The "Saxony5 - intelligently networking knowledge flows" project was launched just in time for 01.01.2018. The universities of applied sciences (HAW) in Dresden, Leipzig, Mittweida, Zittau/Görlitz and Zwickau will work closely together to transfer specialist knowledge to the regions even more intensively than before.
Cooperation with regional partners from business, society and public life is to be strengthened so that as many innovative products and technologies as possible emerge from research activities and the economic power in the regions is strengthened.
Specialist knowledge is imparted by experts at the university and expanded in research projects - but how can it be ensured that everyone in the region benefits from it?
Research results are produced and available - but how can tangible benefits be derived from them?
How can citizens be involved in specialist discussions and thus also question and dissolve ideological preconceptions?
And last but not least: How can technical understanding and interest be aroused more strongly so that the economy can continue to find highly trained specialists for the production hall, service and design workplace, for marketing and finance in the future?
The project staff will address these questions and seek answers and break new ground together with employees in teaching, research and administrative services.
In subject-specific co-creation labs, i.e. in real meeting rooms, practice-oriented scientific debates, e.g. on specific energy savings in industry, will be held and training courses and workshops organized.
Civil society will be offered discussion forums on current, controversial topics.
Explanatory videos and other (multi)media transfer tools will be created on complex technical issues.
Each of Saxony's five universities of applied sciences, still known in many places as universities of applied sciences, will organize one of the co-creation labs for all partners in line with their core competencies. The topics are:
- Factory of the future
Management: Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW) - Networked mobility
Management: Leipzig University of Applied Sciences - Additive manufacturing
Management: Mittweida University of Applied Sciences - Supply infrastructure:
Head: Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences - Agriculture and Biodiversity
Management: HTW Dresden - Surface technology
Management: West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau
The HSZG will focus on the subject of "Supply infrastructure - technologies and infrastructures for the environmentally and climate-friendly supply of electrical energy, heat and water to the population and industry" . The reduction of the environmental impact of wastewater and waste and their intelligent use as resources will play a role here, as will the associated problems relating to the IT security of critical infrastructures.
Information events, as well as scientific workshops and small discussion rounds, will be designed and carried out and learning and virtual information services will be created. Through the "Saxony5" project network, the participants can also draw on the expertise of the other four Saxon universities of applied sciences and will form a close knowledge and transfer network with them.
The working group is currently being set up at the HSZG. In future, it will work as an interdisciplinary team of engineers, computer scientists, social scientists and also media technicians and designers in order to be able to cope with the complexity of the tasks.
The project is being financed as part of the "Innovative University" funding program with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Saxon State Ministry of Science and the Arts (SMWK). The first project phase will run until the end of 2022. If the assessment is positive, an extension until 2027 is then possible.
