In its latest publication, *How Can Collaboration Between Universities and Businesses Succeed? Success Stories from the ‘University Pearls 2025’* (external link, opens in a new window), the Stifterverband presents various approaches that promote exchange between academia and industry. Among the projects featured is Ostfalia’s Dual Research and Development initiative.
Academic expertise for practical application
The project run by the Faculty of Law – Brunswick European Law School (BELS) – addresses the question of how universities and businesses can collaborate more closely. The aim is to create new avenues for joint research and development projects and to make academic expertise available to address real-world challenges. This is achieved through collaborations between the university and industry partners.
Prof. Dr Kai Litschen explains: “The project aims to give professionals the opportunity to develop their skills by working simultaneously in companies and at the university. Under the collaboration, employees will spend one day a week as research assistants at Ostfalia, taking part in research projects in order to transfer the insights gained into business practice and make their working environment more varied from a professional perspective.”
Back in January 2025, “Dual Research and Development” was recognised by the Stifterverband as the ‘University Gem of the Month’ under the theme ‘Conducting research with companies – shaping innovation’. With its inclusion in the current web dossier, the project is now receiving renewed attention.
Companies interested in collaborating with Ostfalia can find out more about the initiative here and get in touch with the project team led by Prof. Litschen (see below).
