As part of the Engineering Days at The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) in Krefeld, the new Chairman of Unternehmerschaft Chemie Niederrhein, Norbert Mülders, and the new President of the university, Prof Dr Susanne Meyer, met for an initial intensive exchange. The aim was to further strengthen the long-standing close cooperation between the chemical industry and the university and to emphasise the central importance of the chemical industry for the economic development of the region.
"The chemical industry is a mainstay of the regional economy," emphasised Norbert Mülders, who as Chairman of Unternehmerschaft Niederrhein is now also the head of the umbrella organisation. "It creates high-quality jobs, secures specialists and makes a significant contribution to value creation, export power and technological innovation. Without a strong chemical industry, the Lower Rhine would not be able to maintain its economic stability and competitiveness." Prof Dr Meyer emphasised that The Hochschule Niederrhein prepares young people specifically for the chemical industry in order to retain talent in the region and drive innovation forward together. "Our students benefit from practice-oriented laboratories, modern research facilities and close contact with companies. With Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in chemistry, process engineering and applied chemistry as well as a wide range of practical emphasis / orientation projects, we enable our students to apply their skills in real industrial contexts at an early stage. The dual studies programme with close links between companies and universities as equal places of learning is particularly suitable in the field of chemistry." The exchange with industry is indispensable. "Students gain insights into real working environments. Companies benefit from fresh ideas, joint projects and dialogue with our university teachers / lecturers, who connect them with committed students."
Prof Dr Martin Jäger, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry at The Hochschule Niederrhein, sees the collaboration between his faculty and the Unternehmerschaft Chemie Niederrhein as a strong partnership for innovation and transfer that accompanies young people from school to working life. "As Niederrheiners, we work together in many areas: On the jury of the Lower Rhine regional competition of Jugend forscht, which also includes representatives of regional companies, as well as for the Chemistry Promotion Prize of the Unternehmerschaft Chemie Niederrhein: together we ensure a continuous dialogue between business and science."
As part of the Engineering Days, where students presented their innovative projects as an example of the practical orientation of university and industry for future students, pupils interested in STEM subjects and the association's member companies, the partners discussed possible further joint social tasks: The topics ranged from greater STEM activation in politics, start-up funding and sustainability initiatives to research partnerships as a way of awakening enthusiasm for industry in young people at an early age.
"The close links between universities and companies create synergies that sustainably strengthen both the apprenticeship of young talent and the innovative power of the chemical industry," summarises Norbert Mülders. "Only by working together can specialists be recruited at an early stage, innovations driven forward and the region's competitiveness secured in the long term." Therefore, the unanimous credo of the meeting is not just "keep it up", but above all: consistently expand the successful cooperation and jointly set new impulses for innovation, securing skilled labour and regional strength.
