Since the abolition of the university professor privilege, the transfer of knowledge and technology in Germany has been increasingly positive, although only partially successful in establishing international connections. For example, it is lamented in public discourse that in Germany, compared to the USA, UK, or Israel, only a few research findings are translated into startups, and the significantly intensified support measures for founders often fall short.

The TransferAllianz e. V. – the German Association for Knowledge and Technology Transfer – (www.transferallianz.de) has already outlined the reasons for this in its position paper. For instance, transfer activities and successes are hardly rewarded, resulting in only a small portion of scientific insights being directed towards commercial exploitation. Additionally, the conditions for transfer are inadequate; in particular, it has not yet been universally successful in establishing transfer comprehensively and sustainably as a genuine third pillar alongside research and teaching.