In addition, flows from Business Studies and society can conversely lead to new processes and further developments at universities. This transfer process is defined by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft as follows: "Transfer [is] (...) understood as a mutual exchange of knowledge, services, technologies and people. It includes all forms of cooperative relationships in the areas of research and teaching between universities and external partners in business studies, politics, culture and the public sector."
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This all-encompassing understanding of transfer goes far beyond the transfer of technology and knowledge and also includes the exchange of ideas, questions and values on socially relevant tasks and problems. In addition to research and teaching, universities have a third task and mission, the "third mission", which relates to social needs. This third mission encompasses the entire social context of universities and their resulting social responsibility as well as their cultural, social and ecological commitment to the region. -
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It is difficult to draw a clear distinction between transfer and third mission, as both the pure transfer of technology and knowledge in Business Studies and activities in society, such as further education, consulting and participation in social and cultural life, are relevant, especially when it comes to sustainability/sustainable development.