Foundations laid for a joint innovation center: The symbolic laying of a cornerstone for the new Steinbeis House in Karlsruhe took place in August. The building, which is currently taking shape on the campus of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, will provide a working area measuring 5,000 m2 – enough space for researchers to work on innovations for the university as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Steinbeis is developing the site which is due to open at the end of 2014.
Steinbeis and the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences have been actively collaborating in knowledge and technology transfer for many years. There have been more ways to collaborate even more closely since 2008, through the jointly operated Steinbeis Transferzentren GmbH at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (STHK). A number of Steinbeis Enterprises at the university provide professors, students and other staff members with the means to explore the innovation potential of competitive transfer into industry – and provide SMEs with fitting solutions to their problems. This close interaction with business is reflected in the modern nature of teaching and training. Scientific advancements made at the university also directly facilitate competitive edge in business.
The partnership between Steinbeis and the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences will now intensify with the construction of the Steinbeis House. Aside from the university, a number of local SMEs are also collaborating on the project and they intend to rent rooms in the five-story building, which will not only house scientists and SMEs, but also have a cafeteria and a lecture room. The total cost for the project is estimated to be €17 million. “We’re very proud and delighted to have partners on board who are also really interested in the welfare of the university,” says the president, Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Meisel. “And it would mean a lot to us to be allowed to remain on the university campus for any further expansion.” If agreement is reached, the university is considering renting rooms in the Steinbeis House to ease ongoing space problems.