Organization
Research & Innovation Division

Hochschule Niederrhein. Your way.

Only Those Who Leave the Beaten Path Can Find Something New

This principle applies in particular to research at a university of applied sciences. Research at The Hochschule Niederrhein is application-oriented; here, researchers always have the direct benefit of their results in mind. For the university's cooperation partners - companies, organizations, social institutions - the results of this research offer real competitive and locational advantages.

Department II - Research and Innovation at The Hochschule Niederrhein has been set up to ensure that the university's professors are able to focus on research.

The tasks of the Research and Innovation Department include the following key points:

  • Supporting researchers at The Hochschule Niederrhein with applications and contract research
  • Contract management and legal advice with a practical emphasis / orientation
  • Invention and patent management
  • Planning and application for large cross-border collaborative projects and coordination of existing large-scale projects integrated in Department II
  • Transfer of research and development: making science and research useful for companies
  • Start-up consulting

 

Markus Menkhaus-Grübnau
Personal Assistant of the Vice President for Research and Transfer

Presidential Advisory Board for Research and Innovation

The Presidential Advisory Board is made up of a total of 9 members. Research experts from The Hochschule Niederrhein are represented as well as external representatives from institutions and companies. The members are listed in detail below:

Markus Menkhaus-Grübnau
Personal Assistant to the Vice President for Research and Transfer, Research Funding

About Mr. Menkhaus-Grübnau

About Prof. Jäger

Dean Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

About Prof. Bandt

Institute Director NIERS Economics, regional and sectoral structural policy

About Prof. Krehl

Peter Bolten
Managing Director Development & Sales at AUNDE Group SE

About Mr. Bolten

Helmut Wallrafen
Management Sozial-Holding der Stadt Mönchengladbach GmbH

About Mr. Wallrafen

David Zülow
Executive Board of Zülow AG

About Mr. Zülow

Legal Issues / Contract Design

Both publicly funded research projects and private contract research are usually complex and costly projects. The cooperation partners should agree on liability issues, confidentiality regulations and the rights to the results , among other things, before the project begins. It would therefore be negligent not to conclude a written contract that ensures the smoothest possible process and proves what has been agreed in case of doubt. To this end, the Research & Transfer department has drafted sample contracts that can be adapted to each individual project. The Research & Transfer department will support you in contract negotiations, contract modifications and the drafting of new contracts.

Progress NRW

In the spirit of "Progress NRW", we will continue to develop our core research areas, research institutes and competence centers.

Our core research areas are:

Functional Surfaces

The Hochschule Niederrhein places a strong focus on surface-relevant technologies and methods due to its history and traditional ties to the textile and chemical industries. As a textile university, spread across four faculties of engineering (Textile and Clothing, Textile Mechanical Engineering, Textile Design, Textile Chemistry) and in combination with the likewise long-established areas of expertise in paint chemistry and surface analysis in chemistry as well as the cleaning and hygiene degree program of the Faculty of Engineering, the HN has always had a strong nucleus of surface science.

This has been constantly expanded, so that today the expertise extends to several institutes and competence centers as well as several individual researchers. In particular, the Institute for Coatings and Surface Chemistry (ILOC), the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB), the Surface Technology and Applied Research (STAR) competence center and the Institute for Modeling and High Performance Computing (IMH) are increasingly focusing on surface-related topics.

Research and development approaches now range from product design to plasma and nanotechnologies, adhesive technologies, technical textiles and joining technologies, micro-galvanizing and modern cleaning management.

The entire specialization has one of the highest levels of third-party funding at the university. The existing image of the Lower Rhine as an applied surface and textile center is constantly being expanded. Building on our diverse expertise in the field of surfaces, a separate center, the "Hochschule Niederrhein Institute for Surface Technology (HIT)", was founded in 2016 as a central scientific institution. This unique application center for high-throughput technologies will enable us to conduct cross-thematic and interdisciplinary research and, as a public-private partnership, bring us even closer to small and medium-sized companies in the region in the fields of adhesives, paints, coatings, corrosion protection, coating materials for printing, 3D printing and much more.

Health and Nutrition Research

The core research areas of health and nutrition research represent an optimal combination of many years of experience and expertise and current social challenges. This is clearly visible from the outside in the Competence Centre for Routine Data in Healthcare in the Faculty of Health Care, in the Competence Centre for Microbiology and Biotechnology (CCMB) in the Faculty of Ecotrophology and in the newly founded Competence Centre for Applied Mycology and Environmental Studies (KAMU). The latter brings together the fields of mycology of beneficial fungi (macromycetes) and microbiology with a specialization in molds (micromycetes).

In many fields, such as medical technology, health economics, occupational health and safety, food hygiene, health textiles, health-conscious nutrition, hygiene management in hospitals, optimization of hygiene products, development of rapid bacteriological tests, innovative retinal testing devices and health logistics, the foundation courses of medical and nutritional research are translated into market-oriented innovations.

The Institutes for Occupational, Environmental and Health Protection and Ethics (A.U.G.E.), the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB) and the Competence Centre for Research for Intelligent Assistance Systems and Technologies (FAST) with numerous individual researchers provide support here.

This specialization has recently been strengthened by the newly founded Competence Center eHealth (CC eHealth). eHealth is an increasingly important pillar of Health Care and poses major challenges for all those involved. The focus of the new competence centre is on scientific analysis and the development of innovative technical solutions that enable new forms of inter- and intra-organizational cooperation and process organization with the help of innovative information and communication technologies.

IT & Logistics Concepts [Core Research Area]

The Hochschule Niederrhein is located in the middle of the central logistics region in the heart of Europe. For this reason, there is also close cooperation with logistics activities in the immediately neighboring Netherlands.

The Hochschule Niederrhein also has a long tradition in the field of applied computer science in several faculties. IT-related issues are important in research and development in every applied discipline. The focus is on the two research institutes for Business Process Management and IT (GEMIT) and for Pattern Recognition (iPattern) as well as the competence centres for research into intelligent assistance systems and technologies (FAST) and the eWeb Research Centre for research into online trade and eCommerce.

In addition, many other institutes and competence centers at the university also deal with this topic, including the Institute for Modeling and High Performance Computing (IMH). The range of topics extends from IT security to the optimization of data networks and the development of software solutions for almost any application.

Most recently, the Clavis competence centre for information security was founded at The Hochschule Niederrhein, which conducts application-oriented research to ensure and increase the information security of organizations and companies in the Middle Lower Rhine region.

Product and Process Development

One of the core tasks of a university of applied sciences with an engineering focus, such as The Hochschule Niederrhein, is the applied scientific development of new products and processes with direct commercialization and market relevance.

In particular, the strengthening of the central target group, regional SMEs, for global competition requires rapid applied science-to-business implementation. Product development mainly takes place in technical engineering disciplines, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, textile and Clothing Technology and chemistry.

However, the product development aspects of design are also of enormous importance. Process development is also used in the above disciplines. In addition, process engineering, computer science and industrial engineering also include social factors.

In particular, this specialization is located in the research institutes for modelling and high-performance computing (IMH), for business process management and IT (GEMIT) and for occupational safety, environmental protection, health protection and efficiency (A.U.G.E.) as well as in almost all competence centres. The range of topics extends from mechatronics, plastics technology, object design, the theory of inventive problem solving and process control to strategic patent development.

A new addition is the competence center Intelligent System Solutions for Automation (ISA), which stands for practical, applied developments of intelligent technical systems and solutions and develops innovative apprenticeship and business models through efficient and practical technology transfer.

Social and Economic Innovations

A large part of the innovative research and development at The Hochschule Niederrhein takes place in the numerous social science disciplines. In addition to the Social Sciences and Business Administration and Economics, the university has social scientists in almost all subject areas who carry out interdisciplinary research and development together with experts from the engineering and natural sciences. The spectrum ranges from direct social science research, including marketing, controlling, SMEs and management, to structural policy analyses, feasibility studies and expert opinions in the technical fields, as well as research areas in education, psychology and gerontology.

Institutes such as Social Concepts (So.Con), the Lower Rhine Institute for Regional and Structural Research (NIERS) and the process-oriented institutes GEMIT and A.U.G.E. build on many years of experience and expertise. Together with competence centres such as the eWeb Research Centre, Early Childhood Education in Motion (KiB) and Resource-Oriented Age(ing) Research (REAL), they are further expanding the university's reputation as a university for needs-oriented social research. The competence center Social Urban Design (SOUND), whose researchers initiate and scientifically and creatively accompany socio-cultural changes to spatial quality of life, teaching and learning spaces, aesthetic education, demographic change, health promotion and integration, also contributes to this.

The most recent establishment of this core research area is the EthNa Competence Centre CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

Energy Efficiency

The Hochschule Niederrhein's latest core research areas cover all facets of the topic of energy. On the one hand, innovative energy technologies and new management approaches are developed and designed here. On the other hand, an increasing number of research and development projects in other subject areas deal with energy-related issues. For example, process control and planning tasks are currently always being considered in terms of their energy-saving potential.

The teaching and research center SWK Energy Center E² and the NEW endowed professorship for controlling, especially in the energy industry & business energy management, are mainly concerned with this topic area. The specializations of the SWK Energy Center E² are in the areas of plant engineering and planning, mechanical and thermal process engineering, process technology, statistical methods, environmental technology and process development; those of the NEW endowed professorship are energy cost management, energy-adjusted investment/economic efficiency calculation, integration of energy aspects into corporate controlling and the analysis of the effectiveness of relevant energy regulations.

In addition, there is also a scientific focus on energy efficiency measures at the Institutes of Business Process Management and IT (GEMIT), Occupational Safety, Environmental Protection, Health Protection and Ethics (A.U.G.E.), the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB) and the Competence Center for Microbiology and Biotechnology (CCMB), among others.

Research funding is where the threads for researchers come together to provide competent support. We want to help you ensure that your research projects are successful. To do this, you need careful resource planning, from personnel to material resources, and must observe many formal (including legal) framework conditions.

In addition to national, European and international projects, we can also advise you on opportunities for externally-funded research.

Alongside teaching education, research has been one of the main pillars of The Hochschule Niederrhein for many years. The research funding team coordinates the university's research and development activities.

Markus Menkhaus-Grübnau
Research funding officer
Dr. Jessica Frieß
Consultant for Research funding
Nina Hauptmann
Consultant for Research funding
Dr. Simone Zupfer
Research funding officer
Sarah Hoffmann
Research Data Management (FDM) Officer
Helen Schneider
Research Information System (FIS) Officer
Caroline Striebeck, M.A.
Consultant for the Research Information System (FIS)

Internal Area for HN Researchers

In the internal area for researchers you will find important documents and further information for the successful application and implementation of your R&D projects at The Hochschule Niederrhein.

Transfer of Research and Development

Companies must face up to the constantly increasing demands of the market and accept this challenge. Increasing competitive pressure requires new ways to secure growth. In order to maintain their market position, companies are forced to expand their product range or to open up and occupy new markets with new products.

At the same time, companies are faced with the challenge of making production more economical and producing more cost-effectively with the help of new technologies. Qualified employees play an important role in the fast and effective use of new machines and processes.

Time is an important factor in this process, because procrastination or excessively long start-up times can mean a loss of market advantage. Shorter product life cycles also mean shorter utilization times and amortization must be achieved through market share and not price.

A successful way to achieve the desired entrepreneurial goals is to find solutions together with competent contributors.

Innovation is an invitation to dialog and cooperation

As a cooperation partner, The Hochschule Niederrhein offers a wide range of expertise to support the innovation process in companies. A large number of professors are available to provide companies with advice and support in solving their problems:

  • Developments that would tie up too much capacity in the companies can be given to the university as research and development projects.
  • Delimited, manageable issues can be dealt with as student theses.
  • Consultations, expert opinions and continuing education are offered by professors.
  • Facilities and laboratories can be used for measuring and testing purposes at low cost.

Contact

Markus Menkhaus-Grübnau
Personal Assistant of the Vice President for Research and Transfer

The HNX Team for Start-ups and Entrepreneurship

The HNX team for start-ups and entrepreneurship is aimed equally at students and employees and pursues the goal of establishing a practical and lively start-up culture at the HSNR and recognizing and exploiting the potential for innovative start-up ideas. From creative workshops to detailed business plan consulting - our offer is versatile and is tailored to your needs. You can find detailed information about HNX here.

If you have any questions, please contact the functional e-mail address hnx(at)hs-niederrhein.de

Contact

Carola Lobemeier
Project Assistant Project HNexist

Inter-University Competence Centre

On November 15, 2012, the Presidential Board of The Hochschule Niederrhein founded the doctoral college at the Hochschule Niederrhein.

Among other things, the doctoral college takes into account the third Bologna step for graduates of universities of applied sciences and is intended to strengthen the research culture at The Hochschule Niederrhein. The Hochschule Niederrhein has set itself the goal of improving the doctoral opportunities of its excellent graduates and the qualification of young academics.

The primary task of the doctoral college is to act as an interdisciplinary central point of contact and coordination for all doctoral projects for students and professors at The Hochschule Niederrhein.

In addition to the systematic recording and supervision of doctoral activities at the university, the focus is also on networking doctoral students. The aim is to create a communication platform for young academics and to facilitate joint, cross-doctoral activities.

Contact

Sarah Hoffmann
Research Data Management (FDM) Officer

Project for the Introduction to an FIS

An FIS enables both the internal administration and the (external) presentation of researchers and research activities at the HSNR. It is a database that is continuously updated and is based on the structure of the Core Data Set for Research (KDSF). The research information system does not manage research data; this falls under the area of research data management. The project for the introduction to the FIS has been running since June 2023 and is designed to last 2 years.

Detailed information on the FIS at the HSNR can be found on the intranet.

If you have any questions, please contact the functional email address fis(at)hsnr.de

Contact

Caroline Striebeck, M.A.
Consultant for the Research Information System (FIS)

Gender Equality Plan (GEP)

The HSNR's Gender Equality Plan (GEP) consists of the framework plan for gender equality for the entire university and the decentralized gender equality plans of the faculties (link to internal area) and other institutions. Together, these define the goals for equality and the advancement of women. The current gender equality plans with the measures and control instruments specified therein to achieve the objectives are available in the version currently valid and approved by the Senate for the period 01.03.2019 to 28.02.2025 (originally until 29.02.2024; Senate resolution on 23.10.2023: extension by one year).

In accordance with this framework plan and Sections 5, 5a and 6 of the State Equal Opportunities Act (LGG NRW), the faculties, central institutions and university administration each draw up a support plan to implement gender equality. The deans of the faculties and the heads of the institutions are responsible for drawing up binding targets and measures to achieve these targets.

Each year, the Presidential Board report reveals the "University in Figures" with a gender quota for the individual faculties.

A team consisting of the central Equal Opportunities Officer, the head of the MINT Forum and MINT-DUAL, the Equal Opportunities Officers of the faculties and the Equal Opportunities Commission is dedicated to the topic of equality.

All members of the university can find information about events relating to equality and the advancement of women on the Equal Opportunities website. The HSNR also organizes training courses on various topics, especially for women.

Framework Plan of The Hochschule Niederrhein