How can universities not only generate knowledge, but also make it accessible to society? Emily Menzel and Andrea Moysén Mason from the Transfer and Transformation (TuT) project addressed this question at the University:Future Festival 2026 at the end of June. In their session “Shaping Openness: How Places of Knowledge Bring Transfer to Life”, they explained how so-called ‘places of knowledge’ promote exchange between universities and society.
The presentation centred on the idea that knowledge is particularly effective when it reaches people where they come together. After all, as Moysén Mason explained, knowledge transfer does not arise solely through individual projects, but above all through relationships and networks. “Openness requires the right infrastructure. Ostfalia provides this through its knowledge hubs.”
Aim: Engaging in dialogue with one another
There is the Wolfenbüttel Knowledge Hub (WOW!) in the town centre, which is shared with the town of Wolfenbüttel, the Campus Corner on the Wolfenbüttel campus, and Atelier 2.0 on the Wolfsburg campus. As physical and social meeting spaces, these ‘KennisOrten’ offer venues for workshops, exhibitions, lectures, real-world laboratories and other participatory formats such as film screenings or start-up lunches. According to Moysén Mason, the aim is to bring different target groups – from students and families to regional stakeholders – into dialogue with one another. “And it’s working very well.”
Challenges were clearly identified
However, alongside the successes, there are also challenges. Coordination between different partners, good communication and sufficient human and organisational resources are crucial to ensuring the long-term success of open knowledge hubs, says Menzel. At the same time, the response so far shows that diverse formats and close collaboration can strengthen knowledge transfer in the long term.
About the University:Future Festival
The University:Future Festival took place from 22 to 24 June 2026 under the motto “Under Pressure” and was held at six physical venues (Berlin, Braunschweig, Essen, Graz, Hamburg and Nuremberg) as well as online. The target groups are university staff, students and representatives from the fields of research, politics, business, civil society and culture.
The Transfer and Transformation (TuT) project
Through the “Transfer and Transformation” project, Ostfalia is developing long-term structures to strengthen the transfer of knowledge and innovation. Together with partners from business, public administration, academia and civil society, it is creating formats that raise the profile of research and promote exchange.
