The focus is on the young people’s specific individual strengths, interests and life circumstances. It is not just about academic performance. Social engagement, family responsibilities or particular extracurricular interests can also provide important insights into personal talents.

“As points of contact, we are on hand to advise the young people and support them in developing their future prospects,” says talent scout Moana Hofmann. Depending on their needs, the young people are also supported during their apprenticeship or studies. “Our counselling sessions are always open-ended. The young people decide for themselves whether studies, a dual degree programme or vocational training is the right choice for them,” explains Laura Köhnen. Finding the right path is often a challenge given the wide range of Degree programmes and careers on offer.

Over the past two years, the HSNR’s regional network of schools, social institutions and businesses has also grown steadily as a result of the talent scouting programme. The diverse perspectives and expertise are incorporated into the support offered to the young people.

“Through their long-term support of these talented young people, our talent scouts become their mentors. Thanks to this close support, they gain a comprehensive overall picture of the pupils. Through their counselling, they specifically help students recognise their own strengths and potential. This is a key competency essential for making a successful choice of career or degree programme,” explains Dilek Tekin, Head of the Central Student Advice Service at HSNR.

According to existing research results, women are more likely than men to integrate sustainable goals into their businesses. At the same time, female entrepreneurs who drive ecological or social innovation through their business models may face particular challenges. In addition to the general requirements of setting up a business, unconscious gender-specific barriers and higher demands for social and economic recognition of their business models may play a role.

This is precisely where the AFFINITY project of the Niederrhein Institute for Regional and Structural Research (NIERS) comes in. The researchers are investigating the links between female entrepreneurs, regional institutions and other stakeholders in the field of sustainability in the Middle Lower Rhine region. The focus is particularly on the networks of female entrepreneurs and the question of how relationships between individuals and institutions can foster sustainable innovation.

“We want to find out what role institutions, organisations and partnerships play in sustainable entrepreneurship in our region. Our aim is to identify and strengthen the regional innovation potential of sustainable female entrepreneurship,” explains Professor Dr Angelika Krehl, who is co-leading the project with Professor Dr Sue Rossano-Rivero.

For the current study, AFFINITY is therefore seeking female entrepreneurs who have founded a business with a sustainability focus in Mönchengladbach, Krefeld, the district of Viersen or the Rhine district of Neuss. Sustainability does not have to relate exclusively to environmental and climate protection. Social or other forward-looking and sustainable business objectives and business models are also of interest to the research.

In the interviews, which will last around 60 minutes, the researchers would like to find out more about the founders’ experiences: Who supported them when they set up their businesses? Which networks did they use? And what opportunities and challenges do they face as female entrepreneurs in the field of sustainability?

The interviews can take place online, at the NIERS Institute at the HSNR, or at a location of the interviewees’ choice. Dates for the interviews will be arranged individually from September 2026 onwards. All information will, of course, be treated confidentially and in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation.

The results of the project are intended to help shape the regional start-up environment in the field of sustainability in a more informed way. Both existing and future women-led sustainable businesses in the Middle Lower Rhine region could benefit from this.

Interested female entrepreneurs can contact Julia Swagemakers by email at julia.swagemakers(at)hs-niederrhein.de to arrange a personalised interview appointment.

Further information on the project is available at: https://www.hs-niederrhein.de/niers/

In her keynote speech, the Minister explained that, in an age of demographic change, the economy is dependent on technological progress. Minister for Science Brandes: “AI, automation and, in particular, robotics will have to make up for part of the labour shortage. And that is why AI literacy must form part of everyone’s basic knowledge. So far, very few people have a solid understanding of what AI is, what it can do and what it cannot do.” At the same time, specialist knowledge is becoming even more important in the age of AI. Minister Brandes: “Only those who have a deep understanding of what AI can be used for will later be able to verify the results it produces.” Given the United States’ global dominance in generative AI models such as ChatGPT, Germany’s opportunity lies in developing industrial AI applications in smaller models for specialised uses.

Prof. Dr Susanne Meyer, President of the Hochschule Niederrhein, described AI as a dual driver of transformation for the university: on the one hand, artificial intelligence is changing the skills that need to be taught; on the other, it is also changing the way teaching education will need to function in the future. Meyer: “Understanding AI, using it effectively and being able to critically evaluate its results are key skills.” The university president sees great potential for collaboration with industry to solve specific problems faced by businesses through studies, research and final-year projects.

Dr Christian Temath, Managing Director of the AI.NRW competence platform, emphasised that AI has evolved from a niche topic into a mainstream issue for businesses. “The key transfer questions are: How do research results and available technologies find their way into small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, and how are businesses empowered to recognise and articulate their own needs?”

Markus Schmidt, Head of Apprenticeship and University Marketing at NEW AG in Mönchengladbach, added: “Companies need young talent who, in addition to specialist knowledge, bring with them, in particular, the ability to work in a team, openness, the ability to cope with uncertainty and practical AI skills. We let trainees test AI in practice and compare results with and without AI. This allows them to experience the opportunities and limitations of the technology first-hand.”

For Jürgen Germann, Head of Government Relations at 3M in Neuss, the benefits of AI lie primarily in the acceleration of research and development, as well as improved production and quality assurance processes. Germann called for better-structured and coordinated collaboration between stakeholders from schools, government, academia and industry in order to work more efficiently on the further development of AI in Germany.

At the conclusion of the round-table discussion, there was consensus among all participants: advancing digitalisation and artificial intelligence offer great opportunities. To make the most of these opportunities, universities, businesses, vocational schools, chambers of commerce and all stakeholders in the education system must work more closely together. “Vocational education and training and higher education complement one another in this regard,” emphasised Steinmetz. “We need everyone.”

Schools, youth centres and voluntary non-profit initiatives may submit applications until 30 September 2026. The award seeks projects that specifically reach children and young people who face barriers to accessing educational opportunities due to poverty, an immigrant background or social disadvantage.

The prize aims to promote educational programmes that create new approaches to STEM subjects, break down gender stereotypes and test innovative concepts. The aim is to further develop successful projects and establish them in the region in the long term.

The prize is named after David-Andreas Bergens, who, as an entrepreneur and networker, demonstrated great commitment to STEM education. With ‘WorXademy’, founded in 2023 – a student laboratory set up in collaboration with the zdi in the district of Viersen – he championed laboratories with a strong practical orientation and innovative learning opportunities. His conviction that trust, time and dialogue form the foundation course for successful educational processes lives on in the ‘MINT in Mind’ network. The awards ceremony will take place during the next conference of the STEM network on 3 March 2027.

‘MINT in Mind’ is a regional network for STEM education in the Middle Lower Rhine region and forms part of the ‘Regional Cluster for STEM Education for Young People’ initiative. The project received funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2020 to 2025. Today, the network is jointly run by The Hochschule Niederrhein, the Centre for Digital Learning Environments of the City of Krefeld, the Faculty for Children, Young People and Families of the City of Mönchengladbach, the Mönchengladbach Economic Development Agency (WFMG), and the Middle Lower Rhine Regional Agency.

It is also supported by the zdi Centre in Mönchengladbach, the zdi Centre KReMINTec in Krefeld and the zdi Network in the District of Viersen.

Further information on the award and the application process is available at www.mint-in-mind.de/david-andreas-bergens-preis or by emailing mint-in-mind(at)hsnr.de.

The focus is on the agri-food sector, which is of great economic importance to the region whilst also facing particular challenges. The number of students in this field is declining, whilst companies are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit qualified young talent.

“The boundaries between our regions have long since become permeable in everyday life. This should also apply to higher education. With these trinational programmes, we are providing international experience without students having to leave their own region. At the same time, we are opening up new prospects for them and strengthening links with local businesses,” says Prof. Dr Georg Wittich, Dean of the Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences at HSNR.

Studying internationally – right on your doorstep

The project focuses on a low-threshold form of internationalisation: students should be able to gain cross-border experience without necessarily having to complete a traditional semester abroad. To this end, joint modules and exchange formats are being developed and will initially be trialled in a pilot semester. In the long term, the formats are to be firmly embedded in the curricula and further developed into trinational programmes.

Four higher education institutions are involved, comprising a total of 13 bachelor’s programmes and around 1,600 students: Alongside the HSNR, Maastricht University (Venlo campus, Netherlands), the HAS Green Academy in ’s-Hertogenbosch (Venlo site, Netherlands) and Hasselt University (Belgium) are partners in the project. The lead partner is Euregio Rhine-Meuse-North.

“For our students, this cross-border cooperation opens up entirely new opportunities to integrate international experiences directly into their studies. In doing so, they not only become familiar with other education systems and academic perspectives, but also acquire important intercultural skills. At the same time, we can expand our programme of courses to include programmes with a strong practical orientation and international elements, thereby making them even more attractive to students,” explains Wittich.

Businesses as partners

The regional economy plays a central role. As part of the project, a transnational network of companies is to be established. The aim is to recruit more than 100 companies as ambassadors for the cross-border education region, with a view to them offering, amongst other things, work placement opportunities. The ‘foodineum’ in Neuss will support the project in building this network.

In this way, the project links studies with career prospects across national borders. After all, the region has long functioned as a single labour market: companies seek specialists regardless of which side of the border they studied on. Students, in turn, are given the opportunity to get to know different companies and working cultures and to build professional networks throughout the region.

From project idea to a sustainable structure

In addition to specific educational and exchange programmes, the project also aims to create long-term structures for collaboration. The aim is to identify and remove administrative barriers, develop joint processes and draw up a roadmap for further cooperation.

A joint communication campaign is also intended to boost the appeal of studies in the agri-food sector and raise the profile of the education region across borders. The aim is to develop the pilot project into a sustainable tri-national education network.

Staff from the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB) at the Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) and the project partner, the Institute for Textile Technology (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University, presented the latest research and development work not only in discussion but also directly in practical application, in the presence of the university’s president, Susanne Meyer, the Mayor of Mönchengladbach, Felix Heinrichs, and representatives of the state government, presented current research and development work not only through discussion but also directly in practical application. The visit centred on smart and clean technologies and processes that demonstrate how digitalisation and sustainability can be combined in textile production. The Minister was able to try out various applications herself and see for herself their potential for industrial practice.

With T7, a real-world laboratory is being established in the Monforts Quartier, where innovative technologies and production processes are developed, tested and further refined for industrial application under real-world conditions. The aim is to promote economically viable, carbon-neutral and circular textile production in the Rhineland mining region.

Smart: Textile production is becoming intelligent and digital

Smart textiles combine textile structures with sensors, actuators and electronics, thereby opening up new possibilities for application. Among other things, a demonstration on an embroidery machine showed how conductive yarn can be integrated into textile structures. Exhibits of smart textiles highlighted the new functions this can enable, such as the monitoring of body data or applications in the fields of health, fitness and climate adaptation.

A smart jacket was used to demonstrate exactly how such technologies feel and what possibilities they open up. Minister Neubaur was able to try out the technology herself and experience the tracking of her movements first-hand. The sensors integrated into the jacket record movement data in real time and transmit it via Bluetooth to an app. There, the movements are visualised on an avatar and analysed directly.

One possible application is in the health sector, for example: patients could use the jacket during physiotherapy exercises, whilst physiotherapists can digitally track the movement sequences and provide targeted feedback.

Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection: “The future is already being shaped in the Rhineland mining region – with innovative and sustainable solutions for local industry and people. Digital applications, artificial intelligence and sustainable processes are not only being demonstrated here, but also further developed and tested. For a product that is closely tailored to the user: when smart jackets made from intelligent textile fabrics measure vital signs, this helps people in very practical ways to stay healthy or recover. This not only helps people, it also creates concrete prospects for competitive yet sustainable textile production.”

Another smart innovation is a fibre analysis system based on artificial intelligence (AI), which also demonstrated how digital technologies can transform value creation in the textile sector. With the help of AI, natural fibres can be analysed and material compositions determined more quickly and precisely. Digital manufacturing processes such as laser printing could also be viewed first-hand on site. This approach opens up new possibilities for personalised and demand-driven production and can thus help to avoid overproduction.

Clean: Sustainable alternatives for textile processes

Alongside smart technologies, the focus was on sustainable alternatives to established textile processes. After all, a sustainable textile industry requires not only new technologies but also solutions that conserve resources and reduce the use of fossil-based or environmentally harmful raw materials.

Approaches were presented in which natural dyes – derived, for example, from tea or pomegranate skins – can be extracted and used for dyeing textiles. Alternative processes are also being developed for the decolourisation and bleaching of textiles. Demonstrations showed how a pair of jeans can be decolourised using laser technology or even fungal cultures. This process produces a substance which, in turn, can be used as a raw material for vegan leather alternatives. This approach thus combines the development of new processes with the concept of the circular economy: materials should be kept within the recycling loop for as long as possible and reused as extensively as possible. Visitors were also able to view the test rig for determining fibrous microplastics in wastewater from washing machines.

From research approach to industrial application

This is precisely where Textile Factory 7.0 comes into play. A real-world laboratory is being established in the Monforts Quarter, where innovative technologies and production processes are developed, tested and further refined for industrial application under conditions that are as close to real-world scenarios as possible.

“Textile Factory 7.0 impressively demonstrates what applied research can achieve when academia and industry work together on concrete solutions. At the same time, it exemplifies the high level of innovation and performance of our Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology, which closely integrates research, teaching education and knowledge transfer. As the Hochschule Niederrhein, we aim not only to research innovation but also to put it into practice, thereby actively helping to shape the transformation of the textile industry. T7 combines our comprehensive textile expertise with digitalisation, sustainability and the circular economy, thereby strengthening the future viability of the location and the entire region,” says Professor Dr Susanne Meyer, President of the Hochschule Niederrhein.

With its four core areas – on-demand manufacturing, MicroFactory Engineering, Digital Textiles and Biosphere – T7 combines technological innovation with sustainability, thereby creating a platform for the textile production of tomorrow. At the heart of this is a common question: how can textile production become smarter, more sustainable and economically viable all at once?

“Today’s tour has impressively demonstrated just how much textile expertise and innovative strength there is in Mönchengladbach and the region. Even today, a wide variety of technologies and applications can be experienced in practice here. This demonstrates the potential that lies in the collaboration between science, industry and Mönchengladbach – a city with a rich textile heritage – and the opportunities this presents for sustainable growth and prosperity in the future,” summarised Mayor Felix Heinrichs.

Prof. Dr Rabe (HSNR) and Prof. Dr Gries (RWTH) emphasised to the Minister: The motto ‘smart and clean’ is not an abstract vision, but can already be experienced and tested in practice today; it is ready for application.

About Textile Factory 7.0 (T7):

T7 is a joint project between the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB) at HSNR, the Institute for Textile Technology (ITA) at RWTH Aachen, the Association of the North-West German Textile and Clothing Industry, the Association of the Rhenish Textile and Clothing Industry, the Textile Academy NRW and the Mönchengladbach Economic Development Agency.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) under the ‘STARK’ funding scheme aimed at strengthening the dynamics of transformation and renewal in the mining regions and at coal-fired power station sites; by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia under the remit of the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy (MWIKE) of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in accordance with the Framework Guideline for the Implementation of the Investment Act for Coal-Mining Regions (InvKG) North Rhine-Westphalia (RRL), and by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). We would like to thank the funding bodies for their trust.

The FAUST programme enables those interested in education to attend more than 200 lectures and seminars at the HSNR campuses in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach. Participants attend the sessions alongside students. “As well as subject-specific content, the focus is also on personal interaction. This brings people of different ages, with varied professional and personal experiences and from different walks of life, together in conversation,” says Miriam Grates, a gerontologist at the HSNR’s “Competence Centre for Resource-Oriented Age(ing) Research (REAL).”

The winter semester kicks off with the official term opening on 29 September from 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm at the Mönchengladbach campus (Webschulstraße 41–43, Building S, Room 304). As well as an introduction to the FAUST programme, guests can look forward to a keynote talk and a reading on the topic of happiness, as well as a tour of the campus.

Alongside the regular course catalogue, the expanded FAUSTplus programme offers additional lecture series, seminars and events. The lecture series ‘Happiness and Unhappiness – To what extent can we plan our lives?’ will take place on several Thursdays from October to January, exploring what constitutes happiness and unhappiness and to what extent people can influence their own happiness in life. The events will take place in a hybrid format from 2.15 pm to 3.45 pm on the Mönchengladbach campus (Building S, Room 301). Among other things, the series will explore whether misfortune can be avoided and happiness achieved through education and the acquisition of knowledge, or whether one’s own life path is more predetermined than one might think.

The event ‘Trumpism as a collective state of emergency: violence, the media and the crisis of democracy’, led by Professor Dr Frank Mehring and Professor Dr Hermann Strasser, will examine the relationship between the media, violence and democracy. On 20 October from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm, participants will gather at the Future Work Lab in Mönchengladbach to discuss, amongst other things, how media spectacle and political mobilisation are transforming democratic cultures. The starting point is the question: “What links mass shootings, gun culture, media outrage and the rise of Trumpism?”.

From 28 October to 18 November, the student project from the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences invites you to the World Café in Mönchengladbach between 12.00 and 14.00 (Building S, Room 301). Under the motto ‘Generations in Dialogue – World Café for Young and Old’, students, guest students and staff can exchange views across generations over a coffee on various topics, ranging from values and differing perspectives to quality of life and working environments. The focus will be on how different generations can learn with and from one another, and what experiences, viewpoints and life contexts shape them.

Participation in the FAUST programme costs 125 euros for external participants. Registration can be done online, in writing or in person using the registration form.

Further information on the full course catalogue, any restrictions on participation and registration can be found at: www.hsnr.de/faust

As part of the partnership, pupils will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of studies and university life. This will be achieved, amongst other things, through visits to the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences (HSNR): the programme includes open lectures, campus tours, talks and workshops.

“With its diverse range of programmes, The Hochschule Niederrhein offers tailor-made educational prospects for many of our students. The cooperation between our educational institutions provides a solid foundation for a strong educational partnership. Seamless transitions and integrated guidance save time and increase efficiency. I am very much looking forward to a partnership that offers guidance whilst pupils are still at school, paves the way and makes educational goals achievable,” says Dr Jörg Prieß, Headteacher of Theodor-Schwann-Kolleg.

The programme is complemented by established initiatives in student advice at the Hochschule Niederrhein. Events such as open days, the ‘Long Evening of Student Advice’ and the ‘Student Advice Weeks’ offer opportunities to find out all about the programmes on offer. Furthermore, the University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein’s Student Advice Service will in future regularly take part in information events organised by the Theodor-Schwann-Kolleg and support prospective students in choosing their future educational path.

“Making a good decision about your studies requires guidance and personal experience. This is precisely where our partnership with the Theodor-Schwann-Kolleg comes in. School pupils are given the opportunity at an early stage to get to know everyday university life, to discover and develop their interests, and to find out which Degree programme suits them best. In this way, we make the transition from school to studies easier and lay a solid foundation for a successful start to their studies,” says Professor Dr Michael Heber, Vice-President for Studies and Teaching at the Hochschule Niederrhein.

The unveiling of the RS-26e marks the culmination of an intensive year of development. The student team has been working on the design and optimisation of the racing car for months. “Every season provides us with valuable insights. We have consistently used this knowledge to further improve the RS-26e. Our focus was on refining the tried-and-tested vehicle concept and making the racing car even more reliable and safer,” says team leader Philipp Jacobs.

One of the most important technical innovations is the introduction of live telemetry for the first time. Vehicle data can be transmitted and analysed in real time whilst the car is in motion. This allows performance and vehicle behaviour to be analysed immediately and potential for optimisation to be identified even more quickly.

The RS-26e will compete in its first international event at Formula Student Alpe Adria. The competition takes place from 17 to 23 August at the Bugatti Rimac Test Track near Zagreb in Croatia. There, HSNR Racing will compete against student racing teams from all over the world and put the new racing car through its paces in the disciplines of design, performance and endurance.

The four-year project began on 1 July 2026 and has a total budget of around 2.9 million euros.

In terms of content, the project is divided into three sub-objectives. Firstly, students are to develop problem-solving strategies for societal challenges through transdisciplinary and curricular projects. Secondly, the focus is on population groups that have had little contact with universities to date, with the aim of offering them low-threshold access and opportunities for participation. Thirdly, the project serves as a framework for lecturers to guide their own transdisciplinary initiatives.

“This funding gives us the opportunity to link teaching education, research and social engagement even more closely. Through the CampusMobil project, we are creating new learning spaces outside the university and, together with members of the public, developing solutions to specific local challenges. In this way, science becomes a tangible experience and can make a visible contribution to social development,” says Professor Dr Alexander Rachmann from the Faculty of Industrial Engineering.

Initially, the two faculties of Engineering Sciences and Computer Science, as well as Industrial Engineering, are involved. In the long term, however, the plan is to integrate all faculties and degree programmes at HSNR into the project. Other universities are also to be involved in the project through workshops. This will create a two-way channel that forms the foundation for a community of university lecturers dedicated to transdisciplinary teaching education.