Fifteen new start-up businesses with a link to the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol

To start a successful business, an idea for a new product or an innovative service is needed that has the potential to conquer a niche or the mass market. The Universities of Applied Sciences sector makes a considerable contribution to the founding of new start-up companies. In 2019 alone, 52 start-ups and spin-offs with links to Universities of Applied Sciences were registered in a survey by the FHK (Conference of Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences).

“With their professional, scientific, and teaching expertise, the academic staff of the degree programs and research teams at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol can support prospective start-ups throughout the process of establishing a company. This ranges from the first inception of the idea to the development of the concept, the actual founding of the company, and beyond,” says the Rector of the FH Kufstein Tirol, Prof. (FH) Dr. Mario Döller.
Fifteen start-ups with links to the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol have already been established, including one that develops and markets innovative footwear.

Research as an integral part of teaching

Currently, over 1,000 students at Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria are involved in research project. At the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, students are also active as research assistants alongside their studies. Within the framework of practical projects, students also work on current topics such as collaborative robotics or eGaming (link in German), developing solutions and applications which on occasion lead to the founding of independent companies. The opportunities of virtual collaboration are supported in research and teaching at the FH Kufstein Tirol and find a forward-looking implementation in formats such as the INNoFabrik, an incubator for innovative digital concepts.

Research at Universities of Applied Sciences

Universities of Applied Sciences carry out research projects with more than 1,600 companies every year, 60 percent of which are small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition, about 100 patents have been generated by the sector since its inception. At the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, researchers deal with current research questions that are relevant for the economy, the region, and for scientific progress. One of the focal areas of research is People & Digitization, in which experts are concerned with the significance of digitization for communication and business management and are looking for solutions to the challenges of autonomous mobility. Researchers in this research area also deal with the potential of sustainable energy and real estate management or examine the contribution of culture and sports to our society.