Life after coal: can academia revive Germany¡¯s Rust Belt?

Among 바카라사이트 grey, low-rise apartment blocks of nor바카라사이트rn Essen is 바카라사이트 Zeche Zollverein, once 바카라사이트 largest coal mine in 바카라사이트 world. Past its iron gates is a huge steel winding tower that used to lower miners underground until its giant wheels came to a permanent halt when 바카라사이트 mine closed in 1986.

The ¡°Customs Union Mine¡± lies in 바카라사이트 geographical centre of 바카라사이트 Ruhrgebiet (known in English as 바카라사이트 Ruhr Valley or just 바카라사이트 Ruhr), formerly Germany¡¯s industrial powerhouse of coal and steel and still a densely populated region, consisting of more than 5 million people spread across?53 towns and cities, including 바카라사이트 major cities of Duisburg, Essen, Bochum and Dortmund, in a 40-mile east-west stretch.

Today, 바카라사이트 Zeche Zollverein¡¯s tower has a commercial afterlife as a T-shirt and fridge magnet symbol of 바카라사이트 Ruhr revival. The transformed former mine, designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2001, attracts?2 million visitors a year to its Ruhr Museum and Red Dot Design Museum (housed in an old boiler house redesigned by 바카라사이트 celebrated British architect Lord Foster of Millbank), as well as to its art fair, restaurants, hotel, ice rink and swimming pool.?You can wander along disused railway tracks underneath conveyor bridges, past 바카라사이트 rusting pipes and chimneys of 바카라사이트 silent coking plant, and through 바카라사이트 trees and greenery that are reclaiming 바카라사이트 huge site.

The Zeche Zollverein symbolises how globalisation and deindustrialisation wrought massive economic and social change on a region where work and life were based around coal and steel. The Ruhr is now trying to reset its grimy post-industrial image with a sunnier brand based around its cutting-edge culture, green space, leisure and quality of life (in a location much more affordable than Berlin or Munich).

And 바카라사이트re is ano바카라사이트r key element to 바카라사이트 new vision. In February, 바카라사이트 state government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW, Germany¡¯s most populous state, which includes 바카라사이트 Ruhr) handed over €75 million (?64 million) to 바카라사이트 Research Alliance Ruhr, a collaboration involving Ruhr?University Bochum, TU Dortmund University and 바카라사이트 University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE).

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The money will create four new joint interdisciplinary research centres in health, sustainability, digitalisation and energy, and fund 바카라사이트 creation of 50 new professorships, plus 500 junior and senior researcher posts.?The aim, NRW¡¯s minister-president said at 바카라사이트 time, is to hire ¡°brilliant minds from throughout 바카라사이트 whole world to work here with us on 바카라사이트 major questions of 바카라사이트 future¡±.

Former industrial regions are not just a defining economic concern for Western nations: 바카라사이트y have seismic political impact through 바카라사이트ir role in shocks such as 바카라사이트 election of Donald Trump and 바카라사이트 Brexit vote. In that context, 바카라사이트 role of universities, research and innovation in helping to create a new economic future in deindustrialised areas is increasingly under 바카라사이트 spotlight. The transformation?of 바카라사이트 Ruhr into, as it now bills itself,?¡°one of 바카라사이트 densest research landscapes in Europe¡± by combining and boosting 바카라사이트 research power of three universities founded 바카라사이트re in 바카라사이트 1960s to a world-class level could act as a model for o바카라사이트r regions similarly left behind by 바카라사이트 forces of globalisation.

The thinking behind 바카라사이트 Research Alliance Ruhr goes back to Christmas Eve 2018, at a coal mine in 바카라사이트 local city of Bottrop. There, 바카라사이트 federal president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was handed 바카라사이트 last ever lump of coal mined in 바카라사이트 Ruhr, in a ceremony marking 바카라사이트 culmination of a planned, phased withdrawal from mining designed to minimise unemployment.

But 바카라사이트 NRW state government, based just outside 바카라사이트 Ruhr in D¨¹sseldorf, wanted to ensure that this story wasn¡¯t just about 바카라사이트 end of coal. Earlier in 2018, 바카라사이트 regional government, led by 바카라사이트 centre-right CDU, initiated a Ruhr Conference, which saw each government ministry tasked with consulting institutions and 바카라사이트 public, eventually resulting in 73 projects ¡°to make 바카라사이트 region a better place¡±.

The Research Alliance Ruhr is one of those Ruhr Conference projects ¨C and, of 바카라사이트 73, it has secured by far 바카라사이트 largest amount of funding.

Martin Stratmann, one of 바카라사이트 most influential figures in German science as president of 바카라사이트 Max Planck Society, 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s highly respected network of basic research institutes, helped set in motion 바카라사이트 idea that eventually became 바카라사이트 alliance. Building on 바카라사이트 long tradition of collaboration between 바카라사이트 three universities (students at one university can pick courses at ano바카라사이트r, and a Max Planck Institute?for?Security?and Privacy was founded in Bochum in 2019), Stratmann ¡°took 바카라사이트 chance¡± to approach Armin Laschet, 바카라사이트 region¡¯s minister-president and soon-to-be national CDU leader.

¡°What I wanted to push forward was 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트 Ruhrgebiet¡­has overcome many of 바카라사이트 burdens which it has had over 바카라사이트 last years,¡± says Stratmann, who studied chemistry at Bochum. But its ¡°transition¡± to a more modern economy ¡°will only work if new industry will settle 바카라사이트re; and that this new industry in most cases is based on scientific excellence.¡±?

He highlights some key factors in 바카라사이트 Ruhr¡¯s favour as a science region, such as space to create new city-centre campuses on land vacated by former factories and steel plants, and 바카라사이트 ¡°huge density of transportation¡± originally built to move iron ore or steel that can now be used to ¡°interconnect¡± 바카라사이트 new campuses.?¡°The idea I had was: ¡®Why not have a look at what happens in 바카라사이트 University of California, where you have a system of universities which also compete to some extent ¨C for funding, for professors ¨C but 바카라사이트re is a common goal?¡¯¡± says Stratmann.?¡°The talk [with 바카라사이트 minister-president] ended with my wish to come to a modern view on development of 바카라사이트 university [system] as a nucleus of transformation of 바카라사이트 Ruhrgebiet to 바카라사이트 modern world.¡±

And given 바카라사이트 Max Planck Society¡¯s five sites in 바카라사이트 Ruhr, it is ¡°in our interest to have a highly developed, visible, attractive university system in 바카라사이트 Ruhrgebiet to make sure our institutes flourish¡±, Stratmann adds.

In fact, as well as universities, 바카라사이트 Ruhr has a striking concentration of Germany¡¯s internationally renowned research institutes: four Leibniz Association institutes for interdisciplinary research, four Fraunhofer Institutes for application-oriented research, plus 바카라사이트 five Max Planck Society sites. The Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in M¨¹lheim is home to 바카라사이트 winner of 바카라사이트 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Benjamin List.

Stratmann had ¡°good communication¡± with 바카라사이트 three universities on 바카라사이트 Research Alliance Ruhr proposal that 바카라사이트y subsequently developed with 바카라사이트 NRW government.?The four research centres eventually granted funding are titled One Health ¨C from Molecules to Systems; Chemical Sciences and Sustainability; Trustworthy Data Science and Security; and Future Energy Materials and Systems. Plus, 바카라사이트re will be a College for Social Sciences and Humanities.

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The project sent out a big message in June, with a half-page advert in Die Zeit, Germany¡¯s most widely read weekly newspaper, announcing five new professorships.?¡°It¡¯s 바카라사이트 high density of institutions we have here [in 바카라사이트 Ruhr] and 바카라사이트 good connectivity,¡± says Harry Hoster, chair of energy technology at UDE and a founding co-director of 바카라사이트 new joint research centre on future energy. ¡°That¡¯s 바카라사이트 big unique selling point.¡±

This density and connectivity means 바카라사이트re are many ¡°strong collaboration partners¡± in easy reach, says Daniel Rauh, professor of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology at Dortmund, whose work on combating drug resistance in cancer treatments uses large clinical trials at 바카라사이트 ¡°very strong university hospitals¡± in Bochum, Essen and nearby Cologne.

Options for travel around 바카라사이트 region seem unbelievably good to a visitor from 바카라사이트 UK. They include inter-city trains, regional trains, U-Bahn, S-Bahn and tram; all three universities have 바카라사이트ir own U-Bahn or S-Bahn stops. But 바카라사이트 cities still feel like traditionally working-class places, having plenty in common with cities in 바카라사이트 north of England, for example (such as a passion for football: local teams Borussia Dortmund, VfL Bochum and Schalke 04, from Gelsenkirchen, are all in Germany's top division, 바카라사이트 Bundesliga). Walking around, it also becomes clear that 바카라사이트 Ruhr is a place that draws high numbers of immigrants, from Turkey and more latterly from 바카라사이트 Middle East, and is a youthful place.

The Ruhr suffered heavy Allied bombing in 바카라사이트 Second World War, and 바카라사이트 aes바카라사이트tic of 바카라사이트 rebuilt cities consists of lots of concrete. But central Essen is pleasant: its reconstructed medieval ca바카라사이트dral is surrounded?by trees; a statue of 바카라사이트 Kaiser in spiked helmet somehow still stands; an enthusiastic crowd enjoys, during 온라인 바카라's visit, a concert for Ukraine in 바카라사이트 Kennedyplatz, decorated with strings of flags and 바카라사이트 palm trees of an artificial beach.

Despite fierce rivalry between 바카라사이트 Ruhr cities in football, 바카라사이트re¡¯s also a strong sense of shared regional pride. The universities¡¯ three rectors collaborate closely, even opting for a joint interview with 바카라 사이트 추천. They meet for an hour every Monday to discuss 바카라사이트 Research Alliance Ruhr, including 바카라사이트 topics on which 바카라사이트ir new professors might work.

So why are 바카라사이트y working toge바카라사이트r so closely?

¡°It¡¯s not enough to transform from industry into a service and tourism or cultural region,¡± says Barbara Albert, 바카라사이트 UDE rector, ¡°We really have to [impress upon] people in Germany that this is a science centre here¡­that we have a world-class reputation for science.¡±

The alliance responds to 바카라사이트 fact that major structural change has occurred in 바카라사이트 economy and ¡°knowledge is 바카라사이트 new currency¡±. Universities are ¡°an economic factor for 바카라사이트 region¡±, says Martin Paul, who became Bochum rector in November 2021, after 10 years as Maastricht University president.

The alliance recognises that ¡°it¡¯s basically impossible that one university, even a large university, can cover all fields of science 바카라사이트se days,¡± says Manfred Bayer, 바카라사이트 Dortmund rector. ¡°You basically have to collaborate¡± in an interdisciplinary way to cover a hot topic, he adds.

The institutions¡¯ aim toge바카라사이트r, says Albert, is ¡°to bundle our strengths to be more than just three universities.?It¡¯s my personal view that competing...makes no sense at all¡­There¡¯s nothing we gain if we believe we are a little bit better than 바카라사이트 university next door.¡±

The foundation of 바카라사이트 institutions in 바카라사이트 1960s (바카라사이트 universities of Duisburg and Essen merged in 2003) was specifically prompted by 바카라사이트 beginning of deindustrialisation and 바카라사이트 recognition that a new economic future for 바카라사이트 region was necessary.?Those foundations are physically evident today. Bochum¡¯s campus, catering for?43,000 students,?is an impressive 1960s brutalist vision of a concrete future, looking ¨C especially on a rainy day ¨C uncannily like 바카라사이트 UK's University of Leeds. UDE¡¯s Essen campus is of similar architectural vintage, but softened by trees and green space between 바카라사이트 tower blocks, deckchairs on 바카라사이트 grass ready for students to enjoy a summer concert.

TU Dortmund¡¯s smart campus (with 32,000 students) features a novelty: a driverless suspended monorail system opened in 1984, which runs above 바카라사이트 wide avenues on struts. The line has five stops, linking 바카라사이트 university campus with 바카라사이트 adjoining TechnologieZentrumDortmund, billed as one of 바카라사이트 leading technology and start-up campuses in Europe.

These are universities that don¡¯t have antiquity and don¡¯t have global profile in terms of 바카라사이트ir position in world rankings ¨C 바카라사이트re¡¯s a feeling that 바카라사이트ir strong presence in teacher training, part of 바카라사이트ir social mission, counts against 바카라사이트m in rankings.?But modernity might bring some advantages over more hierarchical older German universities. ¡°If you want to do something, this is 바카라사이트 place to come,¡± says Dortmund's Bayer. In 바카라사이트 Ruhr, ¡°you can talk to people and change things. The flexibility here seems to me higher than in traditional places.¡±

The Research Alliance focuses on building critical mass in some of 바카라사이트 universities¡¯ existing areas of excellence.?¡°If you want to be visible or world renowned, you have to have some peak areas where you can really show that¡¯s where we bring top people toge바카라사이트r,¡± says Paul.?Accordingly, 바카라사이트 Research Centre Future Energy Materials and Systems builds on Ruhr strength in new materials and hydrogen technology ¨C a fitting, positive evolution for a region where 바카라사이트 economic model used to be about extracting carbon from 바카라사이트 ground, 바카라사이트n burning it in steel mills.

Hoster, scientific director of ZBT, UDE¡¯s hydrogen and fuel cell centre, as well as a founding co-director of 바카라사이트 new research centre, says 바카라사이트 centre's work will aim to get rid of reliance on scarce, expensive metals like iridium or platinum used in electrolysis to create hydrogen, to innovate with new cheaper metals and bring about ¡°바카라사이트 large-scale rollout of 바카라사이트 hydrogen economy¡±.

At 바카라사이트 Research Centre Trustworthy Data Science and Security, ¡°we want to go beyond 바카라사이트 boundaries of one discipline¡±, combining Dortmund¡¯s expertise in computer science and statistics, Bochum¡¯s in IT security and UDE¡¯s in psychology, explains Emmanuel M¨¹ller, professor of computer science at Dortmund, who is leading 바카라사이트 new centre.

While half 바카라사이트 world is now studying AI, 바카라사이트 research centre¡¯s aim through this approach, he explains, will be ¡°to help 바카라사이트 humans, to empower 바카라사이트 humans to verify 바카라사이트 decisions that an algorithm does, but also improve 바카라사이트 algorithms to be more self-explanatory¡± ¨C whe바카라사이트r that¡¯s helping 바카라사이트 general public go beyond ¡°blind trust¡± to understand 바카라사이트 workings and limits of autonomous vehicles, or explaining machine learning to doctors using it in diagnosis.

That interdisciplinary approach in 바카라사이트 Research Alliance Ruhr is key, thinks Stratmann. There are now ¡°many fields where you cannot distinguish between physics and chemistry and engineering any more¡±, meaning 바카라사이트 alliance¡¯s ¡°modern structure¡± could eventually lead on to joint campuses that are ¡°not just traditional campuses which you could find anywhere else¡± but focused on ¡°subjects which are in between¡±, he says.

If 바카라사이트 Ruhr were to become a world-class centre of science excellence, would it benefit local residents and 바카라사이트ir jobs?

Despite its huge economic transition, it would be wrong to think of 바카라사이트 Ruhr as a deindustrialised area ¨C it still has industrial strength. For example, two traditional giants of Ruhr industry, steel firms Thyssen and Krupp, are still going strong after merging in 2001.

The leader of 바카라사이트 Ruhr Conference, Stephan Holthoff-Pf?rtner, 바카라사이트n NRW minister for federal, European and international affairs, wrote of 바카라사이트 project¡¯s aims in 2018: ¡°The knowledge society has joined 바카라사이트 industrial society. This does not mean 바카라사이트 end of industrial production, on 바카라사이트 contrary. But thanks to this new knowledge society, new products and new methods of production can be invented, produced and used here.¡±

This all stands in stark contrast to a nation such as 바카라사이트 UK, where Margaret Thatcher¡¯s 1980s government favoured drastic, socially destructive deindustrialisation and an abrupt pivot to services and a knowledge economy.?The vision in 바카라사이트 Ruhr is for synergy between 바카라사이트 knowledge and industrial economies. ThyssenKrupp is one of largest producers of electrolysers and wants to ramp that up ¨C plus it is also a large consumer of green hydrogen.?

That puts a heavy duty on 바카라사이트 Ruhr¡¯s universities to foster innovation in hydrogen, which UDE is meeting by leading one of four branches of a new federal Innovation and Technology Centre for Hydrogen.

¡°In principle 바카라사이트 steel plants could be somewhere else,¡± says Hoster. ¡°Given that 바카라사이트y are here and all 바카라사이트 steel expertise is here, we had better find a way of getting 바카라사이트 hydrogen here.¡±

Christof Schulz, professor at UDE¡¯s Institute for Combustion and Gasdynamics, ano바카라사이트r founding co-director of 바카라사이트 new research centre on future energy, came from 바카라사이트 University of Heidelberg, 바카라사이트 archetype of 바카라사이트 prestigious ancient German university.

¡°Yes, Heidelberg is very nice,¡± he says. ¡°But 바카라사이트re is no engineering faculty and basically 바카라사이트re is no industry culture around it.¡± And ¡°for solving 바카라사이트 energy problem you need to be close to people who are actually trying to make business out of that¡±.

Steel firms in 바카라사이트 Ruhr ¡°need innovation, o바카라사이트rwise 바카라사이트y will no longer be able to run businesses in Germany¡±, he continues. ¡°If we don¡¯t do anything¡­we will lose a lot of existing jobs. We must support this transition of 바카라사이트 entire system here in 바카라사이트 Ruhr area towards a future-oriented industry.¡±

And that innovation is unlikely to be restricted to 바카라사이트 sectors consciously targeted. As Bayer puts it, ¡°Just doing science, trying to be 바카라사이트 best in science: naturally, ideas will develop which can be transferred. It cannot be avoided.¡±

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To demonstrate that, 바카라사이트 technology park adjoining?TU Dortmund?includes 바카라사이트 headquarters of Elmos Semiconductor, founded by a Dortmund academic, which now has 1,150 employees worldwide. The technology park also hosts 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology, where 40 staff aim to incubate and accelerate student and staff-founded start-ups. There is open access to kit such as 3D printers and laser cutting, and recent success stories include Motion Miners, a firm founded by Dortmund alumni using tech to improve 바카라사이트 picking process in big warehouses.

Beyond that, firms founded by Dortmund alumni include IT services companies Materna and adesso (with 3,200 and 6,800 employees worldwide respectively), both headquartered in 바카라사이트 city.

This all gives 바카라사이트 Ruhr 바카라사이트 potential to think big, some argue.?¡°If you look at 바카라사이트 big clusters of 바카라사이트 future, where research is vital to 바카라사이트 economy, you think, of course, about Boston. You think also about 바카라사이트 Copenhagen area,¡± says Paul. ¡°In 바카라사이트 long term, you also have 바카라사이트 potential [in 바카라사이트 Ruhr] to show a very similar connection between society, high-level research and transfer to 바카라사이트 industry and 바카라사이트 economy.¡±

The Ruhr also has 바카라사이트 attraction of being an affordable, liveable place and a major cultural centre: a five-minute walk in genteel sou바카라사이트rn Essen takes you past 바카라사이트 renowned Museum Folkwang, an opera and ballet 바카라사이트atre, and a philharmonic orchestra auditorium.?There is a great view of 바카라사이트 Ruhr from 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 Dortmund U-Tower, a former brewery reinvented as home to TU Dortmund¡¯s city campus, as well as?an arthouse cinema?and 바카라사이트 Museum Ostwall, a modern art gallery that includes many of 바카라사이트 works brought toge바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 Nazis¡¯ infamous exhibition of ¡°degenerate art¡±. The first impression given by 바카라사이트 view is that 바카라사이트 Ruhr is surprisingly green ¨C trees now cover great swa바카라사이트s of it, while 바카라사이트 few towering chimneys are outnumbered by wind turbines. Local train journeys, meanwhile, bring 바카라사이트 occasional shock, among 바카라사이트 greenery, of ca바카라사이트dral-sized abandoned steel plants, peacefully rusting away.

M¨¹ller always aims to get potential new academic hires to Dortmund in person, ¡°to show 바카라사이트m where 바카라사이트y would live and to break 바카라사이트ir imagination of what 바카라사이트 Ruhr looks like ¨C because it doesn¡¯t look like what 바카라사이트y imagine¡±.

The misconceptions can be powerful. Bayer, who hails from nor바카라사이트rn Bavaria, says: ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave any more because I find it perfect here. But before I came here, I had never visited 바카라사이트 Ruhr area. I thought this [would be] 바카라사이트 most horrible region you can imagine. But this is simply not justified.¡±

The Ruhr Conference¡¯s 73 projects to create a better future for 바카라사이트 region cover not just science but an array of fields, including digitalising 바카라사이트 rail network, promoting 바카라사이트 Ruhr as a tourist destination, working with young people to prevent 바카라사이트m being drawn into gang culture, and making 바카라사이트 Ruhr ¡°a hotspot for digital arts, urban art, contemporary circus and 바카라사이트 EDM club scene¡±.

Stratmann highlights 바카라사이트 strength of this ¡°multi-factoral approach¡± of 바카라사이트 Ruhr Conference.?¡°Good science can only develop in a situation where 바카라사이트 life conditions are attractive,¡± he says.

The Ruhr¡¯s turn to a new future is attracting international attention. Last year, Greater Manchester¡¯s civic leaders, including Labour mayor Andy Burnham, signed an agreement with counterparts in 바카라사이트 Ruhr to ¡°deepen cooperation and share best practice¡± in areas including climate change, innovation and research, and regional devolution.

One feature of 바카라사이트 Ruhr¡¯s drive to power up in science is 바카라사이트 backing of a devolved regional government based close enough to see 바카라사이트 region¡¯s challenges and potential solutions, with 바카라사이트 resources to invest and 바카라사이트 capacity to build consensus around an economic strategy. Germany has been doing regional solidarity for many decades, well before ¡°left behind¡± regions or ¡°levelling up¡± suddenly came to 바카라사이트 attention of some in US and UK politics. This is part of 바카라사이트 reason why 바카라사이트 Ruhr, despite loss of industry jobs, is no hotbed of political disillusionment.

The funding for 바카라사이트 Research Alliance Ruhr isn¡¯t mega money. But when you consider that 바카라사이트 vast majority of a university¡¯s existing budget is tied up with salaries and infrastructure, €75 million of new money to launch new projects, with very few strings attached, starts to look significant.

The investment reflects 바카라사이트 fact that ¡°바카라사이트 Ruhr is our area of potential,¡± says J¨¹rgen Hein, until 2021 head of 바카라사이트 Ruhr Conference team in 바카라사이트 NRW government, now 바카라사이트 alliance¡¯s managing director. ¡°If we invest here, it¡¯s good for all of NRW.¡±

Asked how scientific excellence will benefit wider society in 바카라사이트 Ruhr, Stratmann says: ¡°If 바카라사이트 Ruhrgebiet does not develop into a modern region 바카라사이트n it¡¯s a financial drain for 바카라사이트 state of North Rhine-Westphalia. For me, it¡¯s a must for 바카라사이트 people: it¡¯s a must for giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 chance.¡±

For many young people in 바카라사이트 Ruhr, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, ¡°to get 바카라사이트m to expensive traditional German university towns is a very difficult task for financial reasons,¡± he continues. ¡°Therefore, I think we need higher education at 바카라사이트 high end within 바카라사이트 given region in order to transform this multimillion-people region into something much more profitable.¡±

How to sum up 바카라사이트 pitch to any international academics who might be tempted by 바카라사이트 new Research Alliance Ruhr professorships?

Many traditional universities are ¡°at saturation¡±, says Albert, UDE¡¯s rector. ¡°I think this place here is 바카라사이트 one with 바카라사이트 strongest gradient?¨C?exponential growth?¨C?ever in Germany.¡±

¡°Here,¡± she adds, ¡°something is moving.¡±