Researchers on call
Financing of public research and teaching by means of an innovative business model
The GWT makes its money with commissioned research and with scientific services. Against the general trend in German economy, the Saxon enterprise increased its total annual turnover by 6 per cent in the business year 2004, with the annual turnover reaching 15,9 million EUR for the first time. The enterprise was able to achieve its highest growth rates in the field of commissioned research. The highest demand was for medical competencies, followed by engineering know-how.
As a result of the large order volume, new jobs could be created. In the first quarter of 2004, 179 staff members were employed at the GWT.
The GWT profits from business enterprises being forced to make economies: enterprises reduce their research staff and compensate the increasing need for know-how by purchasing research services from third parties. The so-called »external research expenses« of German business enterprises increased by over 18 per cent in the period from 2001 till 2002 alone. This means that the GWT is active on a rapidly growing market on which 8 billion EUR p.a. are spent in Germany alone.
Besides the innovation business, the GWT´s business model itself constitutes a novelty: for orders from industrial enterprises, the association employs scientists on a part-time basis – besides their tasks at the Technical University (TU) of Dresden – while, at the same time, renting the laboratories and facilities necessary for carrying out the order. As a result, the university receives income from rents for its infrastructure existing anyway. In addition, the profit generated by the GWT is returned to the university.
The sole associate of the GWT is the TU Dresden AG (TUDAG), a holding company to which seven enterprises belong today. The enterprises pay their profits over to the parent company, which passes the funds on to the »Association of Friends and Sponsors of the TU Dresden«. This charitable association uses the funds for such purposes as supporting projects of the TU Dresden or offering grants. The members of the association are industrialists, scientists and politicians whose intention is to support public research and teaching. The origins of the association date back to the year 1921.
The GWT´s business model also offers clear market advantages for the enterprises themselves. The GWT´s range of activities includes fields as diverse as natural sciences, engineering, economies, social sciences and medicine – an indispensable prerequisite for being able to solve interdisciplinary problems of business enterprises. Working with researchers on call brings another decisive market advantage: it is not necessary to employ costly research staff. As a result, only staff costs directly connected with the order concerned have to be paid.
An incubator platform offers scientists the chance to build up enterprises of their own, with the entrepreneurs being able to make use of the GWT´s entire know-how.
At present, the German Market is the main field of the GWT´s activities, with equal shares of orders being placed by clients in East and West Germany. International transactions currently take up a share of 6 per cent. This share will increase in the future, mainly as a result of the co-operation with Eastern European partners.
english information