Research meets business meets future – summary of the PSP Conference 2020
The PSP Conference showed again this year that the business potential of the research-related environment of the Potsdam Science Park is immense and the interest in innovative topics and start-ups is huge! With over 220 registrations, conference participants from many parts of the country were connected. The moderator Gerald Meyer led through the program of the PSP Conference 2020.
The program was opened by Hendrik Fischer, State Secretary of the Brandenburg Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy, and Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D., President of the University of Potsdam. The State Secretary Fischer emphasized the relevance of the PSP Conference as a forum for cross-industry dialogue and the importance of networks and exchange for the adaptability and crisis resistance of companies. University President Oliver Günther emphasized the continuous promotion of entrepreneurial spirit and the transfer of ideas from research to society as a driving force behind the growth of the Potsdam Science Park.
In an open discussion, Agnes von Matuschka, Managing Director of the Standortmanagement Golm GmbH at the Potsdam Science Park, and Sascha Thormann, Managing Director of Potsdam Transfer, explained the special features of the innovation location Potsdam-Golm. People interested in founding a company will find a continuous transfer offer at the Potsdam Science Park, from support in the development of the first ideas, to funding opportunities at the university, to settling in the GO:IN Golm Innovation Center and other start-up areas, as well as networking in the Potsdam-Golmer community. More than 35 speakers contributed to the seven panels with the main topics “30 years of Potsdam-Golm – from the green field to cutting-edge research”, “Patents and intellectual property rights”, “Cooperation between research and industry”, “Successfully founded – companies and Investors in conversation”. As part of the main program and in four virtual themed rooms, in-depth exchanges were possible as video conferences. Experts led the discussions on current research, findings from cooperation, questions of current patenting processes or the prerequisites for successful company startups. At the Startup Pitch Award with public voting, six founding teams presented product innovations, including novel therapies using immune cell-specific targeting, innovative LED systems for vertical farming, an app for better networking of construction sites and offices, new sensor technologies and more.
As part of the supporting program of the PSP Conference 2020, conference participants, companies and partners were also able to exchange personal information in the exhibition area and access digital tours and presentations around the Potsdam Science Park.
We would like to thank everyone involved in the diverse program of the PSP Conference 2020, all scientists, entrepreneurs, founders and business promoters and our partners. Due to the existing contact and travel restrictions, the hybrid event concept was quickly transformed into a purely online conference – admittedly with one or the other technical challenge due to the different technical connections and physical separation of all participants.
We hope to see you again at the PSP Conference next year. With a bit of luck on site at the Potsdam Science Park, which will continue to grow until then!
About the PSP Conference: The PSP Conference 2020 is an event organised by the Standortmanagement Golm GmbH (co-financed by the European Union with ERDF funds) in cooperation with Potsdam Transfer (University of Potsdam) and in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Performance Center for Functional Integration, the Brandenburg Economic Development Corporation (WFBB), the cluster HealthCapital Berlin-Brandenburg, the IHK Potsdam and the state capital Potsdam.