With today's signing of the target agreements by the Rhineland-Palatinate Science Minister Clemens Hoch, Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller, President of Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society (HWG LU), and Prof. Dr. Hans Rück, Vice President at Worms University of Applied Sciences, the two universities in Worms and Ludwigshafen will each receive additional funding of 150,000 euros annually for the further expansion of their research activities over the next five years. As part of the signing ceremony, the two universities presented their research priorities in keynote speeches and a poster exhibition.
Since 2008, the research initiative has strengthened Rhineland-Palatinate's state universities in the competition for young scientists, outstanding researchers and funding. The funds from the research initiative are available to the universities in addition to their basic funding for the development and expansion of their research profiles.
As part of the research initiative, a new target agreement will be concluded for the years 2024 to 2028 between the Ministry of Science and Health of Rhineland-Palatinate (MWG) and the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society and Worms University of Applied Sciences.
The state of Rhineland-Palatinate is thus supporting the scientific projects of the Ludwigshafen and Worms universities with a total of 750,000 euros each. The contracts for the corresponding target agreements were signed by Science Minister Clemens Hoch for the Ministry, President Gunther Piller for the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society and Vice President Hans Rück for the Worms University of Applied Sciences.
"The research initiative not only promotes research at our universities, but also strengthens their exchange with each other, with companies and society through the transfer of knowledge and innovation. With funding of around 750,000 euros for each of our two universities of applied sciences in Ludwigshafen and Worms, we as the state government are not only making an important contribution to strengthening their national and international competitive position, but are also strengthening Rhineland-Palatinate as a research location," says Science Minister Clemens Hoch. The funds from the research initiative support our universities in the targeted further development of the research areas they have identified themselves and in strengthening their research profile. According to Hoch, this strategy is bearing fruit, as demonstrated by the universities' successful acquisition of third-party funding.
The research initiative focuses on supporting selected areas in which the universities want to intensify their scientific activities. The support is intended to enable the so-called profile areas, for example, to continue to compete successfully for research funding both nationally and internationally.
Profileareas at Worms University of Applied Sciences
The new profile areas "Smart Tourism and Mobility" and "Digital Life" are being developed at Worms University of Applied Sciences. In these areas, the University of Applied Sciences Worms deals with all topics that advance tourism and mobility as well as all topics related to digitalization. These areas are currently undergoing an immense process of change and growth. The topic of sustainability plays an important role here.
Making city centers more attractive is also a topic that has already been addressed in various projects in the past and will continue to play a central role in the research activities of Worms University of Applied Sciences in the future. Research groups and institutions such as the Center for Technology and Transfer (ZTT), Competence Center of Aviation Management (CCAM), the Institute of Business Travel Management (IBTS) and the Interdisciplinary Center for Digital Experience Design (IZEd) are actively driving research in the fields of smart tourism and mobility and digital life and supporting the development of the profile areas.
"The research initiative of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate is an ideal opportunity for Worms University of Applied Sciences to further expand its research focus. It benefits both researchers and education, which are closely interlinked. This benefits our students in particular," says a delighted Prof. Dr. Henning Kehr, Vice President for Research at Worms University of Applied Sciences.
Profile area of Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
The research strategy of HWG LU is geared towards the big questions of our time: The potential area "Transformation Processes in Business and Society" deals with the cross-sectional topics of digitalization, sustainability/sustainability, new work, demographic development and their interfaces in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner in line with the university's specific focus on business, health and social affairs. Research focuses, for example, on the use of social, ecological and economic resources. New spatial concepts as well as agile forms of organization and changed management structures are of interest to companies and organizations in the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar and beyond. Finally, research in the field of health focuses on midwifery and nursing sciences, healthcare research and health economics.
"Good research and successful transfer between the university and companies as well as civil society and public institutions strengthens the university's role as a regional driving force. The intensive examination of current issues also keeps education up to date. This is why the promotion of research achievements is very valuable for all members of the university, including students," says university president Gunther Piller.
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Hochschule Worms | HWG LU |
