50 years of the Hochschullehrerbund hlb provide an occasion for an review of the successful work of the association. This commemorative publication brings together reflections from active members with perspectives from companions and voices from politicians. It shows that professors at universities of applied sciences play a key role in the science and innovation system and at the interface between science and society. In the future, they will need more time for research and transfer, an expansion of the independent right to award doctorates, and a consistent focus on their type-forming dual qualification of professional practice and scientific expertise. With contributions by Prof. Dr. Peter-André Alt; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Artinger; Prof. Dr. Franz-Xaver Boos; Dr. Thomas Brunotte, MBA; Prof. Dr. Uta Gaidys; Kai Gehring, MdB; Dennis Hillemann; Thomas Jarzombek, MdB; Joe Kaeser; Prof. Dr. Bernhard Kempen; Prof. Dr. Karim Khakzar; Prof. Dr. Anne Lequy; Prof. Ursula Männle; Prof. Dr. Nicolai Müller-Bromley; Prof. Michael Murphy; Dr. Karla Neschke; Prof. Dr. Peter Riegler; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Ritzenhoff; Dr. Isabell Roessler; Christian Schaft, MdL; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörn Schlingensiepen; Tobias Schulze, MdA; Bettina Stark-Watzinger; Prof. Dr. Thomas Stelzer-Rothe; Prof. Dr. Jochen Struwe; Prof. Dr. Ute von Lojewski; Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann; Prof. Dr. Andreas Zaby and Prof. Dr. Frank Ziegele.