More than 150 people from science and business attended the first Max Syrbe symposium at the end of March. The key topic of discussion: factors influencing successful science and research management. The symposium was organized by Steinbeis in honor of Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Max Syrbe who headed up the Foundation's Board of Trustees for many years and passed away last September.
After the day was set underway by Dr.-Ing. Leonhard Vilser (Steinbeis Board of Trustees), and an opening speech by Assistant to the State Secretary Günther Leßnerkraus (Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Finance and Economy), Prof. Dr. Heinz Trasch (Steinbeis) praised the work of Max Syrbe, who always believed scientific work should be directly linked to specific applications and that it should be quickly implemented.
Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Johann Löhn (Steinbeis) built on the topic of technology transfer in an introduction speech that evaluated the constantly evolving Steinbeis system. Prof. Dr. Achim Walter (University of Kiel) examined academic entrepreneurship and the symbiotic relationship between science and business. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Jörg Bauer (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT) presented a knowledge and innovation community called KIC InnoEnergy which offers new ways to galvanize innovation in Europe in the field of sustainable energy. Klaus Hamacher (German Aerospace Center, DLR) introduced research management as an area full of challenges, all lying somewhere between business and the remits of public research bodies. Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Meisel (Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences) discussed the special role played by universities with respect to applied research, as well as knowledge and technology transfer. The topic discussed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Bertsche (TTI – Technologie-Transfer-Initiative GmbH, Stuttgart University) was how to make research collaboration between science and business work properly, looking at the example of Steinbeis University. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf Ahlers (ASG Luftfahrttechnik und Sensorik GmbH) looked at collaboration from the perspective of companies, with a demonstration of science and research management as a value driver in small and medium-sized enterprises. Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Meike Tilebein (German Institute of Textile and Fiber Research, Denkendorf) provided insights into the work of SME-based research, emphasizing the important role played by networks. Dr. Dirk Ahlbehrendt (AiF Projekt GmbH) presented a central innovation program for medium-sized companies called ZIM. The program supports R&D and innovation at SMEs. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Herbert Emmerich (Steinbeis Transfer Center for Production and Organisation) discussed the opinions of a Steinbeis enterprise regarding science and research management, expressing his belief that a key success factor is available know-how in association with experience, with an emphasis on application. All speeches will be published in the German conference minutes in Steinbeis-Edition, which is currently being finalized.