North Rhine-Westphalia
In its innovation strategy focused on the lead markets of the future, North Rhine-Westphalia is pursuing the goal of identifying new innovation potential early on, developing existing strengths and creating a social climate that is more conducive to innovation by closely networking all players along the value chain. An important element in implementing this lead market strategy are the 14 state clusters supported by the state.
In their thematic fields, the state clusters work closely with regional and/or specialist networks. In addition, the state government supports the formation of networks in important future fields in science and industry. These are selected examples of this:
The Stammzellnetzwerk NRW e.V. concentrates research work in adult and embryonic stem cell research. The network is an initiative founded in 2002 and is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of NRW. It comprises the two working groups Biomedicine and Ethics-Law-Social Sciences. The network bundles the competences of the biomedical and ethical-legal-social-scientific expertises located in NRW in order to make stem cell research responsible and transparent. The tasks of the competence networks include the bundling of activities in the field of stem cell research, the initiation and accompaniment of the public discourse on the subject of stem cell research, the promotion of young scientists and the international representation of NRW as a research base in the field of stem cell research.
In the technology network Intelligente Teschnische Systeme OstWestfalenLippe (it's OWL), more than 180 companies, universities, research institutes and organizations have joined forces to jointly shape the innovative leap from mechatronics to intelligent technical systems. World market leaders in mechanical engineering, the electrical, electronics and automotive supplier industries, as well as internationally renowned top research institutions, are joining forces in the Leading-Edge Cluster. The common goal: a top position for the OWL region in the global competition for intelligent technical systems.
The state cabinet has decided to set up a state-wide competence platform for artificial intelligence (KI.NRW). The mission is to build North Rhine-Westphalia into a leading location in applied artificial intelligence throughout Germany in the coming years - through excellence in research and education, successful technology transfer to industry and ethically responsible implementation. Research, business and education are to be strengthened in a triad: For successful AI in North Rhine-Westphalia, it is crucial that more research is conducted at the interface to application, that a rapid transfer of research results succeeds, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises, and that employees in the companies are qualified. All measures must involve the people of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is funding the Competence Center 5G.NRW with around 3.6 million euros over a period of three years. The Competence Center monitors current trends and developments related to 5G, analyzes potential for the innovation ecosystem in North Rhine-Westphalia and holds events. With the help of the experimental platforms and demonstration labs, SMEs in particular should be able to test 5G.
(last update: February 2022)
