Partners and networks
One of the main goals of the Thuringian Innovation Strategy is the regular exchange between business, science, politics and other Thuringian stakeholders. Well-networked, this creates interfaces for innovations in different sectors.
You too can network in Thuringia and find suitable partners for your projects!
Economy:
Company
One of our tasks is to initiate and expand networking and cooperation between companies and research facilities.
With the company and technology database, we offer a unique tool for obtaining information about Thuringian companies, research facilities, universities and facilities. Over 4,000 profile entries are available for interested parties to expand their contacts, look for cooperation partners or find suppliers of certain goods and services.
Cluster and network organisations
We support the Thuringian cluster and network organisations by actively involving them in the RIS process. Through cross-clustering activities such as the organisation of cross-specialisation events and collaboration in the Cross-Cluster-Initiative Thuringia (CCIT), we network the actors with each other, strengthen cooperation and manage the implementation process of RIS Thuringia in the process. The organisation of workshops on business model development and ESCA-Labeling are central aspects of professionalisation.
Close cooperation between business and science is one of the recipes for success in Thuringia's economic development. More and more companies, associations and research facilities are forming networks with other relevant players to jointly drive the development of their industry.
Science:
The Thuringian research landscape thrives on close cooperation between the various players from science and industry. The high scientific level is based on excellent scientific and research facilities. They include the state's nine universities, non-university facilities of renowned German science communities such as the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society, the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Science Association and the Helmholtz Society, as well as state research facilities. Business-related research institutes and development service providers complement the spectrum of research facilities in the field of application-oriented research and development. They are specifically geared to the requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises in Thuringia.
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Universities
Thuringia has a well-differentiated, diverse higher education landscape. It includes four universities, four universities of applied sciences, one university of music and one dual university. In addition, there are universities under independent sponsorship. In the winter semester 2021/2022, approximately 122,570 students (including students at locations outside Thuringia) will be enrolled.
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Technische Universität Ilmenau
Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule (EAH) Jena University of Applied Sciences
Fachhochschule Erfurt University of Applied Sciences
Hochschule Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences
Hochschule Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences
Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar
Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach
HMU Health and Medical University GmbH
IU Internationale Hochschule GmbH - IU University of Applied Sciences
SRH Hochschule für Gesundheit GmbH - University of Applied Health Sciences
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Non-university research
Non-university research is a pillar of Thuringia's research landscape. Thuringia is now home to a large number of institutions of the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society, the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Science Association and the Helmholtz Society. These are supplemented by non-university research institutes with state participation. In many cases there is close cooperation with the universities, e.g. professorships and institutes are linked via joint appointments.
A total of 16 non-university institutions are working. Facilities include:
Thuringian Institutes of the Fraunhofer Society
Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik IOF
Fraunhofer-Institut für Keramische Technologien und Systeme (IKTS), Institutsteil Hermsdorf
Batterie-Innovations- und Technologie-Center BITC im Fraunhofer IKTS
Fraunhofer IOSB - Institutsteil Angewandte Systemtechnik (AST)
Fraunhofer Projektzentrum Mikroelektronische und Optische Systeme für die Biomedizin (MEOS)
Thuringian Institutes of the Max Planck Society
Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie
Max-Planck-Institut für chemische Ökologie
Max-Planck-Institut für Menschheitsgeschichte
Thuringian Institutes of the Leibniz Association
Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung - Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI)
Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung u. Infektionsbiologie /Hans-Knöll-Institut e.V. (HKI)
Leibniz-Institut für Photonische Technologien e.V. (IPHT)
Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung Forschungsstation für Quartärpaläontologie
Thuringian Institutes of the Leibniz Association
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) Institut für Datenwissenschaften
GSI Helmholtz-Zentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH Helmholtz-Institut Jena
- State Research Institutes
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Innovation centres
In recent years, various innovation centres have been established in Thuringia. The centres are oriented towards the current market needs of Thuringian companies and bundle application-oriented research from the environment of the universities and research facilities. In accordance with the needs of the Thuringian economy, the centres are equipped with the technical equipment necessary for contract research and services.
Thüringer Zentrum für Maschinenbau (ThZM)
Thüringer Innovationszentrum Mobilität (ThIMo)
Center for Energy and Environmental Chemistry Jena - CEEC Jena
Innovationszentrum für Quantenoptik und Sensorik (InQuoSens)
Thüringer Innovationszentrum für Medizintechnik-Lösungen (ThIMEDOP)
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Technology centres
Application centres
Specific application centres are available to start-ups and innovative companies in the Free State for the rapid implementation of research results in key technologies. Application centres offer innovative companies the opportunity to use special premises such as laboratories, clean rooms, workshops and other services at low cost and according to their needs. The path from the product idea to market maturity is thus shortened, and costly equipment for new developments does not have to be borne by the respective company alone.
There are currently 5 application centres in the Free State:
Anwendungszentrum Mikrotechnik Erfurt (AZM)
bauhaus FACTORY - Zentrum für Kreativwirtschaft Weimar
Centrum für Intelligentes Bauen Weimar (CIB Weimar)
Technology and business incubators
In 7 technology and start-up centres at 9 locations, young companies in Thuringia find the support they need for their economic development. The centres offer a needs-based infrastructure with modern offices, access to data highways and comprehensive advisory and service offerings. All technology and business incubators are integrated into networks. Most of them are also located in the immediate vicinity of Thuringian universities.
Thuringian technology and start-up centres:
BIC Nordthüringen GmbH (Standorte Nordhausen und Sondershausen
Gründer- und Innovationszentrum Stedtfeld GmbH (GIS)
Innovations- und Gründerzentrum GmbH Rudolstadt (IGZ)
Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Gera GmbH
Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Ilmenau GmbH
Technologie- und Gründer-Förderungsgesellschaft Schmalkalden/Dermbach GmbH Südwestthüringen
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Business-related research
A broad, cross-sector network of business-related research facilities and R&D service providers has developed in Thuringia. The institutes are strong partners for companies in research and development projects.
In addition, a number of companies offer special development services for companies and other facilities or related services (analytics, education and training, technical testing) as part of their service profile, but are not distinct research facilities.
Selected research facilities and development service providers:
CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik GmbH
fzmb GmbH Forschungszentrum für Medizintechnik und Biotechnologie
GFE- Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik und Entwicklung Schmalkalden e. V.
HySON - Institut für Angewandte Wasserstoffforschung Sonneberg gGmbH
IAB – Institut für Angewandte Bauforschung Weimar gGmbH
ifw Jena | Günter-Köhler-Institut für Fügetechnik und Werkstoffprüfung GmbH
INNOVENT e.V. Technologieentwicklung Jena
Robert Boyle Institut für Biowasserstoff- und Umweltforschung e.V.
TITK Thüringisches Institut für Textil- u. Kunststoff-Forschung e.V.
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Other partners
BUND Landesverband Thüringen e.V.
Forschungs und Technologieverbund Thüringen e.V.
Geschäftsstelle der Landesrektorenkonferenz
Industrie- und Handelskammer Erfurt
Industrie- und Handelskammer Ostthüringen zu Gera
Industrie- und Handelskammer Südthüringen
Kompetenzzentrum Wirtschaft 4.0
Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft Thüringen mbH
Mittelstand 4.0-Kompetenzzentrum Ilmenau
Steinbeis Stiftung für Wirtschaftsförderung
Stiftung für Technologie, Innovation und Forschung Thüringen
Thüringer Agentur für die Kreativwirtschaft
Thüringer Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Digitale Gesellschaft