The Regensburg Stay Opened Our Eyes – A European Innovation Round-table

The Regensburg Stay Opened Our Eyes – A European Innovation Round-table

Four days in Regensburg showed how ARTEMIS can become a catalyst for HVL – in research, education and regional development alike.

In April, a delegation from the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) travelled to Bavaria. After four days at Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Associate Professor Gizem Ates Venås and External Relations Officer Tallak Rundholt realised that ARTEMIS is far more than a formal cooperation project.

“I went down with a broad picture of the alliance, but it was only on site that I grasped its scale,” Venås says.

“From the outside, ARTEMIS can look like just another EU acronym; on the inside you find an engine room packed with practical tools for teaching, research and value creation,” Rundholt adds.

ARTEMIS – why should we care?

For anyone still wondering: ARTEMIS is a strategic alliance between eight European universities. Its aim is to generate knowledge across education, research, innovation, mobility, entrepreneurship and regional development.

“The alliance is the perfect size: big enough to give breadth, yet small enough that we actually get to know each other and develop joint projects,” Venås says.

“It gives us international visibility in a way a single project never could.”

Three “aha” moments in Bavaria

VR training for neurosurgeons

In OTH’s start-up hub the delegation met a company that lets surgeons rehearse complex procedures in virtual reality.

“It wasn’t just the technology that impressed us,” Venås explains.
“The founders positioned the solution as a training tool rather than medical equipment. That shaves months – perhaps years – off the approval process. It shows how crucial strategic labelling is if we want research to reach clinical use quickly.”

The robot- and sensor hall

A full-scale industrial lab with robots, laser scanners and high-speed cameras made Venås see HVL’s possibilities.

“Even though we aren’t the largest institution, we have clear strengths in selected fields. In automation and robotics we have both the educational and research expertise needed to become a leading player in ARTEMIS.”

MakerSpace and 3-D printing

Rundholt was impressed by OTH’s open workshop for students and entrepreneurs.

“OTH is a high-tech institution, yet they also understand that students and researchers need good physical facilities. Their MakerSpace impressed me, and I look forward to us establishing something similar at HVL.”

He believes the alliance can strengthen HVL’s social mission.

“ARTEMIS makes it possible to connect local partners in Western Norway with actors in our partner regions and the rest of the EU. Involving businesses and healthcare trusts at home in developments happening at European level could be decisive for our work on regional development.”

An opportunity to seize – now

Venås urges academic communities to act now and grab the chance.

“ARTEMIS isn’t just an opportunity to collaborate with other European universities; it’s also a chance to boost our international visibility.”