At the research forum, State Secretary Harald Mahrer honours the universities of applied sciences for their high level of commitment in the field of applied research

Vienna (OTS) - The research community of universities of applied sciences met for the 11th time at the Research Forum of the University of Applied Sciences Conference (FHK), which took place from 19 to 20 April at IMC FH Krems and was once again a complete success. Researchers from various research disciplines met to exchange ideas and network. Politics had its say on the second day.
State Secretary Mahrer recognised the important role of universities of applied sciences in research. Universities of applied sciences conduct application-orientated research and cooperate with industry and society. In this way, they produce innovative products that are successful on the global market. Referring to the EU Commission's requirements to focus on excellence, impact-orientation and networking with other players in research, Mahrer is convinced that the universities of applied sciences are implementing these requirements well. He mentions Austria's current research quota of 3.14% and emphasises that Austria must continue to invest in this area.
During the subsequent panel discussion with Barbara Weitgruber, the responsible section head at the BMWFW, Henrietta Egerth, Managing Director of the FFG, Reinhart Kögerler, President of the Christian Doppler Research Association, Johann Kastner, Head of the FHK Research Committee and Friedrich Scheiflinger, Vice President R&D at Shire, everyone agreed that the universities of applied sciences occupy an important and significant position in the Austrian research landscape. Their great willingness to cooperate with the SME sector and other social players was emphasised as essential. Their understanding of excellence is based on the endeavour to create social benefits by directly applying research results to the economy and other social actors. In this way, new product and process innovations are created. The panellists also agreed that universities of applied sciences need sustainable funding for research in order to ensure that research groups can continue to exist beyond the duration of a research project and are available to industry and other stakeholders as cooperation partners.
"Universities of Applied Sciences are currently cooperating with 1450 corporate partners, 62% of which are from the SME sector. Their annual research turnover is around 100 million euros. In order to continue this positive development, universities of applied sciences need sustainable research funding. An important pillar of a university of applied sciences' research activities is young academics. The FHK's call for the possibility of offering independent doctoral programmes with external accreditation is based on this fact. Young academics at universities of applied sciences should nevertheless be given the same opportunity as at universities to present their own research results in dissertations. In order to facilitate cooperation between universities of applied sciences and universities in the future, both types of higher education institutions need equal rights so that they can act as partners on an equal footing. We will therefore continue to pursue our demand for sustainable funding just as vigorously as that for independent doctoral programmes," explained FHK President Helmut Holzinger in his speech at the research forum.

Link to the photos of the research forum:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/imcfhkrems/albums/72157679596263953/with/33362324723/