Industry, Culture, Cities
The Ruhr region is a role model for successful structural transformation. Our journey from a mining and steel tradition to a knowledge metropolis has fostered a unique ecosystem of collaboration. In the Ruhr region, change is not a distant dream but a tangible reality. Through the collaborative efforts of universities, industry, municipalities, cultural institutions, and other regional partners, we develop and implement practical solutions that drive progress.
Regionalverband Ruhr: 53 Cities Promoting Science
The Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) has been dedicated to the planning and development of the Ruhr metropolitan region for 20 years. Representing 53 cities with the densest network of universities in Europe, the RVR places a strong emphasis on promoting science. A prime example of this is the Dual Career Network—a job placement service for partners of newly appointed researchers—which, together with welcome services, provides excellent conditions for researchers and their families to settle in and advance their work.
Initiativkreis Ruhr: Committed to Progress and Innovation
The Initiativkreis Ruhr, founded in 1989, is a business alliance of around 80 large companies and institutions committed to shaping the future of the Ruhr region. Through initiatives like the TalentMetropole Ruhr and the BRYCK Startup Alliance, it connects young talent with opportunities while advancing knowledge transfer and regional growth. Together, its members champion progress for a vibrant and sustainable Ruhr area.
Dortmund Science Master Plan: Elevating Local Structures
More than 30 partners join forces in the Dortmund Science Master Plan (“Masterplan Wissenschaft”) to elevate local structures and Dortmund's visibility as a leading city of science. In 2013, the Dortmund City Council enacted an initiative with 100 targeted actions, the majority of which were collectively realized within just five years. Building on this success, the network’s efforts are continuing under the Master Plan 2.0, which began in 2021. Recent highlights include winning The European Capital of Innovation Award in 2021 and the premiere of the Science Night 2024, which attracted over 3,000 visitors.
UniverCity: Shaping Bochum as a City of Knowledge
For over a decade, UniverCity—a network of the vibrant city of Bochum and seven universities, among them Ruhr University Bochum—has been driving innovation and progress. Through a shared vision as well as collective projects and events, UniverCity strengthens Bochum as a city of knowledge. This identity is an integral element of the city’s strategy for 2030 which is expressed by its slogan “Wissen, Wandel, Wir-Gefühl”, a feeling of knowledge, change and belonging. Bochum has been strategically interlinking knowledge and labour, being aware that this strengthens production, craft, trade, and services.
Baukunstarchiv NRW: Where Architectural History Comes Alive
The Baukunstarchiv NRW, located in an historic building on Dortmund’s Cityring, is a vibrant museum open to all. With changing exhibitions and public lectures, it serves as a dynamic space for exploring North Rhine-Westphalia's heritage of architecture and civil engineering. TU Dortmund University has laid the foundation by providing its archive for Architecture and Construction, acting as the key academic partner, and fostering connections between science and public engagement since the archive’s opening in 2018.
Museums: Unearthing Knowledge through collaborative Research
In the House of Archaeologies (Haus der Archäologien), the German Mining Museum Bochum and Ruhr University Bochum have established a joint location for natural and cultural sciences. Here, the research areas of archaeometallurgy and mining archaeology meet the Institute of Archaeological Sciences. Spectacular experiences beneath the surface are also offered in the Museum underground (Museum unter Tage) at “Situation Kunst” in Bochum. Here, old and new concepts and architecture merge and create unique artistic encounters.
Semester Kick-Off: Introducing the cultural landscape of the region
TU Dortmund University greets its new students each year with the vibrant semester kick-off at the stadion, blending the excitement of football with the rich cultural offerings of the Ruhr region. Performances by opera singers or the Dortmunder Philharmoniker introduce students to the region’s thriving cultural scene. With free access to performances through a special theater flat, students of both universities are invited to dive into the dazzling cultural landscape of the region.