How can transfer succeed in areas where businesses, capital and innovation networks are less densely represented? Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences is trialling new approaches in the hike project to bring research into application in a more targeted way. The focus is on the question of which transfer formats small universities of applied sciences in structurally weak regions need, and what influence artificial intelligence (AI), well-matched teams and early-clarified commercialisation pathways have on this.

An idea that originated on the terrace of a shared flat in Dresden has become a mass-produced product: the Saxon start-up allpacka is launching its foldable cargo box for bicycles onto the market. Along the way, the founding team received support from, amongst others, Lab X at HTW Dresden University of Applied Sciences – a start-up and research hub established as part of the BMFTR funding scheme StartUpLab@FH.

Public transport control centres are receiving an everincreasing volume of information. The IADAPT research project at Furtwangen University is developing adaptive user interfaces that adjust to traffic conditions, the task at hand and the control centre staff. The focus is on human-centred AI, which does not replace people but provides them with transparent support when making complex decisions.

The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has awarded Dr. Antonio Vivone third place in the Student Award for Social Innovation (StiPS) for his research into the learning potential of catchy tunes. His research links music-based language learning with well-being and practical transfer into schools. The findings provide groundbreaking insights for schools and educational research.

From the lecture hall to the smart Factory: how can students be taught about the production and logistics processes of small and medium-sized enterprises in the most practical way possible? How can they learn to organise and analyse these processes as efficiently as possible? Two professors from the Institute for Production Engineering and Factory Operations (IPF) at Bremen University of Applied Sciences have the answer: set up an innovative smart factory.

Advances in quantum computing threaten today's encryption methods and, with them, the confidentiality of digital data traffic. Researchers from RheinMain University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Hessian Centre for Data Processing are now relying on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for IT security in digital communication for the first time, drawing on the physical laws of quantum mechanics. A milestone for sensitive data and a more future-proof digital infrastructure.

How can beer be brewed in climate-friendly way in the future? The „RenewBrew" research project at University of Applied Sciences Hanover is developing a system comprising high-temperature heat pumps, thermal storage, photovoltaics and solar thermal energy to supply the brewing process with steam, eliminating the need for fossil fuels. The inital results were presented at two conferences in September

How can doctoral studies at universities of applied sciences and universities succeed on an equal footing? With its cross-institutional doctoral network, in which professors from Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin collaborate as equal partners, the project "Transdisciplinary Democracy and Education Research" takes a new approach and creates ideal conditions for doctoral candidates

How should we deal with post-war modernist building stock? The Juridicum, a 1960s building in Frankfurt am Main, illustrates this question. Within the Zukunftslabor Juridicum (Juridicum Future Lab), Frankfurt UAS brings together experts from various disciplines to discuss and evaluate four future scenarios. The objective: a well-founded recommendation for the building's future and a basis for comparable planning and decision-making processes in the future.

Disasters and extreme weather events are also increasing in Germany. The research project "Resilience Promotion and Education" at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences focuses, in one sub-project, on people who are particularly vulnerable in the event of a disaster. The research findings are now to be made available to the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) in order to improve their support services.

The Agency for Innovation in Cybersecurity GmbH (Cyberagentur), German U15 and the VDI Technologiezentrum have jointly published guidance for universities on security-relevant research. The FAQ offers a structured overview of thematic areas, funding mechanisms, stakeholders, as well as legal and organisational framework conditions.

By the mid-September submission deadline, more than 1,500 expressions of interest had been received for the “HAW-ForschungsSchub” funding guideline under the joint programme of the Federal Government and Länder (federal states) „Research at UAS“. On September 17, 60 of these were selected by lottery to proceed to the next stage of the process.

Research only unfolds its full impact and innovation potential when knowledge finds its way into society and the economy. This is how technological, ecological, and social innovations emerge that drive both industry and society forward. Achieving this requires strategic instruments and methods of knowledge and technology transfer. These are precisely what Munich University of Applied Sciences, TU Berlin, and Fraunhofer CeRRI provide freely online with the ‘Ready-to-Transfer Box’

From 13 October 2026 onwards, we will be seeking reviewers to assess project proposals submitted under the ‘HAW-ForschungsSchub’ funding scheme.

Walking safely and comfortably is often a daily challenge for people who have had a below-knee amputation. This is where the new iProt project comes in, launched by the Department of Computer Science and Automation at the OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL). The aim is to develop a smart lower-leg prosthesis that recognises movements, adapts dynamically, and actively supports its wearers whilst walking.

A new German-Dutch research project led by the FH Münster focuses on improving a method for cancer diagnosis. The NanoDetect project centres on nanodiamonds that act as optical sensors to identify tumour cells.

A marketing lecturer and his students at Harz University of Applied Sciences have conducted a study to investigate how prevalent multiscreening is whilst watching TV, which age groups are particularly likely to use a second screen, and how participants assess their own multiscreening behaviour.

In early November, the ConFiTex project (Conifers, Innovative and Textile Fibres, Sustainable Textiles) for early-career researchers started at the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ). The project focuses on developing previously unused fibre materials from conifer needles – primarily those of native pine trees.

Mannheim University of Applied Sciences has developed an online platform to help entrepreneurs assess the maturity of their business ideas. The platform is free to use and is designed to offer a straightforward starting point, particularly for those with no prior experience in setting up a business. 

The B.I.T. Lab (Biomedical Innovation and Transfer Lab) at Reutlingen University has commenced operations as scheduled. As part of the “HAW-ForschungsraumQualifizierung” funding program of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), a modern, interdisciplinary research and training facility for biomedical topics is being established.

During the opening of the new extension building at the ASH Berlin (Alice Salomon Hochschule), the project Transdisciplinary Democracy and Education Research (TransDeBiFo) was introduced to the general public as well as to representatives from government and politics. As part of the exhibition “SAGE Research at ASH,” the project team provided information about the project goals, working structures, and prospects.

The Campus Future Driveline, where the Nuremberg Institute of Technology (Ohm University) brings together its research expertise in the fields of hydrogen and batteries, has been named “University Gem of the Month” for November 2025 by the Stifterverband. In 2025, the Stifterverband honoured projects with the “University Gem of the Month” award that combine research and innovation, with the aim of raising their visibility beyond the region and inspiring other universities.

The NEOVAK project looks back on a successful outcome: Thanks to funding from the “Research at Universities of Applied Sciences” programme, the project team was able to develop a novel Pirani sensor that measures gas pressure across the entire technical vacuum range from 10⁻⁶ millibars to atmospheric pressure. This significantly expands the range of applications for this type of sensor. 

Advancing the energy transition requires practical solutions from academia and industry. For nine years, researchers at the Competence Center for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (CC4E) at the HAW Hamburg have been developing these solutions in collaboration with corporate partners as part of the X-Energy partnership. In February 2026, representatives from academia, business, and politics recognized the numerous research results at a closing conference. 

In mid-November 2025, Ingolstadt hosted the closing symposium of the SAFIR partnership, which has helped shape the collaboration between the THI (Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt) and companies in the region for almost a decade. SAFIR set itself the goal of turning the city and region of Ingolstadt into a real-world test bed for connected mobility and autonomous driving.

The evaluation of the project outlines submitted in the HAW-ForschungsAkzente funding guideline from the Bund-Laender programme “Research at UAS” has been completed. The responsible GWK expert committee selected a total of 61 projects based on external reviews. These projects have now been invited to submit a full proposal.