Theory Meets Practice
Research at TU Dortmund University has the potential to have an immediate impact on businesses. With our expertise, we promote transformation processes – and prepare the regional economy for the future.
Innovation is essential! To remain competitive, companies need to reinvent themselves every now and again. However, they often lack the time, knowledge, or technical resources to do so. This is where TU Dortmund University comes in: It makes its expertise available to the business community in the Ruhr area and in Westphalia – through joint research projects as well as access to infrastructure, technologies, and talent. This reduces friction at the interface between theory and practice. And the economy in our region is better equipped to meet current challenges.
How We Support Companies
TU concept: Strong Partnerships with Science
Combining cutting-edge science technology with the innovative power of industry: TU concept offers small and medium-sized enterprises access to our university’s knowledge as well as the region’s talent and start-ups. The comprehensive range of services is designed to jointly develop products, services, and business models. The focus here is not on consulting, but on genuine collaboration!
EDIH-DO: Digital Solutions for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Ready for the digital future: The European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH-DO) helps small and medium-sized enterprises in the Dortmund and Unna area with their digital transformation through practical workshops, webinars, and individual coaching on artificial intelligence and related topics.
Competence Center for Digital Production Technologies
TU Dortmund University’s competence center for digital production technologies offers specialized support in its field. Here, the faculties of mechanical engineering, economics, bio- and chemical engineering, and electrical engineering and information technology pool their strengths to help small and medium-sized enterprises increase their innovation potential.
PROvendis GmbH: Utilizing Our Inventions
In close collaboration with PROvendis GmbH, TU Dortmund University evaluates, protects, and markets the inventions of its researchers. This ensures the efficient transfer of new technologies to the market. Our technology portfolio is continuously updated and can be licensed or purchased by interested companies.
Innoclub: It’s All about the Network
Founded in 2025, Innoclub brings together established medium-sized companies and corporations from the region with selected start-ups and scale-ups. The goal: to inspire each other and to share experiences, knowledge, skills, and resources. The 300-square-meter club space is located in the TechnologieZentrumDortmund.
“Stellenwerk”: Connecting Talent with Employers
The job portal “Stellenwerk” embodies active knowledge transfer: The platform brings highly educated talent from TU Dortmund University directly into the workplace and connects students, graduates, and companies. As a university-affiliated job board, “Stellenwerk” serves as a direct link between innovative minds and forward-thinking employers.
Innovative Infrastructure
Top-tier research thrives on first-class conditions—and TU Dortmund University wants companies to benefit from them as well. That’s why we provide regional businesses with access to research infrastructure at our university, enabling them to utilize experimental facilities, technologies, and much more.
Through the Calira booking system, TU Dortmund University and Ruhr University Bochum coordinate the shared use of equipment, laboratories, and machinery. The software allows users to reserve time slots digitally. It also manages training sessions and, if necessary, billing. This makes the cross-faculty use of resources more efficient and transparent.
Solving complex problems is a no brainer for TU Dortmund University’s high-performance computers! The High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters LiDO3 and, soon, LiDO4 can quickly process large amounts of data. With their help, researchers conduct scientific simulations and model analyses, for example.
The CET’s MakerSpace offers everything needed for prototype development – whether 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, or textile processing machines such as embroidery machines, cutting plotters, and transfer presses.
Work together, exchange ideas, and network: the CET’s CoWorkingSpace provides the space for this. This offer is primarily aimed at students, researchers, and teams in the start-up phase. However, the facilities are also open to young companies that have already been founded.
Do you have a groundbreaking idea or research results with market potential? Would you like to get a start-up underway after graduation or successfully bring your invention to market? Then CET is the right place for you!
We are offering:
- individual consulting
- structured support
- access to innovative infrastructure
- access to strong networks
Get Started Now!
Technology transfer and start-ups – CET supports you every step of the way: Together, we make knowledge efficient and effective!