The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is providing funding totalling around four million euros to support the establishment of a 3D centre of excellence at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences on the Kamp-Lintfort campus and a start-up initiative at the university.
Garrelt Duin, Minister for Economic Affairs, has presented two grant notifications totalling around four million euros for the establishment of a 3D centre of excellence and an innovation and start-up initiative in the Lower Rhine region. When presenting the grant notifications to the President of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences and other project leaders from Ruhr-West University of Applied Sciences in Mülheim, RWTH Aachen University and the University of Duisburg-Essen, Minister Duin emphasised: “The innovative strength of small and medium-sized enterprises is crucial to their ability to weather crises resiliently. These projects help to improve the exchange of knowledge between research and industry, thereby also strengthening the innovative capacity of businesses in the region.”
Additive manufacturing and 3D printing are an integral part of Industry 4.0 processes. The establishment of a 3D printing centre of excellence at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kamp-Lintfort is intended to drive forward the transfer of innovation, knowledge and technology between research and industry. The state government is providing €3.3 million in funding for the collaborative project involving Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve, its project partner Ruhr-West University of Applied Sciences in Mülheim, and RWTH Aachen University. This makes it the project with the highest funding allocation under the Regio.NRW call for proposals.
Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences and the University of Duisburg-Essen have set themselves the joint aim of bringing together entrepreneurs and experts from the academic world to collaborate on projects through various event formats. Start-up activities originating from universities in the Lower Rhine region are to be strengthened through an innovation network and the establishment of a platform to support innovation at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The state government is supporting the project over the next three years with funding of approximately 700,000 euros.
Funding for both projects comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and state funds. A panel of experts recommended the projects for funding last year as part of the Regio.NRW call for proposals.
