Abstract:

Under the conditions of the knowledge socially change of qualification, work, occupation and net product, the university system as a research and educational institution experiences a comprehensive functional growth. More and more experts are needed for specialized knowledge. The high innovation and competitive pressure as a result of globalization, compels the qualification of young researchers, in our Focus post docs, for activities within the academic area as well as areas of employment outside this range, e.g. in the economy. - Therefore, the consideration of both systems, science and the economy, is needed (comparative systems analysis).

Higher education systems have a central training function and should ensure the good quality of education of its own Scientific staff for a continuous backup of good education. Post Docs, who stay in the academic sector, contribute significantly to the training and research services of the university system. Therefore it is important to bring out excellently qualified junior scientific staff, also with regard to the generation change by teaching stuff within the university, and in the best case to keep them into the scientific system. For the purpose of an efficient knowledge economy, it has to receive an added value of knowledge and to communicate knowledge, just as our increasingly knowledge-based society needed (Enders 2005:42).

One problem is the loss of knowledge when post-docs do not want to stay at universities. In order not to lose the knowledge for its own system, alumni networks of higher education institutions are important tools. Alumni share their knowledge through lectures, courses, or other interactions such as in joint projects to the academic field and they also get input on their own specific contents of the actors of the higher education system. The result is a classic knowledge transfer situation.

This interaction between the actors of science and the economy, shows the importance of knowledge and technology transfer in Germany for both sides. Strengthening the performance and capacity for innovation today is no longer only for companies but also for the science and research system in Germany too. A collaboration with both sides brings great advantages: companies get access to the latest scientific findings and can convert them into innovative products. The benefits for higher education is primarily to a greater practical relevance of their work and in the development of third-party funds. - Time and again is a total attention to the growing importance of science and research- related activities for the social and economic development (see Enders 2005:34).

The sociological project would like to analye the organizations of science and the economic system on the transfer of knowledge through the example of post docs.

Keywords:

Education in science, post docs, carreer paths, labor market, engineering disciplines, SMEs, large concerns, scientific enterprises.