The Heilbronn-Franken region lies in the north of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The main city in the area, Heilbronn, has an especially rich and long history. This has included many innovations, fuelled by a variety of experimental “Heilbronners” – the pioneer Robert Mayer, discoverer of the principal of energy conservation; pioneers in the field of medicine, such as Georg Klett (blood transfusion) and Philipp Sicherer (anesthetics); engineers like Johann Widmann, who built the first German paper machine for continuous form.
The region still has a lively interest in product innovation. To succeed, the area requires targeted knowledge and technology transfer based on market needs. Ensuring that transfer succeeds is the task of Steinbeis enterprises in the region.
Steinbeis has been working with Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences for many years to ensure this transfer happens. A “Technical Consulting Service” was founded as early as 1971 at the former Heilbronn technical college under the auspices of the Steinbeis Foundation. This work was intensified with the founding of ZfBU GmbH, the center for business administration and management, in November 2010. A number of other Steinbeis experts also work at centers outside the university.