Business, science and economic development met for the 38th time on 26 May 2025 for the "Museum Round Table" at the LWL Open-Air Museum Detmold. Almost 200 specialists and managers from companies in Lippe, professors from the Technische Hochschule OWL (TH OWL) and representatives from politics and administration enjoyed an entertaining round of talks and exciting keynote speeches. The TH OWL Knowledge Transfer Award was presented for the fourth time at the Museum Round Table: Board member of the Institute Industrial IT (inIT) Professor Dr. Jürgen Jasperneite was honoured for his commitment to the development of TH OWL and the Innovation Campus Lemgo. The event was organised by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Lippe zu Detmold (IHK Lippe), the district of Lippe and the university.
Shaping change together
"How can change be shaped in challenging times?" This question was at the centre of the panel discussion moderated by Julia Wunderlich (FTZ, Transfer and Research Communication). She discussed current and future developments and research activities with TH OWL President Professor Dr. Jürgen Krahl, District Administrator Dr. Axel Lehmann and Volker Steinbach, President of IHK Lippe, as well as necessary political and entrepreneurial measures, but also existing risks for the region.
Dr. Lehmann: "I am convinced that we can successfully shape change in the future if the various partners from business, science, politics and administration work even more closely together and advance projects together. The InnovationSPIN in Lemgo is just one example of where we have already succeeded in doing this – a pioneering place where knowledge transfer is a living reality. But the results of the future dialogues that I initiated, such as the job exchange for senior citizens to boost the 'hidden reserve' on the labour market, the Welcome Centre that is currently being established to make it easier for immigrants to arrive in Lippe and on the labour market together with many partners and institutions, or the KlimaErlebnisWelt in Oerlinghausen are also among such successful projects for me – despite all the challenges that we are currently facing in the current globally tense world."
IHK President Steinbach emphasised: "At a time of geopolitical tensions, economic challenges and social uncertainties, the economy is facing enormous challenges." He therefore called for a genuine new start in economic policy that reduces the burden on companies and rewards entrepreneurial commitment and innovative spirit. "In turn, companies should focus even more intensively on the possibilities of transferring knowledge to the economy and benefit from the strength of the regional research landscape," Steinbach recommended. After all, competition is becoming increasingly fierce, especially internationally.
Professor Krahl is certain that everyone involved will benefit from tackling the challenges together. "As a university, we have a responsibility to help shape the regional innovation system. Only through intensive collaboration with external partners we will be able to continuously develop our teaching and research," said the university president.
Professor Jürgen Krahl, Dr. Axel Lehmann and Volker Steinbach agreed that research and innovation will become even more important in the future. The region has an excellent research infrastructure. In order for this competitive advantage to develop its full strength, the transfer of knowledge and new technologies to the economy must be stepped up even further. All three institutions want to work together on this in a targeted manner.
Exciting keynote speeches
Professor Dr. Josef Löffl from the Institute for Scientific Dialogue at TH OWL then explained to the guests why the conqueror Hannibal did not choose the shortcut by ship on his historical crusade, and what insights can be derived from this today for the transfer of knowledge into the economy.
Professor Jasperneite, who represents the field of computer networks with a focus on industrial communication at the inIT of TH OWL and is also the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Automation (IOSB-INA) in Lemgo, presented together with Gunnar Lessmann, Master Specialist Profinet and TSN at Phoenix Contact, how the "Tiger Chip", an innovation from Lippe, is conquering the world.
Professor Dr. Christiane Lübke from the "Environment and Society" department and Professor Dr. Muhamed Kudic from the "Intrapreneurship and Digital Transformation" department then gave insights into their main research areas.
Professor Dr. Jürgen Jasperneite receives Knowledge Transfer Award from TH OWL
Finally, the TH OWL Knowledge Transfer Award was presented for the fourth time. Professor Jasperneite was honoured for his many years of wide-ranging commitment to inIT, TH OWL and the Innovation Campus Lemgo. "The continuity with which he has brought about technological, social and structural developments in research, teaching and transfer is impressive," emphasised Professor Dr. Stefan Witte, Vice President for Research and Transfer and also inIT board member, in his laudatory speech.
As a professor at TH OWL and Director of Fraunhofer IOSB-INA, Jasperneite is particularly committed to cooperation and professional exchange with business, politics and society. With IOSB-INA, he has succeeded in initiating Germany's first Fraunhoferinstitution at a university of applied sciences. Starting with a small group, more than 100 people are now working here on industry-related research projects and have left their mark on the Lemgo campus, Professor Witte continued. Professor Jasperneite also co-initiated the Institute Industrial IT at TH OWL, the Innovation Campus Lemgo, the CENTRUM INDUSTRIAL IT (CIIT) and the SmartFactoryOWL.