TUM Innovation Networks – opening up new paths to innovation

Exploring uncharted scientific territory with a pioneering spirit and collective creativity

In each TUM Innovation Network, up to ten doctoral candidates and postdocs will work on interdisciplinary subprojects under the supervision of two TUM professors. Reflecting TUM’s aim of educating young scientists to the highest international standards, doctoral candidates will be part of the International Graduate School of Science and Engineering (IGSSE), where they will be supported by the school’s coordinated qualification program. “Our TUM Innovation Networks are one of the core innovation initiatives in our TUM Agenda 2030, which is part of the Excellence Strategy launched by the government and individual states in Germany,” explains TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann. “We aim to foster the pioneering spirit of our scientists and give them the opportunity to harness creative ideas and explore new avenues of research in highly promising fields of innovation without disciplinary boundaries.”

TUM Innovation Networks are one of the core initiatives that TUM introduced in its third successful bid in a row for the status of a University of Excellence in 2019. The process of developing and implementing TUM Innovation Networks brings together the IGSSE and the TUM Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS) – institutions TUM had established as part of the first two Excellence competitions. “Our TUM Innovation Networks will bring established top researchers and young talent together, allowing them to access the strengths of the IGSSE qualification program and the international scientific network of the TUM-IAS,” concludes Hofmann.