It’s done: Manfred Bayer, President of TU Dortmund University (left), and Martin Paul, President (Rector) of Ruhr University Bochum, have submitted their joint Consortium of Excellence application. The two universities are competing together as Ruhr Innovation Lab.
Year in review
That was 2025
In our photo gallery, we look back at the highlights of the year.
Together with TU Dortmund University, we applied as a consortium in the Excellence Strategy after having acquired three Clusters of Excellence at both locations. And our Ruhr University community sent a clear signal in support of democracy and diversity. These were two of many highlights that made 2025 a special year, as our review in pictures shows:
At the annual academic ceremony, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Science, Ina Brandes, praises both Ruhr University and the University Alliance Ruhr. She too eagerly awaits the decision in the Excellence Strategy and pledges her support for the “Ruhr Innovation Lab.”
Two universities, one mission: Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University are joining forces in the second funding line of the Excellence Strategy as “Ruhr Innovation Lab.” The joint concept describes an experimental space that creates room for free thinking in research and develops solutions for the pressing questions of our time.
The basis for the application as a consortium was the success in the first funding line of the Excellence Strategy with three clusters acquired: RESOLV will enter its third funding phase in 2026. The photo shows some of the Bochum-Dortmund team celebrating. RESOLV has established a new research discipline in chemistry with a focus on solvents.
The Cluster of Excellence “CASA – Securing the Digital Society” aims to comprehensively and sustainably strengthen the resilience of the information society. CASA (team photo from the evening of the decision) will receive funding for another seven years. In addition, TU Dortmund University has acquired the Color meets Flavor cluster together with other partners.
Strong research: Three research centers of the Research Alliance Ruhr, funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, are gaining momentum. Trustworthy Data Science and Security celebrates its opening at the Dortmunder U, the College for Social Sciences and Humanities is officially opened in Essen (photo), and Future Energy Materials and Systems launches in Bochum with a scientific conference.
The basis for this success is the long-standing close cooperation between the three universities in the region within the University Alliance Ruhr. In 2025, a new cooperation agreement was signed, paving the way for further collaboration in the future. This includes stronger cooperation with Latin America, where a new liaison office was opened.
Ruhr University Bochum stands together and says: not with us! Around 1,000 participants respond to the university management’s call and send a clear signal against right-wing extremist attempts and intimidation on our campus.
We are a strong, united, and diverse community that will not be divided or intimidated, according to Vice-Rector Isolde Karle (left, pictured here with Alexandra Wassermann). For its commitment to a diversity-oriented university culture, Ruhr University Bochum has been awarded the “Vielfalt Gestalten” (Shaping Diversity) certificate by the Stifterverband in Berlin.
Huge excitement this summer: The BRYCK Startup Alliance is set to become one of Germany’s Startup Factories. The consortium comprising the RAG Foundation, the University Alliance Ruhr, the Initiativkreis Ruhr, and BRYCK will receive up to 10 million euros in funding from the federal government. According to Vice-Rector Günther Meschke, this is a major boost for Ruhr University as a founding university.
And there is even more momentum in this area: A transfer center for chemical research is to be established in Herne. Ruhr University and the city of Herne have signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a “Transfer Center for Innovation and Sustainable Chemistry” (ChemINa). Research innovations from the RESOLV Cluster of Excellence are to be brought into industrial application much more quickly.
Keyword summer: The games are on! With the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 World University Games, the world’s largest sporting event of the year is coming to our region. The colorful opening ceremony in Duisburg is just as exciting as the festival around the Jahrhunderthalle and the world conference in Bochum.
Two months earlier, in May, the torch arrives on our campus, pictured here with para-judoka Isabell Thal, sports physician Petra Platen, and basketball player Sonja Greinacher (from left). “We are wholeheartedly committed to this,” emphasizes Rector Martin Paul. There is also great joy that Ines Lenze from Bochum University Sports is leading the German delegation.
The world visits Bochum and we visit friends: A delegation from Ruhr University accompanies the mayor of Bochum on his trip to Japan. Cooperation with university partners in Tsukuba and Osaka is deepened and expanded, particularly the networking of researchers in medicine and psychology.
The European universities in the UNIC network are setting the course for the future. Alliance coordinator Semiha Denktas from Rotterdam visits the RUB (pictured here with Rector Martin Paul, Vice-Rector Kornelia Freitag, and Secretary General Daria Ratsiborinskaya). The UNIC RePIC program is delighted to welcome its first graduates and their joint degree.
A meeting place for research at the heart of Bochum: With the new RUB Centre for City Futures (RUB CCF), research and urban society in Bochum are moving closer together. In future, Ruhr University will consolidate its teaching and research activities as well as urban development initiatives here. The new mayor Jörg Lukat (right, next to Michael Weckop and Rector Martin Paul) also attended the opening.
Already a classic: Learning AID (German website) and expertise are coming to Bochum. This year, 350 experts on AI in higher education teaching attended. Science Minister Ina Brandes also has the event on her agenda, participating in a panel discussion with Manfred Bayer (left), Yvonne-Christin Knepper-Bartel, and Peter Salden.
Second place for sustainability project from Bochum: A team from Ruhr University receives the Humboldtn Prize for Sustainability for its “Student ESD Tutors” project BNE@RUB. Economist and sustainability officer at the rectorate, Andreas Löschel (left), also took on a new important role in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2025.
Turning old into new in construction, pictured here at the NA construction site: The new Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1683 “Methods of Interaction for the Modular Reuse of Existing Structures” is launched, and two SFBs are successfully extended (SFB 1280 “Extinction Learning” and SFB 1316 “Transient Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas – From Plasma to Liquids to Solids”).
Onur Güntürkün is Professor of the Year 2025! The distinguished jury honored the Bochum-based biopsychologist for his “outstanding commitment as a university teacher and mentor.” The award has been presented by the Unicum Foundation for 20 years.
Silvia Schneider receives the German Psychology Award, Christoph M. Schmidt becomes president of the Leibniz Association, and Arne Ludwig is involved in a Synergy Grant from the European Research Council. These honors and achievements are representative of the many outstanding accomplishments within our Ruhr University community. Congratulations!
Speaking of community: Following last year’s successful launch, there was another summer retreat at O-Werk with the most important committees in 2025. This will generate a wealth of ideas and suggestions, particularly regarding the future university development plan (from mid-2026) and the application with TU Dortmund University as the Ruhr Innovation Lab Consortium of Excellence.
One of the key tasks of the new Vice-Rector for Structure and Planning, Achim von Keudell, is to contribute to the continuation of the University Development Plan. He succeeds Denise Manahan-Vaughan. He was elected for the duration of the current rectorate’s term of office until October 31, 2027.
Happy Birthday: Ruhr University turns 60 and celebrates under the motto “Built to Change since 1965” – here with guests and a shared view of a campus model from 1978. The anniversary celebrations include greetings, memories, and stories, an alumni wall of fame, but above all ...
... finally another party at the forum, this time at the North Forum. The student market offers a wide variety of activities, including information on current projects, creative hands-on activities, games, discussions, or simply pleasant conversations in the sunshine with currywurst. Everything was coordinated by the AStA.
She also worked hard barbecuing for the students at the “summer party,” conducted countless appointment negotiations, spent even more hours in meetings, helped steer the fortunes of Ruhr University, and cheered on VfL Bochum: Chancellor Christina Reinhardt (with bouquet of flowers) is stepping down after ten years in office.
Achim Dilling, who has been Chancellor of the University of Passau since 2016, will succeed her in January 2026. He is looking forward to his new role at Ruhr University Bochum, which he describes as “an excellent center of academic excellence with great scientific influence and social relevance.” Good luck!
The university will be closed over the holidays to save energy, and the university library will have special opening hours. The Ruhr University news portal will be on a break from December 20, 2025, through January 4, 2026. The editorial team wishes you all a relaxing holiday season and a happy New Year!