The EU’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is a funding instrument for strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion. By supporting investments in sustainable growth and employment in European regions, the EU also supports small and medium-sized enterprises in Upper Franconia. Hof University of Applied Sciences plays an important role in this. Here, new products are developed and tested for companies, local heating networks are expanded and artificial intelligence is integrated into production.
Here are some current examples of this collaboration:
Straws, bras and plant pots
The TechCirclePolymers project is driving forward the circular economy of polymer and biopolymer materials in order to achieve environmental and climate targets. One exciting sub-project, for example, is “BioKrümelKleie”, in which bakery waste is transformed into biopolymer compounds for plant pots and lunch boxes. In addition, the Institute for Circular Economy of Bio:Polymers at Hof University of Applied Sciences (ibp) is developing bio-based and compostable screw caps, drinking straws made from bakery residues and demonstrating how offcuts from foam processing can be turned into new foam sheets for the textile industry.
ERDF projects allow us to work on the problems of various partners under a large thematic umbrella.”
Prof. Dr. Michael Nase, Institute Director ibp
Energy networks for the whole of Bavaria
An ongoing ERDF project at the Institute for Hydrogen and Energy Technology at Hof University of Applied Sciences (iwe) is “Energy self-sufficiency in regionally networked small and medium-sized enterprises” (EnerKMU): The research institute offers energy optimization for businesses by developing energy and energy data management systems in cooperation with companies and engineering offices and suppliers and by creating individual energy concepts for potentially usable renewable and storage energy.
Textile expertise from Münchberg
The ERDF project “ENRENA” (Energy – Resilience – Sustainability) at Hof University of Applied Sciences is setting new standards in technology transfer for small and medium-sized enterprises in Upper Franconia. With funding of up to 70.6 million euros from the State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the EU until 2027, the project focuses on innovative solutions in the areas of CO2 reduction, resilience and climate change adaptation. The Institute of Materials Science at Hof University of Applied Sciences (ifm) on the Münchberg campus uses its broad arsenal of machines and well-equipped laboratories to develop cutting-edge technologies in areas such as textile finishing, composite materials and high-performance textiles.
Multimodal AI in production
As part of the “M4SKI” project, researchers from the Institute for Information Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (iiisys) are working on motion analysis dashboards for skateboarders in skate parks and improved virtual fitting rooms for online retailers to reduce returns, among other things. With “SmartCut.AI” and “SpeakingManual”, the company is also researching advanced multimodal human-machine interfaces that simplify complex work processes and revolutionize interaction with technical documentation.
University receives EUR 2.7 million from ERDF for technology transfer (2023-2025)
Hof University of Applied Sciences has received EUR 2.7 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support technology transfer between universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The corporate partners of the research projects all come from Bavaria.
Among the funding that flows to Upper Franconia from the EU and the federal government to strengthen the region, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has a particular focus on the development of innovative solutions between SMEs and university research.
Advantages of ERDF cooperation
The main objective of the program is to reduce regional disparities and promote balanced economic growth within the European Union.
One of the main advantages of ERDF funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is that it co-finances research and development (R&D) projects between universities and companies. This involves a university, which carries out the scientific work and coordinates the project, and service providers from the region, who work on software, prototypes, etc., thereby expanding their expertise and raising their profile.
What is interesting for the research side is that ERDF funding can be used to create umbrella projects on a specific topic – such as AI applications in production or potential for the use of residual heat – under which researchers can devote themselves individually to the needs of a business partner in sub-projects.
By promoting regional development, ERDF funds contribute to general economic growth and prosperity in the EU.
As part of the “Strategic Technologies for Europe” (STEP) program, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) promotes technology transfer from Bavarian universities and university hospitals to Bavarian companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. The focus is on the introduction and expansion of digital technologies, technology-intensive innovations, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies and biotechnologies and their value chains,” explains Hannelore Neumann from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts.
Hannelore Neumann, Bay. State Ministry of Science and the Arts
Participation in ongoing ERDF projects is also possible for interested companies in 2025.
