First Future Conference NRW
First Future Conference NRW at the University of Duisburg-Essen (from left to right): Prof. Dr. Oliver Locker Grütjen (President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and representative of the NRW Sustainability Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences), Ina Brandes (Minister of Science and patron of the NRW Future Conference), Prof. Dr. Birgitta Wolff (Rector of the University of Wuppertal and spokesperson of the Humboldtⁿ Universities Sustainability Initiative) and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Manfred Fischedick (President and Scientific Managing Director of the Wuppertal Institute and co-spokesperson of Humboldtⁿ).
North Rhine-Westphalia is facing major transformation tasks - from climate change to the mobility transition and digitalization. In order to develop viable, sustainable solutions and implement them together with politics, business and society, representatives from 16 universities and 20 universities of applied sciences from North Rhine-Westphalia came together for the first NRW Future Conference - including the University of Siegen.
The combined expertise shows: Science is putting itself at the service of the state's major transformation tasks. The outstanding findings of basic research are to be put to practical use more quickly in order to achieve the state's sustainability goals faster.
Ina Brandes, Minister of Science and patron of the Future Conference NRW: "The density and excellence of our research landscape with its outstanding universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutes is unique in Europe. The Future Conference pools this outstanding expertise and brings politics, science and business together. The close cooperation between universities and universities of applied sciences is particularly beneficial: it combines excellent research with practical teaching and direct transfer to industry and society. Only by working closely together will we succeed in achieving our sustainability goals."
The Future Conference NRW was initiated by the Sustainability Initiative of the Humboldtⁿ Universities and the Sustainability Alliance NAW.NRW of the Universities of Applied Sciences. Both networks pool the state's scientific expertise in order to more closely interlink research, transfer and policy advice for a sustainable future. The Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia is funding the conference with around 1.9 million euros.
Cooperation space for synergies
Prof. Dr. Birgitta Wolff, Rector of the University of Wuppertal and spokesperson for the sustainability initiative of the Humboldtⁿ Universities, explains: "North Rhine-Westphalia is a state of science. With this conference, we are creating a scouting and cooperation format to make solutions from the depths of the NRW research community more visible and bring them to fruition. We want to bring together the best ideas and minds in order to jointly advance the implementation of the NRW sustainability strategy."
Prof. Dr. Oliver Locker-Grütjen, President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and spokesperson for the NRW Sustainability Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, emphasizes: "The challenges of climate change, energy transition and social participation can only be solved together. The Future Conference NRW is a strong signal that our universities are taking responsibility together - across disciplines and university types. We would like to thank the University of Duisburg-Essen for providing the space on its campus and the Ministry for its support."
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Manfred Fischedick, President and Scientific Director of the Wuppertal Institute and co-spokesperson for Humboldtⁿ, emphasizes: "Especially in today's world, which is characterized by a variety of geopolitical crises, increasing social polarization and a high level of uncertainty, it is crucial that the state's scientific players join forces and contribute to the development of concrete solutions. The conditions for this are particularly good in NRW with its excellent science base."
About the Future Conference
The two-day Future Conference (12 November to 13 November 2025) at the University of Duisburg-Essen focused on the state's major transformation tasks: sustainable energy supply, climate-friendly mobility, industrial transformation, digitalization and social cohesion. In interdisciplinary future workshops, researchers, politicians and civil society worked together to develop ideas on how to effectively implement sustainability goals. After the conference, topic mentors will further strengthen networking in the individual areas.
The conference is expected to result in joint projects in which the various stakeholders from science, business and society will develop concrete solution strategies. This is also intended to support the state government.
