Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine (KTUR)

A high density of scientific institutions, clusters and leading companies characterises the Upper Rhine metropolitan region. In the area of knowledge and technology transfer (KTT), however, there has so far been little exchange between universities, trade associations and companies on both sides of the Rhine. For this reason, the EU-funded KTUR project was launched in October 2019. It is intended to create the conditions to make regional and cross-border KTT from public research to companies even more effective, systematic and sustainable. The aim is to create a network that will facilitate the establishment of contacts and project initiation between universities and companies from Germany, France and Switzerland. More intensive cooperation, particularly in research and development, licensing, or cross-border start-ups, will provide new impetus for more growth and employment in the region.

In addition to the personal exchange in the network, various measures will be tested in the project with the active participation of at least 100 companies. These are to form the foundation stone for a joint cross-border KTT offer. A central component is the establishment of a digital information and exchange platform that will make it easier for companies to access innovations from the universities and strengthen the joint presence of universities from the region in the field of KTT. In addition, the project will develop and offer new continuing education courses, support start-ups through networking and matching events as well as competitions, and organise a trinational innovation day.
Coordinator of the project with 12 partners from universities and colleges is the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. KTUR was initiated within Eucor – The European Campus. Eucor also acts as associated partner of KTUR.