A look across the border at the 16th Research Forum of Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences shows the need for action in Austria.

Important insights into current science policy measures in Germany were provided at a roundtable with experts at the Research Forum of Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences at St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences.

Eric Veulliet, Vice-Chairman of the Bavarian Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) and President of the Weihenstephan University of Applied Sciences, reported on developments in Bavaria, where the aim is to be among the best in the world and to occupy a position at the top of the world in science and research. To this end, Bavaria has developed the "Hightech Agenda Bavaria", in which the universities of applied sciences play a key role in the value chain, and consequently there has been heavy investment in their research resources, both at the level of infrastructure and personnel. In total, Bavaria is investing 2.9 billion euros in the "High-Tech Agenda", with a large share going to the expansion of research at UAS and 440 additional UAS professorships. Bavaria has also recognised the important role of the independent right of universities of applied sciences to award doctorates. After all, the doctorate is an indispensable part of the career prospects of researchers. In particular, the right to award doctorates benefits Bavaria as a business and industrial location, which thus has excellently trained researchers at its disposal. "Austria, as an immediate neighbour, will feel the impact of this investment offensive in R&D and research staff in five years at the latest, because all these measures give Bavaria a massive competitive advantage," Veulliet warned.

Karim Khakzar, President of HAW Fulda, underlines this assessment in his statement, because Hesse has also introduced the doctorate at the universities of applied sciences and HAW. And rightly so, because excellent evaluation results are now available. In total, 13 of the 16 German Länder have now implemented the independent right to award doctorates at Fachhochschulen. In addition, as part of the "Hessian Higher Education Pact", HAWs have been granted additional research funds and new positions for mid-level academic staff. As in Austria, there are subjects at the universities of applied sciences in Hessen that are not even offered at the universities, but which are of great importance for technology transfer to the economy. Therefore, there was ultimately no way around the right to award doctorates to universities of applied sciences. "The pressure on Austria will increase due to the developments in Germany. I wish my Austrian colleagues that the politicians here will also soon have the courage to take this path for the Austrian universities of applied sciences," Khakzar emphasised.

"The innovative developments in Germany have to wake Austria up, otherwise we will experience a glaring competitive disadvantage. It is remarkable that in Austria we still have to fight for sustainable research funding and for forward-looking framework conditions, while a few kilometres across the border the key function of the universities of applied sciences has long been recognised. We repeatedly call on Austrian politicians to act quickly now," says Ulrike Prommer, President of the Austrian Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences (FHK).