KIWi@work Receives the Third Star from REGIONALE 2025
KIWi@work Receives the Third Star from REGIONALE 2025
The KIWi@work research project was awarded the third star of REGIONALE 2025 at the Südwestfalen Festival. With this highest honor from the structural program, the project officially moves into the implementation phase. KIWi@work aims to research and develop practical applications of artificial intelligence to create a barrier-free and inclusive workplace in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district.
The project has a total budget of approximately 1.13 million euros, of which 1.01 million euros is funded by grants.
KIWi@work is coordinated by the University of Siegen under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Claudia Müller, Chair of Business Information Systems, with a focus on IT for an aging society, in collaboration with the Chair of Business Information Systems and New Media and the Siegen Institute for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMI). The project consortium is interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary in nature and combines academic expertise with partners from the field. The Siegen-Wittgenstein/Olpe district association of Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) is an experienced player in the social economy that facilitates access to real-world application contexts. This enables research and development to be carried out in collaboration with future users in practical settings.
The ceremony to award the third star took place on July 1 as part of the South Westphalia Festival at Sauerlandpark Hemer. Sven Bittenbinder accepted the award on behalf of Prof. Dr. Claudia Müller’s chair.
The third star underscores the project’s significance for the region and recognizes the innovative research approach that brings together academia, business, and social practice to sustainably advance the use of AI technologies for an inclusive workplace.
Figure 1: Sven Bittenbinder (center, black top, jeans) from the Chair of Business Information Systems, with a focus on IT for an Aging Society, at the University of Siegen, accepts the third star from the REGIONALE 25 funding program on behalf of the KIWi@work project consortium. Also on stage are representatives of other award-winning projects. The stars were presented by Daniel Sieveke (State Secretary of the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Home Affairs, Local Government, Construction, and Digitalization) and Ralf Schwarzkopf (District Administrator of the Märkischer Kreis and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Südwestfalen Agency). Source: Südwestfalen Agency / Udo Geisler
Digital Assistance Systems as the Key to Success
The goal of KIWi@work (full title: “Building Competence and Knowledge for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in the Workplace”) is to make the workplace in South Westphalia more inclusive and accessible. The focus is on modern digital assistance systems that support businesses and employees. So-called “KIWi Scouts” bring together knowledge from both theory and practice for this purpose. They analyze which digital aids are available, what needs exist within companies, and how accessible workplaces can be financially supported. The knowledge gathered is then consolidated on a digital platform and made available to other companies.
“Companies in South Westphalia and people with disabilities should benefit equally from KIWi@work. We show how an aging workforce can maintain optimal workplaces and how new skilled workers with disabilities can secure optimal jobs. Through our project, companies can fulfill their social responsibility while simultaneously creating a competitive advantage for the entire region.”
— Univ.-Prof. Dr. Claudia Müller, University of Siegen
Figure 2: Exhibition of the KIWi@work project in the Project Alley at the Sudwestfalen Festival. Pictured at the project’s booth (from left): Sven Bittenbinder, Philipp Gröll, Claudius Clüver, and Claudia Müller, head of the Chair of Business Information Systems, with a focus on IT for an aging society, at the University of Siegen.
A Strong Network for the Region
To ensure the project’s success, the University of Siegen is relying on a transdisciplinary consortium. Key industry partners include the Siegen-Wittgenstein/Olpe district chapter of Arbeiterwohlfahrt and its Siegen workshops. The project is also supported by a broad regional network:
- Davids Grünservice
- Karimu Conference Center (Wycliff e.V.)
- AWO Inklusionsbetriebe GmbH
- Siegen Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and South Westphalia Chamber of Crafts
- Center for Planning and Development of Social Services
- Employment Agency
- LWL Inclusion Office for Employment
With its third star, KIWi@work sends a strong signal in support of digitally-enabled knowledge development, social responsibility, and the sustainable retention of skilled workers in the South Westphalia region.
