Companies from the district get to know the university

How do companies benefit from the knowledge of universities? What topics are driving research, and where are the specific points of contact for the economy? Answers to these questions were provided by a visit by regional entrepreneurs to Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI), organised by the Kommunalunternehmen Strukturentwicklung Landkreis Pfaffenhofen a.d. Ilm (KUS).

Stairway to success: business and science exchange ideas (Photo: KUS Pfaffenhofen).

As part of the ‘University meets business’ series, the meeting took participants right into the heart of current research fields and technological developments. ‘With this series, we want to introduce companies to the universities in the region. This gives entrepreneurs an impression of the topics being researched and the benefits they can derive for their projects from an exchange with the university,’ explained KUS CEO Johannes Hofner. The close interlinking of science and business is a key lever for innovation.

After being welcomed by THI President Professor Walter Schober, the guests were given an overview of the university's study programmes and research areas. In the subsequent tour of the robotics laboratory, Professor Ali Kanso demonstrated modern assistance systems - from compact robot arms to large-scale industrial systems.

The next item on the programme showed just how practical research is in the field of mobility: Thomas Dorsch presented current accident prevention projects at the CARISSMA research and test centre, Germany's leading scientific centre for vehicle safety. The walk-in test hall, in which extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain are simulated, was particularly impressive - a key technology for the development of reliable vehicle sensors.

The next item on the programme showed just how practical research is in the field of mobility: Thomas Dorsch presented current accident prevention projects at the CARISSMA research and test centre, Germany's leading scientific centre for vehicle safety. The walk-in test hall, in which extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain are simulated, was particularly impressive - a key technology for the development of reliable vehicle sensors.

A concrete application example from the field of autonomous systems is followed at the Technology Transfer Centre (TTZ) for Unmanned Aerial Systems in Manching. There, Professor Gerhard Elsbacher demonstrated a realistic rescue mission with three autonomously flying drones, which coordinated their search for a missing person. Thanks to their coordination with each other, such systems can help to make rescue operations much more efficient in the future.

The day was rounded off with an open get-together, where participants were able to network with the university's professors, clarify specific questions and deepen cooperation approaches. The exchange was made possible by the IHS project ‘Mensch in Bewegung’. Further events are already planned in collaboration with the KUS - to sustainably strengthen the dialogue between research and companies in the region.

Back