Inspiration, innovation, networking are the name of the game on April 12, 2022, when the trinational event “Innovation Day Upper Rhine” (IDUR) takes place at the Palais Universitaire on the University of Strasbourg campus. Twelve universities in the Upper Rhine region, including the University of Freiburg and 100 partner companies of the European Union (EU) funded project “Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine” (KTUR), invite researchers, companies, start-ups as well as students to a day of exchange and meeting around knowledge and technology transfer in the trinational region. The keynote speaker will be Nobel Prize winner for Medicine Prof. Dr. Jules Hoffmann. He received the prize in 2011 together with two other scientists.

The one-day event brings together innovation stakeholders in technology and knowledge transfer on both sides of the Upper Rhine and beyond. In three specific program areas for researchers as well as research labs, start-ups and companies, the IDUR addresses the concrete challenges of these stakeholders, for example, business start-ups, financing, intellectual property or digitalization. Three topics in the foreground include deep tech, innovations in the health sector and sustainability.

KTUR aims to strengthen cross-border relations between science and industry by establishing a permanent transfer network in the Upper Rhine region. "The University of Strasbourg is pleased to host the first 'Innovation Day Upper Rhine', one of the largest knowledge and technology transfer meetings in the region. The event, declared as an official event of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will provide answers to the most pressing questions of founders and those interested in starting a business," underlines Prof. Dr. Michel de Mathelin, Senior Vice President of the University of Strasbourg and Vice President for Socio-Economic Relations and Transfer. A special focus will be on start-ups and those interested in founding a company, as the deep tech program area will be organized together with the French investment bank BPI.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Rensing, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Freiburg, adds: "The topic of 'start-ups' is an important future task in the area of technology transfer at the University of Freiburg. We have therefore deliberately taken on the coordination of the work package 'Start-Ups on the Upper Rhine' in the KTUR project. We are pleased to be able to support the Innovation Day on April 12, 2022 in many ways. Among others, one of our Freiburg start-ups from the Faculty of Biology, OptoBiolabs GmbH, will participate in the panel discussion’'How to build a trinational deep tech ecosystem.’ We will also be represented with the founders office of the University of Freiburg at a booth in the exhibition center during the Innovation Day, where we will present the start-up location Freiburg under the brand ‘Startinsland’ together with other Freiburg start-up stakeholders.”

Multifaceted program

The program includes three plenary sessions on the topic of “Deep Tech.” These will be followed by three “Walks of the Best,” during which successful start-ups from the Upper Rhine region will present themselves. In addition, more than 15 workshops will delve into issues such as cooperation between science and industry, start-ups and intellectual property. Numerous speakers will provide their input. The day also offers a variety of opportunities for networking at meetings. These can be arranged via the IDUR registration platform. The platform will remain online for a full two weeks after the event and will be available to participants for virtual meetings.

The project KTUR – Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine

The project “Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine” (KTUR) was initiated by twelve French, German and Swiss universities in the Upper Rhine Valley and focuses on cross-border technology transfer in this region. The aim is to establish joint structures, bring together innovation actors in the border triangle and build a creative and strong trinational innovation network. The European Union is funding KTUR as part of the Interreg V program. On the Swiss side, the project is supported with federal and cantonal funds.

Practical information

The event will be held in English. Participation in the IDUR is free of charge. Due to the limited number of participants and for better planning, registration is required. Detailed information, the program, and presentation and networking opportunities are also available there. Admission to the event with proof of vaccination only. The current distance and hygiene rules apply.