[Promoting cooperation between public health services and academic institutions in research: Experiences from the BMG-funded collaborative research project Infektionsschutz.Neu.Gestalten (I.N.Ge)].

The 2018 mission statement of the ÖGD emphasises the importance of scientific research and cooperation with scientific institutions. In 2020, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) took up this aspect in a call for proposals to strengthen cooperation between the ÖGD and public health research. In the context of this call, the research network 'Infektionsschutz.Neu.Gestalten (I.N.Ge)' was established with four health authorities and one university (funding period: 09/2021-08/2024). The aim was to improve the evidence-based work of the ÖGD in the field of health and infection protection. Digitalisation, quality assurance, risk communication and special groups were examined using the example of infection control in the COVID-19 pandemic. A participatory, transformative approach with real-world laboratories and experiments was used. Lessons for successful cooperation between public health and university institutions were drawn from the intensive collaboration. Important were appropriate frameworks, targeted resource planning and clear role definitions. Issues were identified that could make future collaboration more effective and sustainable. The resulting recommendations for action are intended, among other things, to support the conception of joint research projects. I.N.Ge showed that improved framework conditions were necessary for increased cooperation. Funding projects should allow for flexible cooperation models that adapt to the specific resources and competencies of the partners. Forward-looking resource planning was determined to be essential - including job calculations, substitution arrangements and additional capacity for induction or methodological adaptation. Clear roles and responsibilities should be defined at the tendering stage to create transparency and optimise implementation. I.N.Ge emphasized the need to promote cooperation between the ÖGD and academic institutions in order to further develop and strengthen the public health service. I.N.Ge emphasises that cooperation between the ÖGD and academic institutions must be encouraged in order to further develop and strengthen the ÖGD.