Are you a researcher looking to make a meaningful impact on ecological, social, or economic development through your findings? The Transfer Academy (Helmholtz Transfer Academy Follow-Up) is a 9-month experiential career and tech-transfer program delivered by KIT FORGE at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in strategic partnership with the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research (Darmstadt). Evolved from the pilot HAFIS initiative (2025/2026), the program empowers early-career researchers and PhD candidates to validate the commercial, ecological, or societal potential of their scientific findings.
Through a hands-on, project-based framework (~0.5 days/week effort), participants develop non-academic career paths, acquire professional execution skills, and work directly alongside industry experts to bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world application.
Program modules & structure
- Project-based execution: Parallel track pairing theoretical skill development directly with practical validation of participants' own research concepts.
- Inter-institutional partnership: Joint program delivery between KIT and GSI Darmstadt, providing cross-institutional access to technical domain experts and industry partners.
- Career trajectory & competence building: Practical modules covering technology transfer, intellectual property valuation, stakeholder management, and leadership skills for non-academic career paths.
- Professional networking: Structured exchange with corporate executives, tech-transfer specialists, and alumni mentors across academia and industry.
Have questions or interested? Get in touch!
