In addition to the startup centers’ traditional offers, the RMU Startup Academy provides a digital platform with practice-oriented courses designed by the startup centers and external partners such as the High-Tech Gründerfonds. The focus is on a blended learning approach, i.e. a combination of various formats such as classic in-person consultation or online consultation with accompanying online courses.

Increased spin-off potential and support for Futury – The Future Factory

As part of the offers are provided in digitalized form, potential entrepreneurs can be supported in a flexible, targeted and efficient manner on their path from coming up with an idea to successfully setting up their own company. The long-term aim is to increase the number of successful spin-offs in the Rhine-Main region significantly and to better utilize the universities’ innovative potential. 

This is an important element and offer in the setup of Futury – The Future Factory, which, jointly with the Rhine-Main Universities and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, is currently in the process of applying for federal funding in the context of the Startup Factories lighthouse competition of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK)). Together, the partners want to develop the Rhine-Main region into a unique startup and innovation hotspot for sustainable, technology- and knowledge-based entrepreneurship with international appeal.

Impact beyond the Rhine-Main region

The launch of the RMU Startup Academy emphasizes the potential of the Rhine-Main region as a hotspot for innovation. By pooling competences and integrating digital solutions the strategic RMU alliance are sending a strong message underlining the sustainability of the three universities. 

“The RMU Startup Academy shows how we can strengthen the innovative power of the Rhine-Main region in the long term through close cooperation and digitalization”, says Harald Holzer, managing director of HIGHEST. “The project is not only a milestone for our universities, but also a signal to anyone who wants to start a business and create innovation in our region.”

Florine von Caprivi, co-founder of reteach, the provider of the learning management system on which the RMU Academy has been set up, adds: “The RMU Startup Academy offers startup teams the tools and support I wish I would have had in the early stages of my own startup projects. It is inspiring to see how the platform offers access to practical resources and an ideal addition to traditional in-person services.”

Dr. Michael Fuchs, Head of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer department at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, states: “We are currently experiencing fantastic dynamics in the region and, at the same time, observe that the members of our universities show a great interest in the topic of startups. The RMU Startup Academy helps us to support potential entrepreneurs in the best possible way to develop their ideas into viable business models.”

Melissa Ott, managing director of Futury, emphasizes: “The RMU Academy is a significant milestone in establishing the startup ecosystem in the region – in particular also for the future offers of the Startup Factory Futury.”

Felipe Macias, head of the Unibator startup center at Goethe University, points out: “Through the combination of digital formats and personal support, we offer potential entrepreneurs the flexibility and support they need for successfully setting up their business. We are delighted to be able to use synergies through cooperation within the startup network.”

Easy access and personal support

The project’s landing page offers a first glimpse into the goals and offers of the RMU Startup Academy. The startup centers of the universities Frankfurt, Mainz and Darmstadt as well as the University Medical Center Mainz are available as competent points of contact for direct access to the diverse content and courses on offer. This personal approach ensures that every potential entrepreneur receives tailored support for their needs and ideas. “We invite everyone who is interested to discover the opportunities offered by the RMU Startup Academy and to shape innovation together with our startup coaches”, says Harald Holzer.

Link to the landing page: https://rmu-startup-academy.com/

Mental disorders are widespread and frequently severe. Risk factors promoting mental illness and resilience factors protecting against mental illness are the subject matter of neuroscientific research. The aim is to better understand the mechanisms affecting the brain to be able to preventatively address mental disorders at an early stage.

At the 7th rmn² lecture, Prof. Dr. Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, director of the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) in Mannheimmedical director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) and professor at Heidelberg University and Medical Faculty Mannheim will present his research approach in more detail. In his lecture “Gehirn und Umwelt – Risiken und Resilienz”, he will discuss his approach in the light of environmental risk factors (e.g. urbanity) and resilience factors (e.g. experience of nature) and present new findings from which preventative and therapeutic measures can be derived in the future, for example with regard to cities and towns as living environments. 

Professor Meyer-Lindberg’s lecture will be preceded by welcome speeches by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susann Schweiger, spokesperson of rmn² and director of the Institute of Human Genetics at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the acting scientific director of the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Schild, and the rmn² deputy spokesperson Prof. Dr. Andreas Reif of University Hospital Frankfurt. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Klaus Lieb, director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and scientific director of Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) will be the host of the event.

About the rhine-main neuroscience network (rmn²)

The rhine-main neuroscience network (rmn²) is a strong alliance of neuroscience institutions in the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. Members are Goethe University Frankfurt with the Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz with the Focus Program Translational Neurosciences and Technical University of Darmstadt together with the Institute for Molecular Biology and Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research in Mainz, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies as well as the Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience and the Max Planck Institutes for Brain Research and Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt. Together with Berlin and Munich, the rmn² is a center for brain research in Germany with international visibility.

German text: Universitätsmedizin Mainz

The changes on X – from algorithmic amplification of right-wing populist content to the restriction of organic reach – make its continued use unjustifiable for the organizations involved. By leaving X, these institutions reaffirm their commitment to fact-based communication and opposition to anti-democratic forces. The values that promote diversity, freedom, and science are no longer upheld on the platform.

Several institutions that had already ceased their activities on the platform are also supporting this joint appeal and thus reaffirm the importance of an open and constructive culture of discussion. This decision only affects the X accounts of the participating institutions and not their communication via other social media channels. In light of recent events, the universities and research institutions will continue to closely monitor the development of the platforms and their algorithms.

List of participating universities and research institutions:

• Alanus Hochschule für Kunst und Gesellschaft
• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Berliner Hochschule für Technik
• Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus – Senftenberg
• Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft
• Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln
• Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
• Fachhochschule Dortmund
• FernUniversität in Hagen
• Freie Universität Berlin
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
• HAWK Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
• Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Hochschule Anhalt
• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
• Hochschule Darmstadt
• Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar
• Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg
• Hochschule für Philosophie München
• Hochschule Furtwangen
• Hochschule München
• Hochschule Neubrandenburg
• Hochschule Osnabrück
• Hochschule RheinMain
• Hochschule Ruhr West
• Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Institut für Vogelforschung
• Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Justus-Liebig-Gesellschaft
• Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• Katholische Hochschule Nordrhein-Westfalen
• Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal
• Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung
• Leibniz-Institut für Ostseeforschung Warnemünde
• Medizinische Universität Innsbruck
• Philipps-Universität Marburg
• RWTH Aachen
• Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola
• Technische Hochschule Köln
• Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Technische Universität Darmstadt
• Technische Universität Dresden
• Universität Bamberg
• Universität Bayreuth
• Universität der Künste Berlin
• Universität des Saarlandes
• Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Universität Erfurt
• Universität Greifswald
• Universität Heidelberg
• Universität Innsbruck
• Universität Münster
• Universität Potsdam
• Universität Siegen
• Universität Trier
• Universität Ulm
• Universität Würzburg
• Universität zu Lübeck
• Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau

Source: Joint press release of german-speaking universitites and research institutions (link below)

Thomas Thelen, Generalfeldmarschall of Mainzer Ranzengarde, stated: „Today, we are honoring a person who has become indispensable for the city of Mainz: the President of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Professor Georg Krausch.“

„It goes without saying that we, as Ranzengarde, keep a close eye on who is working to help our city move forward and is making an impact", said Thelen. He explained that the title of„Ranzengardist“ is an award for people who roll up their sleeves to improve things and who are very clear about what they do, "in line with the tradition of our political-literary carnival“. And this, he said, is a precise characterization of the man who has been at the helm of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 2007: Professor Georg Krausch. 

"Our city is very lucky to have you", added Nino Haase, the mayor of Mainz, in thanking University President Krausch who, according to Haase, has fulfilled his office since 2007 "with great dedication and commitment“, has significantly developed research and the university campus and has brought a lot of young people to Mainz. He stated: "You are fully aware of the fact that a university is not a self-contained system, but has an effect on the city, and this is something that we must probably put into practice to an even greater extent. This is why I am particularly pleased that this title is awarded to you."

„I am very honored“, stated Krausch, adding: „I am delighted to receive this award and I am thrilled to receive the Kapp". Following the laudatory speech by last year's honoree, cardiologist Thomas Münzel of Mainz,  Krausch not only received the title of "Ranzengardist", but was also presented with the Kappe (hat) of Ranzengarde, making the University President an official member of the Mainzer Ranzengarde.

„If there is one university where you can wear the jester's hat and the chain of office, it's Mainz – even more so as the jester's hat allows you say whatever you want", said Krausch, emphasizing that he will take the award with him to the university, because "such successes are not possible without teamwork". He stated that he is particularly pleased that the award also places a spotlight on the university: "We need the universities, we need them more than ever", he emphasized – because it is within the universities that „complex questions are being discussed calmly and with expert knowledge“ and where research leads to progress.

Source: Physiker, Musiker, Clown: Mainzer Ranzengardist an Unipräsident Georg Krausch verliehen - "Schorsch, is des schee!" - Mainz& (Gisela Kirschstein)

The following researchers have been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant:

• Prof. Dr. Julian Garritzmann (Goethe University Frankfurt) for his project “POLEDUC – The Politics of the Latent Educational Cleavage” focusing on the political fault line which is increasingly emerging between groups with different educational backgrounds causing a divide that is gradually emerging as a central axis of political conflict
• Prof. Dr. Joel Thiago Klein (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt) for his project “LSR – LAW, STATE, REPUBLIC: An Interpretation and Defense of a Kantian Critical Reflective Constructivism” examining whether new perspectives arising from Kant’s philosophy of law can make a contribution to contemporary normative challenges in political philosophy, to the philosophy of law and to political and legal theory

With the ERC Consolidator Grant, the European Research Council supports excellent, promising researchers whose research group is in the consolidation phase. The grant seeks to enable them to expand their own research area and conduct visionary, basic research. With a funding volume of up to 2 million euros for five years, the Consolidator Grant is one of the European Union’s most highly endowed individual funding measures.

The following researchers have been awarded an ERC Starting Grant:

• Prof. Dr. Johannes Wahl (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) for his project “Molecular Editing by Nitrogen Insertion – NINSERT”, which aims to facilitate the synthesis of new molecules that could serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients
• Prof. Dr. Eric Helfrich (Goethe University Frankfurt) for his project “COMBINE – Bacterial Alkaloid Biosynthesis off the Beaten Path: Compartmentalization and Non-Enzymatic Transformations in Non-Canonical Alkaloid Biosynthesis” focusing on how bacteria produce complex biomolecules that constitute the basis of many drugs
• Dr. Hannah Uckelmann (Goethe University Frankfurt) for her project “EpiTransformers – Targeting epigenetic regulators during leukemia evolution” investigating how epigenetic changes can turn blood stem cells into leukemia cells 
• Prof. Georgia Chalvatzi (TU Darmstadt) for her project “SIREN – Structured Interactive Perception and Learning for Holistic Robotic Embodied Intelligence” focusing on research on integrated software architectures enabling human-like robots to perform challenging tasks in unstructured environments
• Prof. Justus Thies (TU Darmstadt) for his project “LeMo – Learning Digital Humans in Motion” aimed at the development of AI-based image processing and graphic tools to create lifelike digital representations of people for the immersive digital world
• Dr. Alexander Tichai (TU Darmstadt) for his project “DeformedNuclei – Ab initio pathways to deformed nuclei” focusing on the development of new methods for investigating deformed nuclei and analyzing the effects of interaction models on the predicted nuclear properties
• Dr. Pelin Tozman (TU Darmstadt) for her project “MAG-TOOL – New Sustainable Fe-rich Magnet using a predictive Alloy and Microstructure Design Toolbox”, where she researches resource-friendly, safe and affordable permanent magnets used, among other things, in electric vehicles and wind turbines

With the ERC Starting Grant, the ERC support excellent researchers who want to build up their own research team in the first few years after their doctorate and establish themselves scientifically with a promising research project. The projects receive funding of up to 1.5 million euros over a period of up to five years.

In his welcome speech, Prof. Dr. Stefan Müller-Stach, Vice President for Research and Early Career Academics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) emphasized the importance the RMU alliance has for science: “Networking and cooperation across the three universities and across subject areas is the key to innovation and excellence. By pooling competences and adopting new approaches, we are shaping the Rhine-Main region as an integrated, globally attractive and competitive region of science.”

The conference offered a varied program that gave the participating VARM partners the opportunity to present their joint projects, with a particular focus on research initiatives involving several cooperation partners within the network. VARM spokesman Prof. Dr. Wicke highlighted the successes and future prospects of the network: “With VARM, we created a platform that brings together scientists from different archaeological disciplines and institutions. There are not many regions in Germany with such a high number of institutions and researchers active in or for archeology. We must make use of this and allow everyone to profit from this.”

The event was also a testament to the close connection between the RMU alliance and VARM. Joint networks such as VARM not only contribute to strengthening research, but also help intensify the exchange among scientists in the Rhine-Main region. The response generated by the annual conference shows the immense interest in this type of cooperation – which has already successfully been put into practice in various joint research projects.

The next annual VARM conference is planned to take place in 2025 at Goethe University Frankfurt. It will be exciting to see which topics and developments will be the focus then.

The CEDITRAA research project addresses nothing less than a new world order in cultural production. While US-American cultural production dominated the world in the 20th century, new players have emerged in recent decades as a result of digitalization: In Asia, South Korea's culture is gaining in importance, while in Africa, Nigerian film and music production has become one of the largest industries of its kind in the world. Since 2021, the joint project CEDITRAA, operated by the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) partners Goethe University Frankfurt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, together with Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos, Nigeria, has been investigating cultural entrepreneurs and the opportunities that arise for them as a result of the digital transformation in cultural production. The project will now receive another three years of funding to the tune of almost €1.4 million; this follows an earlier €2.1 million in funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s (BMBF) Regional Studies funding line. The RMU joint project will start on January 1, 2025. In addition to Goethe University and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the strategic Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) alliance also includes TU Darmstadt.

As part of the second phase, the project’s 18 scientists are changing their perspective: having previously focused on cultural production, they are now turning to its distribution. Their underlying assumption is that the new distribution channels themselves constitute a factor in media production and that the question of how to control channels and distribution networks will determine whether there will emerge a shift in emphasis away from the traditional cultural industries. While this shows that artists and cultural entrepreneurs alike are already taking advantage of the benefits of digital infrastructures – like portals or platforms – during media production, at the same time a lot depends on who owns and controls this infrastructure. The central questions asked by the researchers include: Do TikTok and portals like YouTube, Netflix or irokotv, Spotify and Boomplay shape cultural formats? And how do globally active online communities emerge in the process of music production that are simultaneously locally shaped and rooted? 

The participating researchers come from different disciplines: In addition to ethnology and African studies, Korean studies, sinology, film studies and economics are also represented – making the joint project both interdisciplinary and international. In addition, CEDITRAA also uses the existing research infrastructures of the Frankfurt-based Centre for Interdisciplinary African Studies (ZIAF) and the Interdisciplinary Centre for East Asian Studies (IZO) as well as the Georg Forster Forum (GFF) at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. 

When it comes to securing data and results, CEDITRAA benefits from the cooperation with the Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, Europe's leading institution for digital research and education platforms in the film sector. At Goethe University, CEDITRAA will also cooperate with the new Center for Critical Computational Studies C3S (https://www.c3s-frankfurt.de), where digital methods of researching social transformation processes will be critically tested.