"Building bridges between science and industry" is what makes Research & Technology special according to Germany’s Federal Minister of Research Prof. Johanna Wanka. As the patron of this leading trade fair, she comes to the tech transfer forum every year to open the Night of Innovations . This traditional networking event at HANNOVER MESSE begins at 5:00 p.m. on April 24.

Located right at the main entrance to Hall 2 (Stand C02) the tech transfer forum clearly and concretely illustrates what successful innovation management means. "Nanotechnology is once again a focus of the presentations," says organizer Prof. Gerd Wassenberg regarding this year's stage events. A total of four time slots are filled by nanotechnology topics in 2017, including the session "Cluster Week Germany: NANO in Industry" within the scope of a national information campaign. "Bionics is another focus of the forum," emphasizes Wassenberg. The "DINstag" from DIN on April 25 – this year entitled Enabling Smart Solutions – is one of the classics at the tech transfer forum.

"It also goes without saying that several presentations are focusing on Industrie 4.0," continues Gerd Wassenberg. The forum is also covering entirely new topics. "Analytic tribology for example is a field that is important to practically all engineering areas – mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, power generation, medical engineering, and more," says Wassenberg.

The Christian Albrechts University Kiel is also presenting itself at the tech transfer forum. The eastern Westphalia-Lippe region in Germany and the research market Berlin-Brandenburg have also reserved blocks of time. On April 28, the last day of the trade show, the sixth Idea and Innovation Managers Day will be held at the forum (until 1:00 p.m.). Other tech transfer attractions include the NBank matchmaking stand with its Technology Cooperation Days (April 25-27) and presentation of the TOP 5 nominees for the HERMES AWARD (April 24).