The criteria for taking part in the ‘Klever Birne’ are very simple: the idea must not have been implemented in Kleve before. Furthermore, it must address at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. This year, 23 ideas focusing on environmental, economic and/or social sustainability were submitted. Ten projects were selected by a jury comprising staff from HSRW and the City of Kleve for the grand final on 12 September 2024. The finalist teams were prepared for their presentation to the jury and the public in two workshops held at the HSRW lecture theatre centre.
First prize, worth €2,000, was awarded to the Kleve Vocational Training Centre for its project idea ‘17 Raised Beds’. The collaborative networking aspect and the ease of implementation convinced the jury. Second prize, worth €1,500, went to the ‘EcoParkKleve’ group. Their comprehensive sustainability concept stood out in particular. The “Marketing Professionals” from the Joseph Beuys Comprehensive School were awarded third prize for their project “Green Walls”. They were delighted to receive prize money of €1,000.
In the Student Impact Award, Danial Sharghi impressed the jury with his idea for the ‘KleveConnect’ app. The jury highlighted the community aspect, direct marketing and the regional focus. Danial Sharghi, a student at HSRW, was delighted to receive prize money of €1,000. Visitors to the event were also invited to vote for their favourite. 46 per cent of those present voted for the ‘green classroom’ idea from the Joseph Beuys Comprehensive School. The pupils of Class 9a, their teacher and the school management team in attendance were presented with a pear tree as a prize. All prize-winners will also receive coaching from the City of Kleve and HSRW, if required.
Thursday afternoon was the big day. The presentation tables were set up, information posters hung on the display boards, and the teams were making their final preparations. Before the jury set off to listen to the short presentations by the individual teams, Wolfgang Gebing, Mayor of the City of Kleve, and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at the HSRW and Project Manager for TransRegINT, welcomed the more than 100 visitors and finalists.
Wolfgang Gebing addressed everyone present in a compelling manner: “We must manage our affairs, plan and act in such a way that our children and grandchildren will still find a world worth living in – and that applies not only to the environment, but also to society and the economy.” He described the collaboration between HSRW and the City of Kleve as “a wonderful example of how local authorities and educational institutions can work hand in hand to shape a sustainable future.” He, like Prof. Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen, President of HSRW, was optimistic that the Kleve Pear would continue to have a firm place in the programmes of both HSRW and the City of Kleve in the future.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters reflected on recent events and expressed his delight at the strong sense of responsibility shown by the citizens of Kleve, as demonstrated, for example, in January this year when thousands gathered for a demonstration in support of democracy and diversity. “Taking responsibility, taking a stand and taking action” are also essential today when it comes to climate change. “We must take action here and now. Climate change is not a future threat, but a present reality. Climate adaptation measures are our responsibility,” he urged those present. This makes the ‘Klever Birne’ all the more important, as it implements far-sighted ideas locally as a small contribution, thereby creating a global impact.
“It was a close contest,” said Prof. Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen. Speaking on behalf of the jury, he expressed his heartfelt thanks to all participants and highlighted the “incredible commitment” shown in the pitches. “It’s not easy to present a complete project idea in three minutes.” The jury had reached a unanimous decision; ultimately, it came down to the details.
Alongside Wolfgang Gebing and Prof. Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen, the jury also included Kira Mertens, education officer at Wasserburg Rindern; Katharina Segers from the Kleve District Climate Protection Working Group; and Falko Mesch, a member of Fridays for Future Kleve. They particularly praised the networking opportunities offered by the ‘Klever Birne’, as well as the motivational aspect of the creative ideas.
Background
The ‘Klever Birne’ ideas competition is a collaboration between the TransRegINT project at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and the City of Kleve. The sustainability prize was awarded for the first time in 2023. One of the aims is to raise awareness of sustainability issues amongst people in Kleve and the surrounding area and to identify areas for innovation. With the project ‘TransRegINT – Transformation of the Lower Rhine Region: Innovation, Sustainability, Participation’, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences has set itself the goal of helping to shape sustainable change in the region on a science-based foundation. The project is funded by the ‘Innovative University’ programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. This funding initiative supports universities in finding creative solutions to the pressing challenges of our time, based on research findings. ‘TransRegINT’ will receive funding of just under ten million euros until the end of 2027. This will enable the development of solutions to shape the region’s future in line with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
