futureSAX Innovation Forum, March 21, 2019
The futureSAX Innovation Forum on March 21, 2019 at Nimbschen Monastery, Grimma
More than 100 entrepreneurs, scientists and transfer actors came together at the first futureSAX Innovation Forum 2019 in the monastery of Nimbschen, Grimma and best spring weather to discuss the topic "Know-how - Knowledge how! Knowledge and technology transfer to secure medium-sized innovative ability and competitive advantages". The participants take the opportunity to get to know the topic of transfer in its different facets and thus also its holistic meaning for the Saxon medium-sized businesses.
Dr. Hartmut Mangold, Saxony's State Secretary for Economics and Transport opened the event with a speech in which he prepared the participants for the upcoming workshops and panels.

"Saxony has many excellent partners who can contribute to the transfer of knowledge and technology. Representatives from business, science, entrepreneurs, start-ups and transfer actors from all regions of Saxony stand not only for their own offerings, but also for their desire to further advance Saxony. Because - as the saying goes - "He who stops wanting to become better, stops being good. And, we all wish Saxony a good future! Dr. Harmut Mangold, Saxon State Secretary for Economics and Transport
After the welcoming address, Dr. Andreas Nilsson, Vice President Components VON ARDENNE GmbH, explained in an impressive keynote speech how VON ARDENNE has developed from a research laboratory to one of the TOP 10 industrial companies in Dresden. In this development, research and company networks as well as the strong regional ties played an important role.

"We cannot concentrate on one or two markets, we have to diversify. This can only be done through innovation, because many people are good at plant engineering. Andreas Nilsson, Vice President Components VON ARDENNE GmbH

Active exchange in the Worldcafé
In the World Café that followed, all participants were called upon to actively engage in an exchange at twelve theme tables and to illuminate the topic of transfer from different angles. The breadth of the topic and its relevance for small and medium-sized businesses in Saxony was discussed along the four fields of technology transfer through start-up meets small and medium-sized businesses, technology transfer through business cooperates with science, knowledge transfer in companies - lifting, using and securing data treasures as well as knowledge transfer over heads - shaping corporate succession. The lunch break was used by those present to exchange views on the results in the World Café, to think further about initial impulses, and to network and establish new contacts.

The second part of the event was entitled "Transfer Concrete" and offered two further formats for mutual exchange with panels and workshops. The guests were actively involved in the panel discussions with reports on their experiences and best practice examples on the topic of corporate succession as well as from the cooperation between young and established companies. In the workshops in the second round, the participants tested innovative methods for product, process and business development.
The summary of the event shows:
Marina Heimann, managing director of futureSAX GmbH, emphasized in her closing words: "Today's day has shown that when it comes to the topic of transfer, trust, the constant search for new impulses, curiosity and the exchange of experiences are important in every respect.
During the get-together there was enough time to continue the talks and discussions of the different formats and to find cooperation partners from other areas. The great interest in this is also reflected in the approximately 20 cooperation offers at the futureSAX innovation exchange.