Project Description

The objective of the project is to link the university’s further development with the challenges of regional development in South Westphalia and neighboring municipalities. Several subprojects will address a wide range of topics, ranging from issues of technological development, urban development, and culture to structural innovation in social and health-related services. To this end, the project will proactively engage with the regional interests of local stakeholders who wish to collaborate with the university to address specific challenges facing rural-industrialized areas. Through a coordinated approach, the project aims to develop model strategies for the successful co-evolution of the university and the region, which can then be applied to similarly structured regions.

The IPEM Chair is participating in the subproject “Work and Digitalization.” In collaboration with regional SMEs, the subproject pursues the vision of researching a machine park specialized in small-batch production combined with the design of innovative IT components, which requires a social partnership approach in digitalization projects. In particular, new manufacturing techniques, such as additive manufacturing of plastics and metals, can help leverage the new degrees of freedom in tool design, which also enable the integration of sensor systems into tools.

On behalf of the IPEM Chair at the University of Siegen, our research associate Fabian Kost
is serving as project manager. Further information can be found on the FUSION project website .