Exchange of experience between the seven future clusters

As future clusters, we are Germany's innovation networks of the future. We all have the ambition to quickly find suitable solutions for the major challenges of our time. The topics are as varied as the concepts: Mobility innovations, neuromorphic hardware for autonomous systems, personalized cell and gene therapy processes, sustainable marine research, quantum technology, new approaches to drug development and hydrogen.

On Tuesday, 31.05.22, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Project Management Jülich (PtJ) the seven future clusters of the Cluster4Future Initiative were invited to an initial personal meeting. The event took place in the Alexander von Humboldt Room of the BMBF at Kapelle-Ufer 1 in Berlin with representatives of the seven future clusters.

Ina Schieferdecker (Head of the BMBF's "Research for Digitalization and Innovation" department) and Dr. Florian Welter (Team Leader of the PtJ's "Future Cluster Initiative"), there was a short round of introductions of all seven future clusters (MCube, NeuroSys, OTC Rostock, PROXIDRUGSQSens, SaxoCell and Hydrogen). It was very exciting to learn more about the research content of the other clusters.

There were several interesting sessions throughout the day.

• One topic, for example, was the progress reports that all clusters must submit by 30.09.22 and 30.09.23 in order to present the current status of the strategy and projects. The reports are also used to evaluate the next funding phase.
• There was an impulse on the communication concepts of the clusters and how these can be used for branding.
• Each cluster now had a short time to report on the current status of innovation-supporting activities. An insight was given into the complexity and cross-linking of the cluster structure and what gender equality measures or qualification programs can look like. In addition, impulses from the activities and projects were presented.
• An exciting keynote speech on the management of intellectual property with the topic "Basics of IP regulations", which was held by Dr. Alfred Radauer (Head of the Institute of Business Administration and Management, IMC of the FH Krems/AT), concluded the day.
  
  

Our conclusion: We want to network and exchange ideas more closely with the other clusters in future, as there are many common research topics despite the different fields of innovation. We are already looking forward to working together and the next meeting.