RVR Communal Council meets in the innovative hub of the Fernuni Hagen!

RVR Communal Council meets in the innovative hub of the Fernuni Hagen!

FernUniversität in Hagen, 58084 Hagen, Deutschland - On February 14, 2025, the municipal council met in the regional association Ruhr (RVR) on the campus of the Fernuniversität in Hagen . This important body is made up of eleven mayors: inside and four district administrators and met in the newly opened Immersive Collaboration Hub (I), an innovative space that uses the latest technologies.

The Mayor of Bochum and spokesman for the municipal council, Thomas Eiskirch, and Erik O. Schulz, Mayor of Hagen, warmly welcomed the participants. RVR regional director Garrelt Duin was also present. Prof. Dr. Stefan Stürmer, the designated Rector of the FernUniversität, spoke about the essential role of the science landscape in the Ruhr area and emphasized the importance of regional networking.

Prime technologies in the Immersive Collaboration Hub

The Immersive Collaboration Hub is more than just a conference room; It stands for the fusion of reality and virtuality. In this hub, teachers, students and regional companies work on innovative applications using virtual reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). This future-oriented project is largely financed by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, whereby the hub becomes part of a comprehensive network of founding partners and start-ups that link science, business and education. rvr shows how this place acts as an innovation smithy.

According to the official agenda, Prof. Dr. Thomas Ludwig from the research focus of the committee by the hub. Here it was made clear that universities and research institutes act as figureheads in the region and drive the transformation in the Ruhr area as the driver of innovation.

role of the Ruhrvalley innovation network

In this context, the innovation network Ruhrvalley which was founded in 2016. It bundles the expertise of institutions such as the Bochum University of Applied Sciences and the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences as well as numerous companies to develop substantial innovations for the Ruhr metropolis.

The network focuses on practical solutions in the areas of mobility, energy and digitization in order to meet the challenges of digital transformation and climate change. The collaborations in the context of Ruhrvalley include transdisciplinary research and development projects that are intended to improve the quality of life in the region.

With over 20 successful research and development projects since its foundation, the network has established itself as a decisive factor in the innovation landscape of the Ruhr area and has been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research since 2017.