Dialogue with expert colleagues is often the only way for engineers to find quick solutions to practical problems or obtain information on new ideas that are yet to be implemented.   But how do you go about tracking down experts in a specific subject area? One possibility is to run a search using the appropriate technical terms in the Research Portal. The search engine indexes the servers of publicly financed, German research institutions.   The Subject Guide lists numerous specialist databases and relevant trade organisations. Select the appropriate subject field and filter the sources by checking the "Organisations" and "Products/Services" boxes.   Another possibility is to conduct a search in bibliographic databases (e.g. using the WTI-Frankfurt eG site) to track down experts (in the form of authors) and institutions that can provide access to relevant experience and problem-solving approaches.   You could also contact the Technology Transfer Office at whichever university is closest to you.   The VDI Expert Network makes it easy to search for VDI members, who offer their expertise as consultants, qualified experts or freelancers.   Euromecum provides the addresses and details of approx. 65,000 European research institutions with extensive information on their fields of research, equipment and services. Feel free to contact us at vifatec@tib.uni-hannover.de if you need more help and advice on searching for experts.