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In addition to its activities in research and teaching, the University of Potsdam also aims to make contributions to the social, cultural and economic environment. This transfer supports the long-term provision of a high standard of living for the region.
For the individual scientist, the transfer of knowledge or technologies is the opportunity to put research findings into practice - whether in a company, a public institution or within society.
Read more on the Homepage.
Potsdam Transfer is the University of Potsdam's central scientific institution for knowledge and technology transfer. With our service areas Transfer Service, Start-up Service, the Innovative Hochschule Potsdam, and the Coordination Office for Continuing Education, we offer a holistic approach and support you in all aspects of transfer.
Transfer? Everything under one roof!
Potsdam Transfer covers all areas of transfer - from invention disclosure, knowledge transfer to society, cooperation with the business community through to the start-up of a company.
Competent and service-oriented!
Our employees will guide you through the transfer process with practice-oriented knowledge and experience, in order to lead you quickly and easily to your goal.
Our goal is to strengthen the transfer process at the University of Potsdam in the long term.
A strong network!
Our contacts to various service departments of the university, to UP Transfer GmbH, to Standortmanagement Golm GmbH, to business development agencies of the city of Potsdam and the state, to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and many more enable us to support you in a comprehensive, goal-oriented, and efficient way in your transfer work.
Yes, with its transfer strategy, the University is strengthening transfer as the third pillar of the university alongside teaching and research with the aim of improving society's understanding of complex scientific issues and reducing barriers between science and society.
The transfer strategy describes the university's transfer structures, sets goals for transfer work and describes the measures to be taken to achieve these goals.
In principle, you can contact any member of staff at Potsdam Transfer. They will answer your questions in the best possible way and will refer you to the appropriate staff member for more specific queries. E-mail enquiries can be sent to transferpotsdam-transferde or startuppotsdam-transferde.
The staff members of the Transfer Service have degrees in various scientific disciplines - from biology, chemistry and physics to urban planning - as well as specific additional qualifications, e.g. in science marketing or as patent specialists. This specialist knowledge helps them to think their way into scientific projects and to provide adequate support.
From the perspective of the university, technology transfer is the transfer and economic exploitation of scientific findings to the economy.
Would you like to learn more about "transfer"? Please feel free to take part in our "Transferfrühstück"!
At this informal event format, scientists can learn about current topics related to knowledge and technology transfer at the University of Potsdam, for example about various state and federal funding programmes for application-oriented research.
It does not always have to be technology transfer! Transfer is possible and important in all subject areas. For example, cooperation with social institutions, training or consulting in a wide range of disciplines is part of transfer work. You can find examples of this on our website.
Yes, we are happy to support you in finding suitable business partners for a wide range of projects or concepts.
Do you have any further questions or are you currently looking for suitable partners from industry? Please contact us by e-mail at transferpotsdam-transferde .
The goal of technology scouting at the University of Potsdam is to identify innovative ideas or developments with application relevance at an early stage. With information on intellectual property rights, trade fair participation and contacts in the business world, the transfer service supports you in promoting and exploiting your idea.
Yes, there are different programmes, depending on the stage of development, subject area and specific objectives, which support application-oriented research, from the validation of scientific findings to the establishment of startups from scientific results. We will be happy to work with you to find a suitable funding programme and support you in the application process.
Do you have further questions about application-oriented research or are you working on a relevant project yourself? Please feel free to contact us by e-mail at transferpotsdam-transferde .
Yes, in order to strengthen the competitive position of small and medium-sized companies in particular, the state and federal government support innovative cooperation projects between science and industry. Depending on the subject area and the company, there are various funding programmes. We will be happy to provide you with information and work with you to identify the appropriate programme.
If you have any questions regarding business-related transfer, please send an e-mail to transferpotsdam-transferde .
In transfer, we understand "Cooperation with the business community" to mean the provision of new knowledge and innovative technologies within the framework of cooperation projects that are often limited in content and time. As a rule, the scientists take on current challenges from companies and at the same time receive suggestions for their own work.
Various funding programmes support companies in their cooperation with research institutions by providing funds for innovative cooperation projects.
We would be pleased to inform you about funding opportunities and work with you to find the right funding for your transfer project. Simply send an e-mail to transferpotsdam-transferde .
Would you like to exchange ideas with experts from the business world, e.g. to develop new ideas? Potsdam Transfer regularly organizes small, topic-specific networking events, such as "Wilde Mischung" & "Working Breakfast", where science and business meet in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
Are you looking for companies in a specific industry for a joint research and development project? The staff of the Transfer Service will be happy to help you find and approach suitable business partners.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have a specific topic or questions about companies (transferpotsdam-transferde).
As a university, we aim to be represented at the major international leading trade fairs in Germany, such as analytica, HannoverMesse, LASER World of Photonics, Didacta. Sometimes, however, it makes more sense to participate in specialist trade fairs, for example to reach a certain target group or to look for new ideas ourselves. In this case, we naturally also make it possible to participate in smaller trade fairs or congresses.
For further information, simply write to messeservicepotsdam-transferde .
Participation in a trade fair can have a variety of reasons. Application-oriented research or developments can be presented to a broad professional audience in order to find cooperation partners or to discuss ideas for new or further developments with experts from the industry.
The exchange with other exhibitors can also provide valuable impulses and interesting contacts.
Do you have further questions? Simply write to messeservicepotsdam-transferde .
Every year the university provides funds for participation in trade fairs. These funds are administered by the transfer service at Potsdam Transfer and used for participation in trade fairs.
For further information, simply write to messeservicepotsdam-transferde .
The direct costs for the trade fair participation - i.e. stand fees, stand equipment, media contributions, posters, etc. - are covered by the transfer service and are financed with the money provided by the university. The scientists must only pay travel costs themselves.
Do you have further questions? Simply write to messeservicepotsdam-transferde .
We will support you as far as possible in the preparation of your trade fair appearance, e.g. with registration, the preparation of press releases and entries in the exhibitor directory and the preparation of posters (if necessary in cooperation with ZIM). For this we need your expert assistance. Your clearly presented exhibit will contribute to a successful trade fair appearance.
An essential point is the support of the stand for the entire duration of the fair. Even after the trade fair, you should plan time to deal with enquiries and to approach contacts again.
For further information, simply write to messeservicepotsdam-transferde .
During the trade fair, the stand should always be manned by a person who is capable of providing information. Experience has shown that this works well when there are two people supervising a stand. This gives you the opportunity to have detailed discussions and at the same time to welcome new guests. In addition, one has the opportunity to look around the fair and take short breaks in turns.
Do you have further questions? Simply write to messeservicepotsdam-transferde .
One speaks of inventions when it comes to creative, mainly technical solutions to problems. A potentially patentable invention must clearly stand out from the current state of the art, i.e. it must have a certain inventive step. Obvious improvements to an existing system are not considered an invention.
Also essential for a patentable invention are novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability.
Examples of patented inventions made at the University of Potsdam
Yes, according to the Employee Inventions Act, employees are obliged to report inventions in their own field of work (service invention) and beyond. It is irrelevant whether this invention was made at home or at work.
The Employee Invention Act, which even contains a university specific paragraph, also applies to universities. According to this, the employer has the right to a service invention, i.e. an invention made within the scope of an employee's field of activity, which is patentable or capable of being patented.
If the invention is claimed and patented by the university, the inventor receives a legally regulated inventor's share of 30% of the gross income in case of exploitation. If the university does not claim the invention, the inventor can apply for a patent himself.
On the website of the university's patent service, you will find a download of the invention disclosure form. This document contains all the essential details of an invention disclosure. Please send the completed and signed form by internal mail to Potsdam Transfer.
Whether an invention is patentable depends primarily on the state of the art. An invention must...
For further information please contact the patent service of the university patentservicepotsdam-transferde .
When Potsdam Transfer receives an invention disclosure, it will first be dated as to exactly when this occurred. Our staff members check the contents of the invention disclosure for completeness and contact the inventors named to confirm receipt and to obtain any missing information. After intensive consultation with the inventors and consideration of various factors, Potsdam Transfer decides on the further procedure. For example, a novelty search can be commissioned from an external law firm.
No later than four months after receipt of a complete invention disclosure, the university must release an invention if it is not to be claimed.
The employees of the patent service will stay in touch with you throughout the entire process - from the invention disclosure to a possible patent application to the cancellation of a patent - because a good cooperation between patent service and inventor is essential for a smooth process.
In your invention disclosure you indicate whether you would like to publish your results. If you answer "yes" to this question, we will make every effort to speed up the examination process so that the publication of your research results is not unnecessarily delayed. Here, too, it is important to ensure good cooperation between the patent service and the inventor!
An invention can only be patented if it is unknown to the public. Once published, e.g. in a scientific journal or trade press, an invention is no longer considered new. A patent is then no longer possible.
In order to benefit from the advantages of patent protection, it is worthwhile to first register the invention! After filing a patent application at the patent office, it is possible to publish the inventive idea, since the so-called priority is secured. A publication of the invention after the priority date is no longer prejudicial to novelty for this patent application.
To find out more about the process, please contact your patent service (patentservicepotsdam-transferde).
Yes, a patent can only be granted if the underlying invention is new, i.e. unknown to the public. In this sense, publications are also bachelor's or master's theses or doctoral dissertations which are theoretically accessible.
You describe an invention in your thesis, but have to submit it promptly? Then talk to your supervisor and the responsible examination office or contact the Patent Service.
A patent can only be granted if the underlying invention is new, i.e. unknown to the public, among other criteria. In this sense, publications are also bachelor's, master's or doctoral theses, which can in theory be publicly viewed, published abstracts, as well as lectures at congresses and seminars.
Discussions within the working group or discussions with partners, in which all participants are bound to secrecy, are not considered publications!
The university's patent service will support you in patenting as well as in filing trademark, design and utility model applications.
If the university claims an invention, the university pays all costs incurred - from the examination of the invention application to the patent application as well as the running costs after a patent has been granted.
If the university waives the claim or decides to terminate a current patent, the inventor has the option of applying for or maintaining the patent himself and thus bears all further costs himself.
Fees are incurred during examination, at the time of application and in the form of annual payments. The amount of the costs depends considerably on the number of countries for which the patent is applied for.
With a patent, you can optimally protect your research results. Your research will increase in value, similar to a publication in a journal with a high impact factor. This strengthens your position in negotiations with companies, but also when obtaining third-party funding from public resources.
The costs for a patent application as well as the running costs of a granted patent are covered by the university. As an inventor, you are entitled to an inventor's share of 30% of the gross income in the event of exploitation.
In principle, software is protected worldwide by copyright law.
Software is patentable if it is part of a technical invention. Examples are the MP3 format, the electronic motor control or the exact positioning (patent 15-01) by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kortenkamp (Institute for Mathematics, University of Potsdam).
Inventions are not always attributable to a single inventor. In the context of cooperation projects, it is also likely that even several institutions are involved in an invention. Anyone who has made an intellectual contribution to the invention or has been creatively active is considered a co-inventor.
How the cooperation affects the treatment of the invention is laid down in a cooperation agreement at the beginning of a cooperation. The research department (D1) of the university will support you in this.
The abbreviation MTA does not stand for the profession of medical-technical assistant, but for the Material Transfer Agreement. Examples from university practice are chemical compounds, cell lines, antibodies, plasmids, proteins, etc.
You will agree with your partner, among other things, what kind of samples and research is involved and how long the recipient may work with them. Then contact the transfer service and explain the situation. We will then draw up an adapted MTA with you, which must be accepted and signed by the recipient. Then a draft is made by the university. Only after the draft is complete may the material be sent to the recipient!
As recipient, the MTA of the material provider must be negotiated regularly. Unfortunately, there can be unreasonable demands from other companies and institutions. For example, it is not uncommon for the material provider to demand co-authorship or co-inventorship, for example in the case of further developments, simply because the samples have been made available. For examination and further treatment, please contact the transfer service, which can also draw on external legal expertise in more complex cases.
University of Potsdam
Potsdam Transfer - Central scientific institution for start-ups, innovation, and the transfer of knowledge and technology
August-Bebel-Straße 89, House 7
14482 Potsdam
Phone: +49 331 977-4037
Fax: +49 331 977-3872
E-Mail: kontakt@uni-potsdam.de