HAW-OpenSpace Published – Funding Guidelines Strengthen High-Tech Research Infrastructure at Universities of Applied Sciences

The new “HAW-OpenSpace” funding guideline is designed to specifically strengthen application-oriented research at universities of applied sciences (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, HAW): By investing in research infrastructure at HAWs, with a focus on the key technologies and strategic research areas identified under the High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD), the initiative aims to make a further contribution to Germany’s future viability. To this end, the federal government has made additional funding in the amount of 61 million euros available from the Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality (SVIK). The focus is on developing sustainable solutions that promote the responsible use of key technologies, provide impetus for commercial exploitation, and take ecological and social criteria into account. The specific goal is to create and implement so-called innovation spaces (OpenSpaces) at universities of applied sciences (HAW) for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research on forward-looking technologies. OpenSpaces are thus the research infrastructures to be established at HAWs, which are intended to generate new ways of thinking, research approaches, and solutions. By strengthening research potential in this way, the funding initiative contributes significantly to the core objective of the HTAD — increasing innovation and economic strength in Germany.

OpenSpace: A Space for Innovative Research and New Solutions

With this initiative, the primary aim is to support application-oriented research projects that set new standards in the development and implementation of key technologies. Funding is provided for the setup phase to invest in equipping the innovation space,  the R&D phase to carry out research and the scaling phase for the transfer and scaling of results. The goal of the funding guidelines is to establish sustainable innovation platforms at HAWs that serve as points of contact for regional businesses, municipalities, and civil society actors and offer low-threshold access to the HAWs’ research expertise.

HAWs ensure the broad-reaching implementation of the HTAD

In addition to providing practice-oriented education tailored to business needs, universities of applied sciences (HAW) are distinguished by their application- and implementation-oriented research. They are also valuable partners for the business community, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. By conducting research in collaboration with companies or other partners such as associations, municipalities, or charitable organizations, these universities develop targeted solutions to specific social and economic problems. In this way, HAWs drive new developments and transform good ideas into innovative products and services. For these reasons, funding for HAWs is a key measure for achieving the HTAD’s goals with broad impact within regional innovation ecosystems. 

The current funding guidelines are being published as part of the federal-state program “Research at Universities of Applied Sciences.” The goal of the research program is to better tap into the potential of universities of applied sciences and harness it for Germany as a center of business and innovation.

Through this funding specifically targeted at universities of applied sciences (HAW), the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), in collaboration with the federal states, is initiating significant structural developments that, among other things, will accelerate the transfer of knowledge and technology — as a key lever of the HTAD — and thereby provide a major impetus for strengthening the innovation system. 

Further Information:

• HAW-OpenSpace at a Glance: HAW-OpenSpace – FaF Research at Universities of Applied Sciences
• Website of the Joint Science Conference: Research at Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW)