Knowledge Transfer Upper Rhine

A lively exchange between science and business is the key to a region’s successful economic development. The targeted use of research output from universities by industry spurs unique innovations and solutions beneficial to society.

The Upper Rhine metropolitan region, located in the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, harbors outstanding innovation potential. In addition to a large number of highly capable companies—both start-ups and established businesses—this region is home to numerous universities that conduct top-level research in a wide range of disciplines. Along the Upper Rhine, thousands of the brightest minds are generating high-quality fundamental research and innovative inventions and discoveries on a daily basis. Research provides companies in the region with a rich palette of superb results and knowledge that can be utilized for production and creating value.

To ensure that existing knowledge and potential solutions are not squandered, six universities and six universities of applied sciences from the Upper Rhine Valley have established a cross-border network with trade associations and companies. Through regular exchange, the partners share their knowledge and expertise, jointly developing trinational structures and activities. The aim is to bring science and business in the region closer together, in order to accelerate the transfer of knowledge and technology and to foster even more mutual learning by working together. In this manner, short innovation cycles can be created, exploiting synergies for the entire Upper Rhine region.