FITS3 specifically strengthens the transfer of research into practice. New collaborations between science and industry are emerging in the future fields of bioeconomy, cyber security, and logistics and artificial intelligence. The aim is to enable innovations to become effective more quickly in small and medium-sized enterprises in the Ruhr region and to specifically transfer international impulses into the regional economy.
FITS3 stands for „Fostering Long-term Innovation Transfer in S3-Networks“ and aims to sustainably improve knowledge transfer between research and business. The focus is on small and medium-sized enterprises, which often have limited access to current research findings, technologies, and international networks.
The project picks up exactly here: It specifically networks companies, research institutions, and technology centres in the Ruhr region and beyond – particularly with international players from science and business. This creates new partnerships and concrete innovation projects that significantly shorten the path from idea to application. FITS3 creates targeted connections and reliable formats to systematically transfer knowledge into application.
The project focuses on three future fields of particular importance for the region and with high innovation potential.
In the fields of bioeconomy, biotechnology, and biomedicine, competences are particularly being developed in Biosecurity Competence Centre for Biological Safety concentrated and further developed in Bönen. In Bochum, the focus is on cybersecurity, a central future topic for business and society, supported by the technology centres of Bochum Economic Development Agency. Dortmund, in turn, forms another strong focus with logistics and artificial intelligence, particularly through the TechnologieZentrumDortmund.
These fields are exemplary of the Ruhr area's smart specialisation and offer ideal starting points for new innovation networks. All three thematic fields are specifically integrated into international exchange and cooperation formats in order to incorporate new impulses from leading innovation ecosystems in Europe and beyond.
The Ruhr Business Metropolis takes over the consortium leadership and coordination of the project.
FITS3 follows a clearly structured approach: First, relevant topic areas, stakeholders and potentials are systematically analysed. Building on this, networks are specifically activated and expanded – both within the region and in the European context.
The focus is on formats such as workshops, matchmaking events and delegation trips, which enable direct exchange between companies and research. International partners are also specifically involved to bring new impetus, technologies and cooperation opportunities to the region. In addition, transfer modules are developed that are tailored to the practical needs of SMEs.
The insights and experiences are continuously evaluated and developed, also with regard to the impact of international cooperation, in order to establish long-term sustainable structures for knowledge transfer.
The project runs until 31 May 2029 and is coordinated by Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH. Implementation is being carried out in collaboration with project partners at the sites in Bönen, Bochum and Dortmund.
FITS3 is an innovation and transfer project that aims to sustainably improve the transfer of knowledge between research and industry. To this end, the project connects companies, research institutions, and technology centers in the Ruhr region with regional and international partners.
FITS3 stands for „Fostering Long-term Innovation Transfer in S3-Networks“. The focus is on the long-term development of innovation networks, through which scientific findings and new technologies can be more quickly transferred into entrepreneurial practice.
The project aims to accelerate the transfer of research results into practical application, initiate new innovation projects between companies and research institutions, and more effectively integrate small and medium-sized enterprises into international innovation networks.
FITS3 is aimed specifically at small and medium-sized companies in the Ruhr region who want to benefit from current research results, new technologies and international collaborations. Start-ups, research institutions and other actors from the participating future-oriented fields are also being involved in the project activities.
The project focuses on the three future fields of bioeconomy, biotechnology and biomedicine, cyber security, as well as logistics and artificial intelligence.
S3 stands for „Smart Specialisation Strategy“, the strategy of intelligent specialization. It aims to specifically develop the region’s special strengths, systematically unlock innovation potential, and further develop future-oriented economic sectors.
Through the targeted networking of companies and international cooperation partners, new partnerships and concrete innovation projects can be created that shorten the path from the initial idea to practical application.
FITS3 identifies relevant topics, companies, research institutions, and innovation potential. Subsequently, appropriate actors are specifically networked together to develop common ideas and create concrete transfer and cooperation projects.
Through collaboration with international actors from science and industry, new impulses, technologies, and cooperation opportunities are to be brought to the Ruhr region. At the same time, regional companies will have the opportunity to join international innovation networks and make their expertise visible beyond the region.
FITS3 is being implemented jointly by Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH, Bio-Security Management GmbH, WirtschaftsEntwicklungsGesellschaft Bochum mbH and the Technology Center Dortmund. Business Metropole Ruhr is taking on the consortium management and coordination of the project.
The Technology Center Dortmund is responsible in particular for the Dortmund focus area of logistics and artificial intelligence. It supports the networking of small and medium-sized companies as well as start-ups with research institutions and international partners and the development of concrete transfer and cooperation projects.
FITS3 is funded by the European Union and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of the ERDF/JTF program for North Rhine-Westphalia 2021–2027. The funding program supports, among other things, innovation, competitiveness, and the transfer of knowledge between science and industry.
Companies, start-ups and research institutions can contact the project team to receive further information about planned workshops, matchmaking formats and possible collaborations. Contact can be made via the contact form.
The contact person for the project is Marcel Hildebrand, Director of Business Development at the Technologiezentrum Dortmund. He can be reached by phone at +49 231 97 42-102 or via the contact form.
