The Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen together with Hessenmetall Central Hesse, organized an exchange meeting where interested industry representatives could learn about the practical application of ongoing research projects.
The participants were welcomed by THMPresident Prof. Dr. Matthias Willems, who emphasized the importance of THM as an "application-oriented university." Wolfram Kuhn, Deputy Chairman of Hessenmetall Mittelhessen, referred to the challenges posed by transformation processes such as digitalization and decarbonization, and called for "the courage to drive innovation forward with enthusiasm.".
With two short presentations, THM showcased research findings that already offer interesting application possibilities: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kolling presented data demonstrating the behavior of batteries in the event of damage – including the risk of fire. Prof. Dr. Chris Volkmar explained "electric propulsion," the use of which in space travel could "save a lot of costs" and is also suitable for material processing in industry.
The main part of the exchange took the form of "speed dating," where interested parties could learn directly from the researchers about their projects and their potential applications. The concept was devised by Dr. Christina Zinecker, head of the THMResearch and Young Academics department, to "bring regional companies and research together." A conscious decision was made to avoid an overly formal format and instead favor a direct, personal approach. The format met with "great interest from our researchers." Dr. Zinecker explained that she received the first registrations shortly after the internal call for participation.
The choice of meeting place was also based on conceptual considerations: instead of a typical lecture hall, the university's Materials and Components Research Center on the Giessen C-Campus served as the venue. Presses, components, and even a crane characterize the interior of the building, which opened in 2021, and illustrate how closely academic research and practical application are intertwined at THM . Prof. Dr. Jens Minnert welcomed the guests on behalf of the Department of Civil Engineering and pointed out that the center's practice-oriented facilities greatly benefit academic teaching.
Sebastian Höhn, consultant for skilled worker recruitment and vocational training at Hessenmetall Mittelhessen, described the networking between universities and companies as the purpose of the event. According to him, a total of eleven regional and national companies participated in the exchange. Following the "speed dating" session, participants had the opportunity to continue their conversations in a relaxed atmosphere.