At the first joint cluster conference held at the FH Campus on Eupener Straße, RAZV Managing Director Ulla Thönnissen was able to announce exciting news. “Our still young cooperation has already developed such great momentum that new important players want to become part of the alliance and thereby further strengthen it. I am pleased that RWTH and FH Aachen have now officially signed the cooperation agreement,” said Thönnissen during her welcome address.
In autumn 2024, the eight leading regional economic clusters signed a cooperation agreement with the Region Aachen Zweckverband (RAZV). The common goals are to better position the region in national and international competition as well as to launch a joint skilled labor initiative. The clusters represent over 1,000 companies from the region’s key industries. Thönnissen stated: “The Aachen region boasts efficient companies, outstanding universities, and strong institutions and networks. Together, we want to ensure that these potentials are utilized — in the interest of the region, but above all for the benefit of the people living here. A decisive factor for the local economic development will be how the growing demand for skilled and labor personnel can be met.”
At the cluster conference “Technology, Talent, Transformation – Skilled Workers for the Aachen Region,” representatives from RAZV, universities, companies, and economic associations discussed how digital technologies can be used meaningfully, efficiently, and productively. For RAZV Managing Director Ulla Thönnissen, the initiative focuses on cooperation between business and science. “We want to jointly write the first chapter of our future,” she said. It is important to make the innovation power of the universities usable for companies, especially in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Prof. Dr. Thomas Ritz, Rector of FH Aachen, emphasized: “We need to bring emotion into the topic; we need to find ways to inspire people for the region and new technologies.” The regional economy depends on skilled workers, and universities can make an important contribution to meeting this demand through their focus on research in future-oriented topics. When using modern technologies, good employee qualification and an open mindset are particularly important. Dr. Michael Riesener, Managing Director of RWTH Innovation GmbH and Rectorate Commissioner for Translation, explained that RWTH intends to cooperate more closely with the regional economy. This could generate exciting impulses. “I am happy that we are signing the agreement today,” he said, “but I am even more excited to start implementing it from tomorrow.”
Prof. Dr. Alexander Ferrein, Director of the FH Institute for Mobile Autonomous Systems and Cognitive Robotics (MASKOR), referred to the regional competence centers AKzentE4.0 and WIRKsam and their important impulses for the further development of the region, especially regarding digital technologies and AI. “We live in a time when technologies develop at breathtaking speed. The most important thing is that we must qualify young people as well as experienced skilled workers.” However, there is not “one AI,” even though public discussion focuses on large language models. Rather, there are numerous ways to integrate AI into work processes, knowledge management, and business model development. One must not blindly trust AI: “The human factor is incredibly important.” But even in times of digitalization and AI, “hardware” plays a decisive role — in regional development, this mainly concerns infrastructure. For this purpose, RAZV commissioned a regional and accessibility analysis for the Aachen region focusing on securing skilled workers. The results were presented by Dr. Klaus Spiekermann from the S&W Urban and Regional Research office.
“Our strong alliance will increase the economic attractiveness of the Aachen region, support local companies, promote innovation and job creation. At the same time, the quality of life for residents will be improved by expanding infrastructure and developing tourist and cultural offerings. Strong regional marketing not only strengthens the region’s competitiveness but also fosters social cohesion and the population’s identification with their home,” emphasizes Thönnissen.
The Region Aachen Zweckverband (RAZV) is one of nine regional development corporations in North Rhine-Westphalia. It brings together the districts of Düren, Euskirchen, and Heinsberg as well as the city of Aachen and the Städteregion Aachen, with over 1.3 million people in 46 cities and municipalities. The RAZV sees itself as an initiator for the Aachen region and ensures the linking of strategic and operational, regional and cross-border topics as well as the creation of a shared identity in the interaction between politics and administration.
Information:
Signatories of the cooperation agreement:
AACHEN BUILDING EXPERTS e.V., competence center automotive region aachen|euregio maas-rhein e. V. (car e. V.), digitalHUB Aachen e. V., Eifel Tourismus (ET) GmbH, LASER.region.AACHEN, MedLife e. V., MineReWIR e.V., REGINA e.V., and currently: RWTH Aachen and FH Aachen.
Supported by:
AGIT mbH, the economic development agencies of the city of Aachen, Städteregion Aachen, and the districts of Düren, Euskirchen, and Heinsberg, the Aachen Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Aachen Chamber of Crafts, the United Industrial Associations of Düren, Jülich, Euskirchen & Surroundings e.V. (VIV), and the VUV – United Entrepreneurs Associations Aachen.