Pre-GAIN23: Transferring Outcomes – From Science to Innovation

Fundamental research has always been of great importance in both the USA and Germany. The knowledge gain resulting from fundamental research has a tremendous value of its own. At the same time, it contributes to our global reservoir of knowledge on whose breeding ground applied research can thrive, contributing to innovations and countries’ economic strength. Efforts have been made in recent decades to make this process more targeted. The “Transfer Projects” program was introduced by the DFG, and both the DAAD and the DFG have recently made increasing efforts to integrate the Universities of Applied Science into their funding. A different strategic approach is being pursued on the other side of the Atlantic. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was founded as early as 1958 in order to be able to integrate results from basic research into national defense projects. There is now an ARPA-E for energy research and an ARPA-H for health research. In addition, the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) was established at NSF last year. The BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) is pursuing a similar approach with the planned German Agency for Transfer and Innovation (DATI) and has in fact been supporting mission-driven and applied research for many years.

This event is intended to show the different perspectives that exist in the USA and Germany on the “science and innovation ecosystem” and the associated opportunities for scientists in early career stages.

  • PSt Dr. Jens Brandenburg, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
  • Dr. Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant Director of the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Dr. Joann Halpern, Hasso Plattner Institute New York (HPI)
  • Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, President of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
  • Petra Olschowski, Ministerin für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg
  • Prof. Dr. Robert Schlögl, President of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH)

Moderation: 

  • Prof. Dr. Katja Becker, President of the German Research Foundation (DFG)

Room: Salon F