Cooperations, contract research & service

THM scientists work in a variety of ways with other colleges, universities, research institutes, companies, cultural and educational institutions and other public or private institutions. The cooperation is contractually regulated on the basis of the status of THM as a corporation under public law. The Transfer department has the task of moderating and controlling the process of contractually structuring this cooperation.

On a technical level, the Centres of Competence the THM a good insight into the wide range of know-how of the university, on which a cooperation can be built.

The Transfer department is responsible for the development, processing, review and negotiation of cooperation agreements in the field of research (R&D cooperation). This includes in particular cooperation agreements in joint projects of the national and Hessian research funding programmes as well as cooperation agreements with companies, spin-offs of the THM or other partners.


In addition to R&D cooperation, the THM can also make agreements on contract research with companies. Such services are to be remunerated by the customer with standard market fees based on full cost accounting. Researchers have the option of making corresponding offers via an Intrawiki Form to be prepared for coordination with the transfer department and the budget department. The same applies to research services.

A research service is present if a service is not provided as a research service. In contrast to research, reliable findings and well-known methods are used in a research service (e.g. in the case of expert work, test investigations, analysis work, advice, collection of data).

With the provision of contract research or research services, the university is in competition with other providers as a contractor. In the event of difficulties in classifying whether it is research, contract research or a research service, the Transfer department must be involved at an early stage.