Our university is distinguished by its clear focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, international exchange, and practice-oriented research. We bridge disciplinary boundaries, collaborate with partners across borders, and develop findings that are translated into practical applications. This leads to solutions that deliver measurable progress—for science, business, and society.
A Pioneer in HAW Research
In 2025, htw saar generated more than 18 million euros in third-party funding. This ranks it among the top research universities in Germany, most of which have significantly more staff resources. How can this be explained—given the relatively small number of approximately 130 professors currently on staff?
Very early on, the university became involved in applied research and knowledge transfer. From July 1989 to June 1992, htw saar led a pilot project on behalf of all universities of applied sciences in Germany to stimulate application-oriented research at universities of applied sciences (SAFF). The success of this project laid the foundation for today’s research strength.
htw saar is an internationally networked university of applied sciences with a strong presence in the region. The university provides targeted support for individual research activities, strategically focusing on three defined research priorities in order to continuously improve the quality, relevance, and innovation of its research.
Knowledge and technology transfer is a core mission of academic institutions, and thus also of htw saar. Transfer complements both research and teaching, enabling findings and achievements to be translated into social or economic applications. Transfer is nothing less than the practical relevance of our application-oriented academic work.
You won’t find the famous “ivory tower”—the researchers’ traditional stronghold—on the htw saar campuses. Would you like a clear and accessible look into the work of htw saar’s researchers? Then vote at the annual forschungsfoerderung@htwsaar to decide which initial funding ideas will be implemented the following year, chat with researchers at the knowhow@htwsaar transfer fair, or find information on current research results and projects in the university magazine.