At the transfer forum of futureSAX on November 13, 2025, the innovation platform of the Free State of Saxony, Maria Fabisch from GAT and her Saxony⁵ colleague Lucas Wenzel presented the diverse transfer activities of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. The event took place in the modern and open-plan fabrik Chemnitz and offered participants an ideal platform for exchange, networking, and professional dialogue.

At the university's booth, a vivid demonstration was given of how technological innovations can be designed for older people so that they have intuitive and self-determined access to digitalization despite possible barriers. In addition, several current research and transfer projects were presented, including the AAL laboratory and the Transfraum CELSIUZ, which could be explored virtually with the help of a virtual reality application. This gave visitors the opportunity to experience the premises immersively and gain a comprehensive picture of how they work and their areas of application. The EnerSTRIX demonstrator was also on display – a 3D-printed functional and filter unit that extinguishes sparks, reduces harmful gases, saves energy, collects live data, and was developed for use in battery production. In addition, further insights were provided into the research activities of the Institute for Process Engineering, Process Automation and Measurement Technology (IPM) and the Center for Innovation, Law and Conversion (ZIRKON).

The keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Hans-Henning von Grünberg, Professor of Knowledge and Technology Transfer at the University of Potsdam, was particularly memorable. He explained why Germany, despite its role as a strong scientific nation, still has untapped potential in the transfer of research results into marketable applications – especially in the so-called “Valley of Death” at TRL levels 4 to 6, i.e., precisely in the phase in which scientific findings must be turned into functional prototypes and pilot applications.

His key recommendations included increased incentives for application-oriented research, equal recognition of transfer achievements in the context of scientific reputation, a stronger focus of relevant funding programs on validation and prototyping, and the adaptation of doctoral regulations and transfer professorships to include practical development achievements. In addition, he emphasized the need to link university-affiliated start-ups and research teams even more closely.

For Saxony⁵, the forum once again underscores that research has a lasting impact when ideas are turned into functional prototypes, tested in real-world application scenarios, and found their way into widespread practice together with partners.