Science Hotspot Ruhr
Welcome to one of Europe’s densest university landscapes, welcome to the Ruhr area! Few places rival the vibrant pulse of science found here. Home to five research universities and 17 universities of applied sciences, the Ruhr region has more institutions of higher education than any other metropolitan region in Europe. However, success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about collaboration. We are known for our hands-on mentality and flat hierarchies, which make teaming up across institutions come naturally. In the Ruhr Innovation Lab, we do not only maintain strong ties with other universities of the region, but also strategically partner with over 15 neighboring non-university research institutes.
Our Partners
University of Duisburg-Essen
Better together: Following this maxim, Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund University and the University of Duisburg-Essen have joined forces in 2007 to found the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr). Together the three universities promote innovation, excellence and collaboration in research, teaching and administration both in the Ruhr region and beyond. As UA Ruhr, the three universities have consolidated top-level international research through the foundation of four research centers and one college under the umbrella of the Research Alliance Ruhr since 2021. The joint UA Ruhr Transfer GmbH is also partner of the BRYCK Startup Alliance.
Max Planck Institutes
The Ruhr Innovation Lab cooperates with several Max Planck Institutes in the region to foster scientific exchange and joint research. Through collaborations in Clusters of Excellence like CASA and RESOLV, these institutions contribute to advancements in key fields like cyber security and solvation science.
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University
- Collaboration in the Cluster of Excellence CASA
- Partner institute of TU Dortmund University and Ruhr University Bochum
- Director Prof. Stefan Raunser is cooptated with the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology of TU Dortmund University
- Collaboration in the graduate program International Max Planck Research School for Living Matter: from Molecules to Dynamics
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- Collaboration in the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV
- Collaboration in the CRC/TRR 247 with the Ruhr University Bochum
- Director Prof. Alois Fürstner is adjunct professor at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology of TU Dortmund University.
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- Collaboration in the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- Collaboration in the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV
- Collaboration in the CRC/TRR 247 with Ruhr University Bochum
Fraunhofer Institutes
The Ruhr Innovation Lab collaborates with several Fraunhofer Institutes to advance technology and innovation across various fields. The excellence of these research initiatives is demonstrated through outstanding partnerships, such as in the Cluster of Excellence CASA and the Lamarr Institute.
- Partner institute of TU Dortmund University and Ruhr University Bochum
- Cooptation of the institute management, consisting of Prof. Michael Henke, Prof. Uwe Clausen and Prof. Alice Kirchheim, with the Department of Mechanical Engineering of TU Dortmund University
- Collaboration in the Cluster of Excellence CASA
- Collaboration in the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
- Collaboration in the Phd program Graduate School of Logistics (GSofLog)
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- The Director Prof. Rolf Bracke is Professor for Geothermal Energy Systems at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Ruhr University Bochum
- The Scientific Manager of Center of Competence for Reservoir Geology Prof. Adrian Immenhauser is also Professor for Sediment and Isotope Geology at the Faculty of Geography and Geosciences at Ruhr University Bochum
Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies (IEG)
- Partner institute of TU Dortmund University
- Cooptation of Director Prof. Boris Otto with the Department of Mechanical Engineering of TU Dortmund University as well as cooperation with Prof. Falk Howar, Prof. Christian Janiesch and Prof. Jakob Rehof from the Department of Computer Science of TU Dortmund University.
- Collaboration in the Phd program Graduate School of Logistics (GSofLog)
Fraunhofer Institute for Software and Systems Engineering (ISST)
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- The Head of the Attract-Group Biomedical Nanosensors Prof. Sebastian Kruss is Professor of Physical Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ruhr University Bochum.
Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS)
- Collaboration in the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS)
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- Cooptation of the institute management, consisting of Prof. Manfred Renner and Prof. Christian Doetsch, with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Ruhr University Bochum
- The Director for Transfer Prof. Görge Deerberg is adjunct professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of TU Dortmund University
Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT)
Leibniz Institutes
Through its strong ties to Leibniz Institutes the Ruhr Innovation Lab enhances research innovation through cooperation, showcasing a commitment to interdisciplinary research that benefits both universities and society.
- Affiliated institute (“An-Institut”) of TU Dortmund University and partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- Cooptation of the four Scientific Directors Prof. Jan Hengstler, Prof. Carsten Watzl, Prof. Edmund Wascher and Prof. Michael Nitsche as well as Prof. Erhan Genç with different departments of TU Dortmund University
Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo)
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- Cooptation of the President Prof. Christoph M. Schmidt and vice-president Prof. Thomas K. Bauer with the Faculty of Management and Economics of Ruhr University Bochum
- Affiliated institute (“An-Institut”) of TU Dortmund University and partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- Cooptation of the Head of the Bioanalytics department Prof. Albert Sickmann with the Medizinisches Proteom-Center of Ruhr University Bochum
- Partner institute of Ruhr University Bochum
- Cooptation of Director Prof. Sunhild Kleingärtner with the Faculty of History of Ruhr University Bochum
- Collaboration with Ruhr University Bochum in the Haus der Archäologien and in „Resources in Transformation (ReForm) – Leibniz ScienceCampus Bochum“
Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund
The BAuA conducts research and development in the field of safety and health at work, promotes the transfer of knowledge into practice, advises policy makers and carries out official tasks – in hazardous substances legislation, in product safety and in the health data archive. Assistant Professor Lena Hünefeld (Research Unit Work, Inclusion and Technology) from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of TU Dortmund University is Deputy Head of Unit 1.2 “Monitoring Working Conditions” at BAuA.
Helmholtz Centers
The Ruhr Innovation Lab and Helmholtz Centers work together to drive research and technological advancements. These collaborations, including one in the Cluster of Excellence Color meets Flavor, underscore a dedication to interdisciplinary approaches that enrich scientific inquiry.
- Partner of Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University
- Collaboration in the Cluster of Excellence “Color meets Flavor”
- Joint appointment of the acting Head of the Institute of Energy Technologies – Electrochemical Process Engineering (IET-4) Prof. Ralf Peters with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Ruhr University Bochum
- Cooptation of Prof. Godehard Sutmann from the Institute for Advanced Simulation –Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Ruhr University Bochum
- Partner of Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University