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OPTIMA pharma GmbH and Heilbronn University (HHN) have signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing collaboration between academia and the regional mid-sized industrial sector while addressing the shortage of skilled professionals. The focus will be on forward-looking topics such as automation, digitalization, and artificial intelligence.
“With this collaboration between Optima and Heilbronn University, we are strengthening the economic axis of Heilbronn-Hohenlohe and providing the region with highly qualified specialists who are precisely aligned with the needs of the industry,” says Rector Oliver Lenzen.
A key component of this cooperation is the establishment of a joint Center for Industrial Digitalization and Automation, which will be based at the Heilbronn Institute of Technology at HHN. Here, faculty members and students will conduct hands-on research projects in automation and digitalization, with findings directly benefiting industrial applications at Optima. Students will gain valuable insights into highly automated filling systems and specialized production processes for sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals or blood plasma.
New Degree Program and Doctoral Scholarship
Starting in the winter semester of 2025/2026, HHN will introduce a new degree program: "Artificial Intelligence and Industrial Digitalization." The program will follow a cooperative model, allowing students to work at Optima while studying at HHN.
One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration is the introduction of a doctoral scholarship. Over an initial period of three years, Optima will fund a scientific PhD position at HHN. In addition, an increasing number of bachelor's and master's theses will be conducted in collaboration with Optima, alongside joint internships and excursions. The goal is to educate top-tier professionals, from undergraduate students to doctoral candidates, who will contribute significantly to the job market.
“Students will engage with cutting-edge challenges in the industry, ensuring they are well-prepared for their future careers. At the same time, Optima Pharma gains access to the latest research,” says Dr. Johannes-Thomas Grobe, CEO of Optima Pharma.
Bridging Science and Industry
The partnership was initiated by Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Pospiech, together with Optima Group’s Managing Partner Hans Bühler and Optima Pharma CEO Dr. Johannes-Thomas Grobe.
Pospiech is a professor of control engineering, automation, and systems technology at HHN. Previously, he worked as an Engineering Director at Optima. Now, he bridges the two organizations in a dual role – as Chief Technology Officer at Optima and as a professor at the Faculty of Engineering.
“This pioneering cooperation gives us the opportunity to actively shape the technological future,” says Thomas Pospiech. “Innovative projects, combined with creative ideas and scientific research, will open new perspectives and solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.”
