The HFT Innovation Challenge is a workshop format in which teams from the university develop their transfer ideas in a mixture of short inputs and working sessions over two afternoons and bring them to implementation. At the end, they pitch to an internal audience and can receive transfer funding. The Innovation Challenge was initiated by M4_LAB, a project of the federal-state initiative "Innovative Hochschule".
Using innovation methods from the start-up context and under the guidance of mentors, the teams developed solutions for their transfer ideas. They also engaged in an intensive exchange with external discussion partners. At the end of the second workshop, the teams presented their ideas to an internal audience and a jury of four, consisting of Prof. Dr. Katja Rade (Rector of HFT), Prof. Dr. Markus Schmidt (Dean Infrastructure Management at HFT), Dr.-Ing. Christina Rehm (Managing Director Innovation & Transfer at HFT) and Holger Haas (Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart). The transfer ideas were very well received by the jury, which is why not just one, but four of the participating teams will receive a transfer grant from M4_LAB. This will enable them to implement their first concrete projects. In addition, all teams will continue to be supported by the innovation management team in the concretization and implementation of their transfer projects.
In addition to teaching and research, the transfer of knowledge and technology to society is an important social mission of universities. Within the framework of the HFT Innovation Challenge, employees of the university work intensively on the transfer of their research findings and ideas. The next Innovation Challenge will take place in fall 2021.
