Trilateral Staff Development and Mobility Program

The Trilateral Staff Development and Mobility Program (short: TriStax Program) organized by Northwestern University, Stellenbosch University (South Africa), and Universität Hamburg (Germany) focuses on the professional development and continuing education of administrative staff, learning of new skills, and gathering of international experience. Each year, one university hosts staff from the other two for a one-week thematic program. 

Northwestern University: Sept. 28 - Oct 2, 2026 

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Tech Transfer

Northwestern University is delighted to host the 2026 TriStax Program, with a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and tech transfer. Participants will visit some of Northwestern’s labs, incubators, accelerators, maker spaces, and more.

Topics will include:

• engaging students to broaden their imaginations
• guiding students, fellows and faculty through the idea development process
• harnessing indigenous knowledge for environmental and scientific advancement
• facilitating faculty and researcher partnerships with businesses and the public sector to transfer academic discoveries into products that benefit society.
• providing guidance for the protection of intellectual property, and frameworks to determine whether products and solutions are ethical and support a sustainable future.

Northwestern staff members who are interested in the area of  innovation, entrepreneurship, and tech transfer, can apply by August 14, 2026 to be part of the 2026 program cohort (along with colleagues from Germany and South Africa).

Apply here

 Learn more about our previous programs:

TriStax Program Contacts: