Shaping the future out of knowledge and practice
2024-07-03 Guest statement by Gritt Sonnenberg, Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK)
The School of Management and Technology combines research, teaching and regional cooperation to drive social transformation forward.
The framework conditions are complicated. Corona, war and the energy crisis have inevitably drawn attention to the major challenges of our time. The realization: an avoidance strategy alone is not enough when it comes to securing the future. Sustainability in terms of energy and resources requires more. The transformation of the economy and society is the task of the century.
The difference between what could be saved in the crisis situation and what would be necessary can only be solved technically
Michael Petz, Head of Joint Innovation Promotion IHK at the School of Management and Technology day at Leuphana University Lueneburg
Transdisciplinary approach with a suitable structure for the task
In an increasingly complex world, the necessary solution components can only be found and brought together on an interdisciplinary basis. This is precisely where Leuphana University of Lueneburg comes in. If you want transformation, you need an understanding of the necessary tools."
“The future has a triad: optimization, digitalization and sustainability," continues Petz. For this reason, Leuphana University Lueneburg merged the four disciplines of business administration, business psychology, engineering and business informatics into the new School of Management and Technology some time ago. In this form, Leuphana is taking a new approach from the perspective of the regional economy in Germany.
The interrelationships and cooperation between these disciplines can be seen both in the interdisciplinary, part-time degree courses and in the diverse interdisciplinary research questions and projects. The School of Management and Technology is able to tackle complex tasks in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner.
The solution of practical problems in organizations and companies that cover more than just one scientific aspect is a declared goal. But how can change be shaped? The answer is: only by getting knowledge out of the universities and into implementation. After all, it is not only important that new knowledge is created, but also that it is applied and has an impact.
Entrepreneurship is recognized as a key competence and driver of innovation and progress and creates ecological, social and economic value towards more sustainable practices. With the new School of Management and Technology, there is now a structure that makes this even more possible.
Third Mission: Leuphana moves closer to the economy
Leuphana thus meets the requirements of the regional economy: it also focuses on the needs of companies and derives research questions from this, as suggested by the Stifterverband's Transfer Compass, among others. Leuphana recognizes the increasing relevance of a reciprocal, mutually beneficial transfer of knowledge and technology between science and industry as a "third mission" alongside research and teaching. The university is one of the 58 percent of German universities that have now developed a transfer strategy.
Mastering future technologies
The expansion of production and manufacturing technology at Leuphana University and its integration with existing expertise in digitalization and sustainability could turn out to be a stroke of luck for the region. Important key technologies such as additive manufacturing, lightweight construction and materials science are combined with digitalization, automation, resource efficiency and sustainability. The focus is on manufacturing processes with the aim of ecological and economic energy and resource efficiency and thus sustainable production.
The new laboratory for innovative and sustainable production technology was officially opened in November 2023. It offers the best conditions not only for basic and application-oriented research, but also for the training of employable junior staff in production technology. This opens opportunities for companies to collaborate with the university on specific application-oriented research projects, to use a modern, industry-oriented research infrastructure and perhaps even to find and retain potential young talent.
Optimization and digitalization as tools to sustainability
Digitalization and sustainability are the big issues, but concrete solutions are needed to make our economy fit for the future. Here, the goal and the tool are often confused.
Sustainability is a goal, optimization and digitalization are the tools. "If you want a sustainable future, you have to be able to master the necessary technological tools," says Petz. "This is not really new for companies, but the complexity is constantly increasing."
Digitalization can make a significant contribution. However, optimized processes are a prerequisite, without this it is not possible.
Leuphana is working closely with the IHK to create these conditions. Currently in the joint working group Machine Learning or in ongoing research projects such as Digit@l Entrepreneurship. Companies are under constant pressure to transform. If you don't initiate change in good time, you will quickly be left out of the market. Family-run SMEs in particular have been successful for generations by constantly reinventing themselves. However, the speed and complexity of change have increased. To survive, companies need to be more involved in regional innovation networks than ever before.
Mastering complexity to secure the future
The engineering sciences are an important shaper of change processes. However, it is the combination of thinking outside the box of one's own discipline coupled with entrepreneurial thinking and action that makes it possible to shape change through innovation. The result is a significantly larger search field for solutions, and synergy potential can be leveraged.
