Not all ideas from the social sciences that have the potential to improve society make it into practice. Through the new Catalyst GER program, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) will support research teams that aim to achieve sustainable societal impact through a spin-off or other forms of knowledge transfer.
How can democracy be strengthened? What measures can improve public health? How can we make cities and rural areas more livable? Social scientists regularly come up with outstanding ideas that can improve the way we live together. Yet these ideas are not always put into practice. While numerous spin-offs bring new technologies to market, established pathways and funding for knowledge transfer from social sciences are often still lacking.
TUM and the TUM Think Tank are therefore participating, alongside seven other universities, in the pilot edition of the Catalyst GER program. Based on a British model, it supports researchers in the social sciences and humanities in finding applications and target groups for their findings, thereby achieving a significant, long-term societal impact.
Three-stage training program
The training program consists of three phases. First, researchers take an online course to gain insights into various options and helpful tools for knowledge transfer. For the second phase, teams can apply with a specific project. The workshops are not exclusively focused on founding start-ups. Teams developing consulting or continuing education services, or those wanting to launch an initiative, are also eligible for support. The most promising team will be honored with the TUM SHAPE Impact Award and receive particularly intensive support in the third phase.
Phase 1 "Discover": Online course for researchers
Friday, March 27, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (in German)
Tuesday, April 21, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (in English)
Wednesday, April 29, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (in German)
Further information and registration: [email protected]
Phase 2 "Launch": Workshops for project teams
Further information and application by May 4: [email protected]
Winning strategy in the excellence competition
"We look forward to build new bridges between academia, society, and the public sector and to collaborate with public institutions, NGOs, policy makers, and social enterprises to ensure that knowledge generated at universities has a real-world impact", says TUM President Thomas F. Hofmann. "This is a key part of our TUM AGENDA 2030+ , which has just been selected as a winning strategy in Germany's University of Excellence competition."
- The Catalyst GER program, offered by SHAPE Impact Kollektiv, takes place at TUM and at the universities in Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg/Essen, Heidelberg, Kiel, Cologne, and Stuttgart.
- Social Sciences at TUM
- TUM Think Tank
- Entrepreneurship at TUM
