"Projects for the Promotion of Knowledge and Technology Transfer" (FöWiTec)
To strengthen the transfer of its knowledge and technology, the University of Potsdam has made funds available to support application-oriented research and development projects which show a distinct link to economic or social demands. In 2019, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the university subsidiary UP Transfer GmbH, the fund was offered for the first time, where six projects from three faculties were supported.
Applications for the next round of funding will open in September 2020. Eligible to apply are professors, scientific and non-academic staff and doctoral students of the University of Potsdam.
FöWiTec is supported by Potsdam Transfer, the central scientific institution of the University of Potsdam for start-ups, innovation, and the transfer of knowledge and technology, and the UP Transfer GmbH
Deeper insights with rare earth nanoparticles - frequency conversion for mobile analytics (UCNP platform)
Herr apl. Prof. Dr. Kumke
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Project type: Research and Development
Supported within the framework of FöWiTec "Projects to promote knowledge and technology transfer"
This project aims to develop a transportable, cost-effective miniaturized readout unit using optical rapid strip tests for biological or medical applications. The unit will consist of: i) upconverting nanoparticles (UCNP) immobilized on a biocompatible surface as optical transducers and ii) a portable readout unit (NIR laser diode, detection via smartphone and/or photodiode). The system will use non-toxic NIR-active nanoparticles as optical transducers, and will benefit from high penetration depth into biological samples with no interference from intrinsic optical matrix signals. The developed system will combine state-of-the-art optical instrumentation with the unique advantages of UCNP such as no bleaching, no toxicity, tuneability, and use of NIR radiation.
Development of a fibre-optic sensor for the continuous ion-selective detection of ammonium in sewage treatment plant waste water
Frau Dr. Pacholski
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Project type: Research and Development
Project Partner: BASF Schwarzheide GmbH
Supported within the framework of FöWiTec "Projects to promote knowledge and technology transfer"
Due to its toxicity and high solubility, ammonia is considered the most common pollutant in water streams and ammonium concentration is an important parameter for the monitoring of wastewater treatment plant effluents. The challenges for such measurements are high and result, amongst other things, from the complex composition of the wastewater.
In cooperation with BASF Schwarzheide GmbH, a fiber-optic sensor for the continuous detection of ammonium in sewage water will be developed. Optical fibers equipped with a porous material provide a robust and mobile structure that will allow for the parallel real-time measurement of multiple discrete locations. Ultimately, the project aims to enable data-driven modelling and optimised control of an industrial sewage treatment plant.
Early risk detection of developmental language disorders in infancy
Frau Prof. Dr. Boll-Avetisyan
Faculty of Human Sciences
Project type: Research and development
Supported within the framework of FöWiTec "Projects to promote knowledge and technology transfer"
This project will develop a detection system for identifying a risk for developmental language disorders (DLD) as early as the first year of life. It is estimated that up to 19% of all children suffer from DLD. Children with DLD do not have age-appropriate speech and are often difficult to understand, they have difficulties with sentence structure, and have much smaller vocabularies than their peers. The younger the child, the more effective the therapeutic interventions for treating DLD. As DLD is currently detected relatively late, this project aims to develop and patent a reliable test method for an early detection of a risk for DLD in infancy. The goal is that this new method could be easily integrated into the pediatric U6 examination, as well as be used for therapeutic purposes.
Science in a box
Herr Prof. Dr. Banerji
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Project type: Research and development, school education
Supported within the framework of FöWiTec "Projects to promote knowledge and technology transfer"
"Science in a Box" is a dynamic project that is aimed at building a sustainable launch pad for the delivery of innovative and affordable learning materials to the education community such as schools, student laboratories and science exhibitions. An existing teaching-learning box, containing equipment to build organic LEDs and solar cells, is the starting point for this project, which will begin with the development of new routes-to-market strategies for this box, such as the development of teacher training courses in the Berlin/Brandenburg region as well as online marketing and direct sales methods. The "Science in a Box" project will then be exp anded to include further, cutting edge, teaching-learning box concepts.
Preparation of an innovative further training programme for psychotherapists, occupational and physiotherapists
Frau Prof. Dr. Wippert
Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät
Project type: Further education
Supported within the framework of FöWiTec "Projects to promote knowledge and technology transfer"
The aim of this project is to develop and offer new innovative teaching modules in pain medicine care for psychotherapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. The new agreement on interdisciplinary pain medicine care planned by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, requires the continuous participation in further and advanced training by psychotherapists and doctors in pain therapy. Nationwide, there are very few advanced training opportunities in this area. Therefore, this project will extend the currently offered certificate course of studies Special Pain Psychotherapy (SSPT) in accordance with the new regulations. Adapted courses will be offered by UP Transfer GmbH from 2021 and will focus on:
• Biofeedback in pain treatment
• Pain syndromes in childhood and adolescence
• Pain in old age
• Pain and Stress
"Digitization in public administration - a modularised training" (DigiTrain)
Frau Prof. Dr. Fleischer
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
Project type: Further education
Supported within the framework of FöWiTec "Projects to promote knowledge and technology transfer"
This project will design a modularised training course on digital transformation in the German public sector, aimed at public employees in federal, state and local administrations. The digital transformation of public sectors alters established structures and processes and thereby sets novel challenges. Executive education is an essential element to manage this transformation successfully, and this training course provides a deeper understanding of the technical and organizational conditions and means of these developments.
Education and training courses in "Advanced subsurface characterization: Concepts and workflows to predict reservoir properties and behaviour
Frau Prof. Dr. Mutti und Herr Dr. Winterleitner
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Project type: Further education
Supported within the framework of FöWiTec "Projects to promote knowledge and technology transfer"
The long-term goal of this project is to develop and offer further education and training courses in which concepts and processes for subsurface characterization and the prediction of underground reservoir properties are taught. These courses will be based on subsurface geological models which will be developed within the project and subsequently offered for teaching and research purposes. These bespoke models will form the basis for the quantification of underground resources and storage capacities and serve as input for dynamic simulations of the flow behaviour of oils, gases and thermal fluids. The courses will be designed to appeal to companies in the oil and gas industry and the geothermal sector.
