Aachen and Bonn, 19th - 21st January 1999

19th January 1999

Aachen Association for Innovation and Technology Transfer (AGIT) aims to promote technology transfer in the Aachen region and to accelerate the reconstruction process from a coal mining area to a high technology region. It runs two incubators — Aachen Technology Centre and the Medical Engineering Centre — which are funded by local Government, the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce, local savings banks and other bodies. AGIT offers a number of services, including start-up consultancy, business premises, central facilities, collaboration within technology transfer networks, access to finance, technology brokering and advice on relocation of businesses after termination of incubator lease. AGIT also works closely with a wide network of higher education institutions and industry in the region.

1   Meeting with Professor Evershiem, Aachen University and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, AGIT, Herr Bernd Thomas, Chief Executive, AGIT and representatives of resident companies

Topics discussed: The respective rôles of regional and federal government in economic development; the provision of business incubators; technology transfer; attracting research centres to the area; service provision for start-up companies; the rôle of the local Chamber of Commerce.

The Fraunhofer Institute of Production Technology is part of the national Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, one of Germany's main non-profit-making research and research-funding organisations. The Institute's main activity is the performance of applied research in collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprises. The Institute had a total budget of DM 28 million in 1996, of which 45% came from industry, 30% from public-sector project grants, and 25% institutional funding from the federal and state governments.

2   Meeting with Herr Professor Dr-Ing Manfred Weck and Herr Dr Stefan Nöken, Fraunhofer Institute of Production Technology

Topics discussed: Collaboration with other research centres; terms and conditions of employment for Institute staff; staff mobility; the rôle of the Fraunhofer Society; collaboration with industry and ownership of research results; research funding.

Aachen University of Technology focuses its teaching and research on engineering sciences (45% of students) and physical sciences (21% of students). It has close connections with regional research institutes and industry. The University had a total budget of DM 1.1 billion in 1997, including some income from external public and private sources of DM 210 million. The Institute for Plastics Processing's priorities include research and development in injection moulding, processing of plastics, fibre composites, moulded part design and materials technology. Technology transfer is a key activity, as is providing suitable training for students to allow them to enter the crafts and trades.

3   Meeting with Dr Harald Zell, Institute For Plastics Processing

Topics discussed: Industrial involvement in the Institute and the development of its research programme; planning research of relevance to industry; fostering technology transfer.

20th January 1999

The Technology Park, Herzogenrath is built on a former coal mining area as part of the regional restructuring effort to counter job losses in the mining industry. It provides business premises and central facility management services at below commercial rates for small, technology-based enterprises.

4   Meeting with Herr Krings, Director Technology Park, Herzogenrath

Topics discussed: The development of the Technology Park; capitalising on regional assets; the involvement of local and regional Government; service provision to start-up and other resident companies.

The Jülich Research Centre is one of 16 Helmholtz research centres in Germany. The Centre specialises in interdisciplinary research in areas including: medicine, nuclear chemistry, biological information processing, biotechnology, materials and energy technology, plasma physics, reactor safety research, research reactors, systems engineering, technology development and technology assessment, fuels cells, nuclear fusion, solid state research, surface layers and vacuum physics, thin layer and ion research, nuclear physics, and applied mathematics.

5   Meetings with Professor Treusch, Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Herr Plattenteich, Head of the Julich Technology Centre, Dr Jaek, Head of Technology Transfer, Professor Treenhaus, Member of the Board and Dr Breuer, Head of the Office of Public Relations, Julich Research Centre

Topics discussed: The German research system; the rôle of the Helmholtz Society; Technology transfer; Research and the Julich Research Centre.

21st January 1999

The German Research Association is Germany's main independent research-funding body, responsible for promoting all branches of science and the arts, mainly at universities, by providing research grants on a competitive, peer review basis. Its programmes include the Individual Grants Programme, research fellowships, priority programmes (which may be funded for up to six years), collaborative research centres (which undertake long-term projects), graduate colleges and scientific awards.

6   Meeting with Dr Rhienhard Grunwald, Secretary General, Dr Schnieder, Director, Scientific and International Affairs, and others, German Research Association

Topics discussed: Research funding; determining research excellence; funding applied research; intellectual property rights.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is headed by a Minister of Cabinet rank. Its estimated budget for 1998 is DM 14.9 billion. In 1997 is budget was divided as follows: 38% promotion of technology and innovation; 31% further and higher education, including university buildings, higher education programmes and student loans; 18% basic research; and 13% research and development to improve the quality of life.

7   Meeting with Herr Wolf-Michael Catenhausen, Parliamentary Secretary of State and Ministry officials

Topics discussed: Federal Government objectives in funding research; tuition fees; the respective rôles of the Federal and State Governments in education and training; Government support for technology transfer; the Delphi Exercise; training for entrepreneurs; intellectual property rights.

The German National Aerospace Research Centre has its headquarters in Cologne but also has a number of other Institutes and research facilities. Its research priorities include aviation research, aviation technology, robotics, transport research, fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, materials and structural mechanics, communications, space vehicles, exploitation of space flights, involvement in space missions and energy technology.

8   Meeting with Professor Walter Kröll, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Claudia Langowsky, Head of Technology Transfer, Dr Franz Berger, Resident Researcher for Space Science and others, German National Aerospace Research Centre.

Topics discussed: Federal funding for aerospace research; training scientists and engineers; technology transfer; patenting and technology licensing.