NIERS - Nierderrhein Institute
for Regional and Structural Research

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Niederrhein Institute for Regional und Structural Research

Group picture of the employees of the NIERS Institute

The NIERS - Niederrhein Institute for Regional and Structural Research (NIERS) deals with issues of regional structural change, regional sustainability and future viability from a regional science perspective. 

With our research, we generate findings for understanding and shaping regional and socio-economic structures and change processes and thus aim to contribute to solving space-related social and economic challenges.

Cooperation within the institute is characterised by mutual respect and mutual appreciation. Everyone contributes their own expertise, thus creating a lively research and institute culture. A high degree of interdisciplinarity characterises our work both internally and externally and contributes to the continuous development of the Institute's topics.

Our work is based on a circular understanding of knowledge and transfer . This means that our research and project partners and target groups are both the addressees of and initiators for our work.

 

The target group of NIERS' activities includes the scientific community, local and regional stakeholders and the wider public. As an affiliated institute of a university, we also see research-based teaching and learning as part of our mission, meaning that students should also be mentioned as a further target group.

The NIERS team enjoys a day out together.
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Our strengths at a glance

Figure Research for a sustainable region
Shaping regional structural change

Research for a sustainable region

Illustration of a globe in the background with a light bulb and growing plant
Sustainability & future viability

Developing innovative approaches for tomorrow

Diversity of perspectives for better solutions. Very abstract people are depicted who are looking for cooperation opportunities/people with a magnifying glass.
Interdisciplinary research

A variety of perspectives for better solutions

Impulses between science, practice & society. Abstract depiction of people connected by arrows in a circle. In the centre is a light bulb.
Knowledge transfer

Impulses between science, practice & society

Research with and for the region. Two abstract people, each connected to a building by an arrow. An exchange takes place.
Cooperation, municipalities & public

Research with and for the region

Science integrated into teaching education. Abstract image of a magnifying glass hovering over documents and diagrams that are being analysed/reviewed.
Research-based teaching & learning

Science integrated into teaching education

Latest news

Florian Grebe for NIERS at the international BioSC Symposium
NIERS at the international BioSC Symposium

On 24 and 25 November 2025, the international BioSC Symposium took place in Bonn, at which NIERS was represented by Florian Grebe.

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A digital group photo from the workshop on 3.11. with representatives of the public start-up advice service; a group photo from the workshop with representatives of migrant organisations at the VKI on 18.11.; making needs & opportunities visible and openly exchanging ideas, flipcharts created in the workshops.
RediStar autumn update

The first RediStar workshops as part of the needs assessment took place in November and brought many new points to light.

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Interested in our workshop "Sustainable management: How can it work?"
Sustainable management: Workshop during the campus week

During this semester's Campus Week at The Hochschule Niederrhein, NIERS was represented with a workshop entitled "Sustainable management: How can it…

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Current events

15" Summer Conference in Regional Science
 

Of the German Speaking Section of the European Regional Science Association
Organised in cooperation with the Niederrhein Institute for Regional and Structural Research (NIERS)
 

"Entrepreneurship and Regional Development in Times of Transformations"

Poster for the event Entrepreneurship and Regional Development in Times of Transformations Summer Conference
Programme schedule for the event Entrepreneurship and Regional Development in Times of Transformations Summer Conference
More about our events

RediStar

The project"RediStar - Strengthening regular start-up support structures in a diversity-sensitive way" addresses the many barriers that women with a history of migration (FmM) face in the transition to self-employment. The aim is to improve accessibility to public start-up support programmes through gender- and diversity-sensitive approaches.

RediStar combines scientific findings with a practical emphasis / orientation in order to break down systematic barriers and develop innovative solutions.

Official logo of the Redistar project

Contact Person

Project management
Dr Ann-Marie Krewer
Prof Dr Angelika Krehl


Project management
Ebru Sarikaya, Sarah Brechmann
Fabian Mertens, Christine Manthei

Further information

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Logo of the Rheintex project. Recycling through innovation in the textile industry.

R(h)einTex

The project R(h)einTex - Recycling through innovation in the textile industry in the Lower Rhine region aims to transform the textile and clothing industry in the Middle Lower Rhine region into a sustainable circular economy. The central objectives include analysing the material flows, developing a multi-loop capable product in cooperation with regional partners, establishing a network of relevant stakeholders and investigating the regional economic benefits.

The NIERS - Niederrhein Institute for Regional and Structural Research (NIERS) is responsible in particular for the latter work package: analysing the regional economic framework conditions, identifying options for action and developing innovative solutions for the sustainable transformation of the textile industry. NIERS provides support in the development of a database on material flows and in public relations work.

Contact Person

Project management
Prof. Dr Angelika Krehl
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Maike Rabe
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Muschkiet


Project management
Dr Olena Provolotska, Jens Meyer
Janika Schüßler, Sabrina Mauter

Further information

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BREAKING UP

The AUFBRUCH graduate cluster aims to actively shape the transformation of the Rhenish mining area into a model region for a sustainable and competitive bioeconomy. The three most important goals of AUFBRUCH are the excellent apprenticeship of specialists who actively drive structural change in the Rhenish mining area, the development of technological innovations for a sustainable bioeconomy and the establishment of forward-looking companies.

The NIERS - Niederrhein Institute for Regional and Structural Research (NIERS) is investigating the regional economic potential of novel carboxylic acid esters with a focus on land requirements and availability for the biomass to be cultivated; the existence of corresponding economic sectors in the central Niederrhein region; job supply and demand in these economic sectors; the economic viability, potential and implications of a regional bioeconomy; and the role of universities.

The AUFBRUCH graduate cluster aims to actively shape the transformation of the Rhenish mining district into a model region for a sustainable and competitive bioeconomy.
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R³ - Regional.Responsibility.Resonance

The R³ project investigates how resonance can be created, innovations can be initiated and change can be successfully shaped in structurally weak regions through commitment to the common good.

The central idea is to better understand the effects of resonance-promoting Corporate Regional Responsibility (CRR) on social innovation capacity, especially in structurally weak regions, and to make them usable for shaping change and regional innovation.

Contact: inside

Project management
Prof Dr Angelika Krehl,
Dr Ann-Marie Krewer


Project management
SaskiaGriffig, Marieke Vomberg
Jacqueline Amend, Florian Grebe, Christina Masch
Dr Anna Herzog (on parental leave)

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Further information
Completed research projects »
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NIERS Published

The institute is dedicated to the scientific analysis and processing of issues relating to regional structural change, sustainability and the future viability of regions.

Publications

The institute is dedicated to the scientific analysis and processing of issues relating to regional structural change, sustainability and the future viability of regions.

With an interdisciplinary approach and a clear regional science focus, it develops well-founded texts and studies that support decision-making processes, visualise developments and provide impetus for the sustainable shaping of regional transformation processes.

2024

Is committing to sustainable development valuable? The stock market reaction to SDG reports in Germany.

In: Corporate Finance 15, 09-10, 220-223, CF1465697

Speidel, Noah; Grebe, Florian; Grebe, Leonard (2024)

 

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All publications
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NIERS issues

NIERS writes and talks to others about their findings.

Discussion Papers

With the "NIERS Discussion Papers on Regional Economic Research", NIERS invites academic discussion within the university, with the national and international scientific community and with our cooperation and practice partners.

The discussion papers offer NIERS researchers and practice partners a medium in which they can publish their work and put it up for discussion. Reports from ongoing NIERS research projects and those of its partners also find their place there. Very good studies, projects and theses by students at The Hochschule Niederrhein are also welcome if they fit the topic.

No. 17 // 2024

Discussion Paper No. 17 // 2024

Towards an integrative, interdisciplinary perspective on governing regional lignite phase-out in Germany

Authors: Sebastian Heer, Steffen Büssers, Angelika Krehl & Robert Knippschild

 

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NIERS Goes Out & Speaks

NIERS Goes Out. NIERS employees go to events to hold projects and presentations.

Lectures

In addition to scientific analyses, the institute also sees itself as an active player in scientific discourse.

By participating in conferences and specialist events, it contributes its expertise on regional structural change, sustainability and future viability, establishes an exchange with researchers and practice partners and contributes to making central issues of regional development visible in a broader public and scientific context.

2025

Carbon emission reduction in arable farming: Farmer crop portfolio responses to varying carbon credit pricing scenarios

11.09.2025 Berlin
SoilCarbon4Climate Conference

Author:inside Grebe, Florian; Hüttel, Silke; Vielhauer, Julius; Hermann, Daniel (2025)

 

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To the lectures
Das Team beim NIERS

Professors

Prof. Dr. Angelika Krehl
Institute Director NIERS Economics, regional and sectoral structural policy
Prof. Dr. Matthias Freund
Vice-dean Econometrics
Prof. Dr. Harald Schoelen
Economics, especially finance & economic development NIERS Institute
Prof. Dr. Bernard Vogl
Economics, in particular foreign trade theory, NIERS Institute
Prof. Dr. Martin Wenke
Field of teaching ecology and economy
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Employees

Florian Grebe, M. Sc.
Academic staff NIERS
Dr. Olena Provolotska
Research assistant NIERS Project R(h)einTex
Ebru Sarikaya, M.Sc.
Research assistant NIERS Project RediStar
Christiane Trappmann, Graduate engineer spatial planning
Deputy Director of the NIERS Institute
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Student & graduate assistants

Berfin Celik

Student assistant NIERS
Cross-project tasks
Room: N 128
Faculty 08 | Degree programme BBW

Nadia Natale

Graduate assistant NIERS
Project R³ - Regional.Responsibility.Resonance.
Room: N127
Faculty 02 | Degree programme Design (Master)

Julia Hamacher

Graduate assistant NIERS
Project R(h)einTex
Teaching Support Microeconomics
Room: N 128
Faculty 08 | Degree programme Business Management (Master)

Marium Chandio

Graduate assistant NIERS
Cross-project tasks
Room: N127
Faculty 08 | International Management (Master) programme

Leonie Werneke

Graduate assistant NIERS
Project AUFBRUCH
Room: N 128
Faculty 08 | Degree programme Business Management Part-time (Master)

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Members of the NIERS Advisory Board

Prof Dr Nicolas Beucker

The Hochschule Niederrhein
Faculty of Design
Field of Teaching Public & Social Design
Head of the SOUND competence centre

Prof Dr Matthias Kiese

RUB - Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Geographical Institute
Chair of Urban and Regional Economics

Prof Dr Martina Fromhold-Eisebith

RHWH - Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Institute of Geography
Chair of Economic Geography

Dr Ulrich Schückhaus

Head of the Management Board of WFMG Wirtschaftsförderung Mönchengladbach
& EWMG Entwicklungsgesellschaft der Stadt Mönchengladbach mbH

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Completed research projects

2023/24

ENDORSE - Enhancing development of entrepreneurial strategies at university locations affected by brain drain

Commissioned by: Erasmus+ (EU)
Project management: Prof. Dr Angelika Krehl
Editing: Christina Masch, M.A.

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

Socio-demographic analysis of students at The Hochschule Niederrhein and their catchment area

Commissioned by: The Hochschule Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Angelika Krehl, Prof. Dr Moritz Hess
Editing: Lorena Götzen (SHK), Martina Wintgen (SHK)

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

Small-scale analysis of property markets in German cities and regions. Location, image, prices, approaches to regional economic implications

Client: The Hochschule Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Harald Schoelen
Editing: Steffen Büssers

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

Comparative, regionalised sector structure and innovation potential analyses for the lignite mining areas "Rheinisches Revier" and "Lausitz"

Client: The Hochschule Niederrhein/NIERS
Project management: Prof. Dr Angelika Krehl
Editing: Steffen Büssers

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

"Strengthening economic side areas in functional change - establishing a regional "Competence Centre for Local Economies on the Lower Rhine" (TransLOek)"

Commissioned by: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Project management: Dr Ann-Marie Krewer, Prof Dr Angelika Krehl
Editing: Prof Dr Rüdiger Hamm, Özan Golestani, Anna Herzog, Sarah Jasiok, Marieke Vomberg

Brief presentation of the project

TransLOek website

2021/22

Migration movements of graduates from The Hochschule Niederrhein and their determinants

Commissioned by: The Hochschule Niederrhein/NIERS
Project management: Prof Dr Angelika Krehl
Editing: Christina Masch

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

"euregio campus - Limburg/Lower Rhine - INTERREG V A"

Commissioned by: ERDF, MWIDE NRW, Provincie Limburg
Project management: Prof. Dr Angelika Krehl
Editing: Christina Masch, Lilia Gutenberg

Brief presentation of the project

Website of the "euregio campus" campaign

 

 

"BIWAQ IV - Krefeld Süd: Colourful, innovative, together in the neighbourhood"

Commissioned by: City of Krefeld
Project management: Prof Dr Angelika Krehl, Dr Ann-Marie Krewer
Editing: Prof Dr Rüdiger Hamm, Saskia Griffig, Dr Markus Kelle, Fabian Mertens, Philip Zimmermann

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

"BIWAQ IV - Social, Local, Digital: Südstadt 2.0, sub-project: Südstadthandel 2.0 Strengthening local strengths, initiating new ideas"

Client: City of Viersen
Project management: Prof. Dr Angelika Krehl, Dr Ann-Marie Krewer
Editing: Denise Dörning, Philip Zimmermann

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

"The phase-out of lignite, resulting adaptation requirements and opportunities for sustainable specialisation in the Rhineland Innovation Region (IRR)"

Commissioned by: The Hochschule Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Anna Bogedain, Steffen Büssers, Christiane Trappmann

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

"Analysing the image of the euregio rhine-meuse-north and its largest cities using the associative brand network method"

Commissioned by: The Hochschule Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Christina Masch, Steffen Büssers

Brief presentation of the project

2019/20

"Analysis and considerations for the redesign of the Rheydt weekly market"

Client: City of Mönchengladbach
Project management: Prof Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Anna Bogedain

Brief presentation of the project

Final presentation

The final report can be made available on request.

 

 

"Strategic monitoring of the city of Mönchengladbach - concept development for the introduction to a municipal monitoring system"

Client: City of Mönchengladbach
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Christina Fischer

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

"Utilisation of geographic information systems (GIS) in regional economic analysis"

Client: The Hochschule Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Anna Bogedain

Brief presentation of the project

Publication of project report:
Utilisation of geographic information systems (GIS) in regional economic analysis (2019)

 

 

"Medium-sized cities - engines of the Europe 2020 growth strategy?"

Client: The Hochschule Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Anna Herzog

Brief presentation of the project

Publication of project report:
Medium-sized cities - engines of the Europe 2020 growth strategy?

 

 

"Socio-economic monitoring for the Rhine district of Neuss"
(update)

Client: Rhein-Kreis Neuss
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Christina Fischer, Christiane Trappmann

Brief presentation of the project

 

 

"Universities as change agents and catalysts for sustainable development in the regional environment"

Commissioned by: The Hochschule Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Raphael Heeremann

Brief presentation of the project

2017/18

"BIWAQ - Promoting the local economy in Solingen's Nordstadt district"

Client: City of Solingen, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, European Union
Co-operation partner: SO.CON in-institute
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm, Dr Ann-Marie Krewer
Editing: Katja Keggenhoff, Leif Lüpertz, Felix Rudroff
Project completion: December 2018
Brief presentation of the project

Publication:
BIWAQ - Promoting the local economy in Solingen's Nordstadt district

 

 

"BIWAQ - Promotion of the local economy in Leverkusen Rheindorf"

Client: City of Leverkusen, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, European Union
Co-operation partners: SO.CON institute
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm, Dr Ann-Marie Krewer
Editing: Anna Bogedain, Özan Golestani
Project completion: December 2018
Brief presentation of the project

Publication:
BIWAQ - Promotion of the local economy in Leverkusen Rheindorf

 

 

"Acceptance of the industry in Krefeld"

Client: IHK Mittlerer Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Christiane Trappmann
Project completion: Spring 2018
Brief presentation of the project

 

 

"Pilot project for integrated, municipal environmental, health and social reporting"

Commissioned by: State of North Rhine-Westphalia, represented by MKULNV - Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Dr Fabian Kreutzer
Project completion: Spring 2018
Brief presentation of the project

Project publications
Pilot project for integrated, municipal environmental, health and social reporting (final report)
Link to the homepage of the MKULNV

 

 

"The programme-based automatic survey solution PAUL"

Client: Twister Media Group B.V.
Project management: Prof. Dr Matthias Freund, Prof. Dr habil. Jürgen Karla
Project completion: summer 2018

 

 

"Structural and location analysis for the Middle Lower Rhine region"

Client: Chamber of Industry and Commerce Mittlerer Niederrhein
Project management: Prof. Dr Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Christiane Trappmann
Project completion: February 2018
Brief presentation of the project

Publications
Middle Lower Rhine. Economic structures and location quality
Mönchengladbach. Economic structures and location quality
Krefeld. Economic structures and location quality
District of Viersen. Economic structures and location quality
Rhine district of Neuss. Economic structures and location quality

 

 

"Scientific continuing education and knowledge transfer for the region"

Client: BMBF - Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Project management: Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hamm
Editing: Johannes Kopper
Project completion: Spring 2018

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