The 5th Rhine-Main Universities Day will take place on 10 November 2023. This year’s theme will be “Region Matters for U – shaping innovative science together in the Rhine-Main region”, a motto that also represents the key objective of the Rhine-Main Universities, because the best way to achieve innovation is to create synergies, share knowledge and resources and promote cooperation.

The event will be held at the Lecture Hall and Media Centre (HMZ) (L4|02) located on the Lichtwiese Campus of the Technical University of Darmstadt and will start with a panel discussion on the topic “Shaping Science in the Rhine-Main Region: the Environment for Research, Innovation and (Knowledge) Transfer”. The first panel, consisting of Clemens Hoch, Minister of State for Science and Health in Rhineland-Palatinate, Ayse Asar, State Secretary at the Hessian Ministry of Science und the Arts, Professor Tanja Weil, Institute for Polymer Research Mainz, Professor Michael Huth, Vice President of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and Professor Volker Mosbrugger, Polytechnic Foundation of Frankfurt am Main, will discuss the framework conditions that are necessary to facilitate successful transfer of knowledge and technologies. In the second panel discussion, Professor Sandra Ciesek, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Professor Nicole Deitelhoff, PRIF – Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, Professor Dieter Fellner, Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research Darmstadt, Professor Lisa Hartung, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and Professor Norbert Pietralla, Technical University of Darmstadt, will talk about how scientific innovations can be achieved through joint research projects, how to set up such joint projects and how to manage cooperations. The panel discussion will be hosted by science and education journalist Jan-Martin Wiarda.

In the afternoon, participants can choose between different options: a workshop, various guided tours and the constituent session of the RMU Assembly.

In the workshop “RMU and You – Shaping Knowledge Transfer” (90 minutes), the RMU’s transfer units invite participants to discuss current topics in the field of knowledge transfer: What do we need when it comes to start-ups and transfer? What type of tailor-made offers would be useful? In working groups led by experts from the transfer units, participants will talk about various aspects in more detail, depending on the participants’ focus of interest. For example, one working group will discuss how knowledge transfer works in general, how research results and topics can be shared with the world and which central questions and key points must be considered with regard to spin-offs or licensing. Another group will address the question why universities support transfer and start-up initiatives, what this has to do with basic research or the humanities and what each of us can do to support transfer. A third group will focus on sharing experiences and expectations and talk about how researchers and administrative units can cooperate efficiently with regard to transfer topics. When registering for the event, participants are offered the option to indicate additional topics of interest. A fourth working group will then be set up for the topic that is mentioned the most during the registration process.

As an alternative, participants can choose between three guided tours. The first tour is a guided tour of the ETA Fabrik model factory, which serves as a tool and demonstrator for innovations in the fields of energy efficiency, energy flexibility and resource efficiency in production. In the second guided tour, participants can visit the Glass Competence Center (GCC), a center for research into glass construction that combines all essential processes in flat glass processing – from cutting and grinding to finishing. The third guided tour introduces participants to the emergenCITY eHub living lab, an energy self-sufficient smart home that is equipped with numerous solar cells. Here, research is conducted into technology for overcoming crises and catastrophes, in particular long-lasting, nationwide power outages.

Members of the Rhine-Main Universities can also participate in the constituent session of the RMU Assembly which is composed of delegates from the Senates of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Technical University of Darmstadt.

Marlar Kin, managing director of the new central office of the Rhine-Main Universities established in March 2023, is looking forward to the 5th Day of the Rhine-Main Universities: “The Rhine-Main Universities aim to develop the Rhine-Main Region into a leading and highly attractive region of science. The exchange of knowledge with partner organizations and the public and the existing framework for research and innovation play a key role in this regard. That’s why I’m very pleased that we were able to win well-known personalities for the panel discussion, and I’m looking forward to the exchange of ideas in the workshop. I’m sure that at the end of the day we will have gained a lot of new and valuable insights that will help all of us to strengthen the Rhine-Main Region as a region of science.”

The Day of the Rhine-Main Universities which has been held on a rotating basis in Frankfurt, Mainz and Darmstadt since 2019, is always dedicated to the key objectives of the Rhine-Main Universities. In 2022, the Day of the Rhine-Main Universities focused on scientists in their early career phases as well as the academic mid-level faculty. Previous topics were research (2021), teaching and learning (2020) and the potential of the cross-federal state alliance (2019). The Rhine-Main Universities alliance was founded in 2015 and is based on the idea of a powerful strategic alliance, led by a team of strong independent partners. Through coordination and close cooperation, they foster improvement in research, learning and teaching, knowledge transfer and science communication. To further strengthen cooperation, a central office and a new governance with various committees such as the RMU Assembly have been established this year.

Registration for the Rhine-Main Universities Day and the afternoon program is now open until 2 November 2023 at https://eveeno.com/rmu5.