For the fifth time, the Research Day marked the start of the new research year at the Fraunhofer IMW Leipzig. On January 23, 2020, the researchers presented their research priorities in the Science Year 2020 "Bioeconomy". Thematically, they picked up where they left the expiring Science Year 2019 "Artificial Intelligence" and other socioeconomic focal points.

The participants learned about the research going on in the parallel projects and research units of their colleagues in the Fraunhofer IMW research team, which gave them the opportunity to discover opportunities for cooperation. External guests provided valuable input that gave food for thought. For example, a participant of the Research Day asked critically how the "MED²ICIN" project handled the storage of project data. Another thought put up for discussion was whether a separate crypto currency would make sense for Fraunhofer. And Prof. Dr. Christian Wilhelm said: "Scientists tend to look for partners they get along with. But economic systems are like ecosystems where you can't choose your neighbor. Science should take an example from this. At the Fraunhofer IMW I see these networks being formed."

How cross is that?

In addition to the speed presentations there were two new formats this year: The Best Paper Award ceremony and a cross panel. As this year's partner of the Research Day, the Platform for Innovation (PFI-D) hosted the cross panel. Moderated by Markus Garn, CEO of PFI-D, the participants tried to find a common definition of "cross innovation".

All participants agreed that the scientific disciplines and economic competencies should cooperate more closely amongst and with each other in order to successfully exploit more innovative ideas. "As a company, as well as a research institute, you have to realize that at a certain point it makes sense to open up to each other. In order to create meaningful links, you have to move from the mindset of opposition to cooperation, something everyone can only benefit from," summarizes Friedrich Dornbusch, head of the unit Innovation Policy and Transfer Design.

For the first time this year, the Fraunhofer IMW Science Colloquium presented a Best Paper Award in Junior and Senior categories. The winners of the Junior Award: Cyrine Tangour, Marc Gebauer, Dr. Luise Fischer and Herwig Winkler with their paper "Digital Business Model Patterns of Big Pharmaceutical Companies - A Cluster Analysis" and of the Senior Award: Dr. Benjamin Klement & Prof. Simone Strambach with their paper "Innovation in Creative Industries: Does (Related) Variety Matter for the Creativity of Urban Music Scenes?

Pick it up from here...

...was the motto of the Research Day and the joint New Year's Reception of Leipzig’s Fraunhofer Institutes, Fraunhofer IMW and Fraunhofer IZI in the evening. Rafael Laguna de la Vera, founding director of the new Agency for Leap Innovations and Robert Thielicke, editor-in-chief of the German magazine Technology Review rang in the 2020s with the guests. Professor Posselt introduced Fraunhofer IMW's main areas of focus and presented the posters from the Research Day, which received the highest ratings from the participants. The joint reception of Leipzig’s Fraunhofer Institutes completed the start of the Science Year 2020.