excellence. Vice-President Ursula Jakubek raised the issue of joint funding with the participating research institutions during the discussion. Axel A. Brakhage followed up with an analysis based on Germany’s Excellence Strategy, emphasizing the added value of diverse forms of cooperation and highlighting the benefits of a mutual exchange between research, industry, and society. The Hamburg-based innovation expert pointed out that there are still structural shortcomings in technology transfer. An integrated ecosystem made up of universities, start-ups, established companies, and the public sector is crucial for turning research findings into economic and social value. Networks play a central role in this process by connecting stakeholders, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, and accelerating knowledge transfer. FWF President Christof Gattringer then provided an initial assessment of the successful launch phase of the Clusters of Excellence and their structural impact on the research community and praised the commitment of the participating universities and non-university research institutions.
Clusters of Excellence Networking Meeting
The second part of the summit focused on the nine Clusters of Excellence. The nine Directors of Research provided insights into their current research projects, presented preliminary findings, and talked about the wide range of the Clusters’ activities for supporting early-career researchers and knowledge transfer. Finally, a networking event under the motto “Science Connects” provided an opportunity to talk with researchers from the Clusters of Excellence and to strengthen professional ties.
