Technology and Knowledge Transfer
In the Ruhr Innovation Lab, scientific excellence meets entrepreneurial spirit. Sophisticated support structures help to unleash the full power of our creative minds, resulting in more than 50 start-ups per year—many of them dedicated to advancing societal progress. However, our vision goes far beyond a close cooperation with the economy. We embrace collaboration with municipalities, cultural institutions, and citizens to advance the Ruhr area’s transformation.
Living Proof that Structural Change Can Be Successful
Nowhere is the successful structural transformation of the Ruhr region more palpable than at Mark 51°7, the former Opel car manufacturing site in Bochum. Once the bustling hub of Opel’s operations, employing 20,000 people at its height, the factory’s closure in 2014 cast a shadow of uncertainty over the area. Yet, thanks to the concerted efforts of political and economic stakeholders as well as the university, the site has been reborn as a dynamic hub of innovation. Today, it houses cutting-edge academic facilities, well-established tech companies, and a thriving start-up community, serving as a testament to the power of collaboration and reinvention. Bochum’s largest employer today? Ruhr University!
Catalyst for Change: Where Ideas Meet Innovation
Since its founding 40 years ago, the TechnologieZentrumDortmund (TZDO) has been a driving force in structural transformation. Located within close proximity of TU Dortmund University, it has become a leading European innovation hub and a center for both future-oriented technologies and sustainable jobs. TZDO bridges academia and industry by turning scientific ideas from TU Dortmund University and other neighboring research institutions into marketable innovations and startups. Hosting over 200 companies across six competence centers, TZDO fosters collaboration, creating top-level jobs and fueling economic growth.