Transformation Laboratory University

The Transformation Lab for Higher Education is a nationwide open funding program that supports public universities and colleges together with partner municipalities in the development and implementation of regional transformation processes. In a 12-month program, tandems consisting of a strategic executive and an operationally responsible person from both the university and the municipality receive expert guidance in the form of four digital workshops, two coaching sessions, and topic-related peer learning. Parallel to this, a network of experts from research, administration, and civil society promotes exchange at the leadership level through strategy workshops and networking formats. The goal is to establish sustainable structures to effectively strengthen universities and municipalities as connecting actors in the context of smart cities, digitalization, agriculture, infrastructure development, and other thematic areas. Each cooperation is funded with a 100% grant of €25,000. Applications can be submitted continuously.

Funding is provided for tandems from public universities or colleges and at least one city or municipality in Germany. A prerequisite is the joint application from both the strategic leadership level and the operational implementation level. The program is aimed at project managers and decision-makers who wish to realize concrete transformation projects in the areas of regional development, education and training, or research & innovation. Through the close integration of scientific expertise and municipal practice, tailored strategies for future-proof regions are developed. The selection process is straightforward: after informal online registration, funding institutions and municipalities receive prompt feedback. This creates a sustainable lab for the region, where knowledge transfer, innovative capacity, and joint action are at the forefront.