Largest Single Funding to Date for “Green Factory” – Topics Including Inclusion, Circular Economy, and Digital Healthcare – Funding for REGIONALE Projects by the State of NRW and the EU through the EFRE/JTF NRW Program
Strong support for companies and employees in South Westphalia: As part of the nationally unique structural program REGIONALE, there is good news for five additional project initiatives from South Westphalia. They can soon be implemented. Up to 27 million euros in funding from the EFRE/JTF NRW 2021–2027 program is available. The money comes from the State of NRW and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the EU.
“The newly awarded projects give REGIONALE 2025 in South Westphalia a real boost. What stands out is the cooperation between industry and academia. Their projects aim to support the people in the region, strengthen the business location for the long term, and develop exemplary solutions that can be transferred elsewhere,” said Dr. Karl Schneider, District Administrator of Hochsauerlandkreis, in his last meeting as chairman of the REGIONALE 2025 committee. Five projects received the third star from the committee, meaning they have regional backing and a clear funding and financing perspective.
The total amount for all five projects is impressive. Over 27 million euros from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the EU are available, based on the recommendation of the ERDF evaluation committee for the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a Digital, Sustainable, and Authentic Future in South Westphalia.”
Third Star: “Green Factory” (Kreuztal / South Westphalia)
With the “Green Factory,” South Westphalia is gaining a flagship project for the circular economy and a hub for the industry of the future. Seven chairs and institutes from the University of Siegen and RWTH Aachen, the Smart Demonstration Factory at Campus Buschhütten, the start-up Smart Plastify, and numerous companies aim to demonstrate how industrial buildings can be sustainably upgraded and circular production with high-quality metals and plastics can work. The focus is on avoiding production waste, reintroducing it into the production cycle, using renewable raw materials where possible, and employing state-of-the-art technologies for component repair. What is to be implemented exemplarily in Kreuztal under sustainability aspects is supported by many companies from all five districts. It is expected to receive the largest single funding of REGIONALE 2025.
Funding: The “Green Factory” project of REGIONALE 2025 in South Westphalia is expected to receive €22.4 million in funding from the State of NRW and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a Digital, Sustainable, and Authentic Future in South Westphalia.”
Third Star: “SelfDiag” (Olpe / South Westphalia)
At the “Digital Specialist & Health Center Spieren” (DFGZ) in Olpe, new ways are being tested to improve medical care in rural areas. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), patients will gradually be enabled to perform routine exams, such as an ECG, independently. The “SelfDiag” project—which stands for “self-diagnosis”—aims to establish the necessary digital standards, design an AI avatar (a virtual figure), and test both using the example of an ECG in the Olpe practice. This avatar is intended to speak as naturally as possible, explain each step to patients, provide instructions, and help alleviate fears. The goal is to use digital innovation to relieve medical personnel during routine exams, shorten waiting times, and improve healthcare provision.
Funding: The “SelfDiag” project of REGIONALE 2025 in South Westphalia is expected to receive approximately €725,000 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of NRW through the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a Digital, Sustainable, and Authentic Future in South Westphalia.”
Third Star: “Competence and Knowledge Building for the Integration of People with Disabilities in the Workplace (KoWIMA)” (South Westphalia)
The University of Siegen aims to make the future world of work in South Westphalia more inclusive and barrier-free with its project “KoWIMA.” Digital assistance systems offer a great opportunity to support both companies and employees. So-called KoWIMA scouts gather knowledge from theory and practice, derive key insights, and share them with interested parties. The project aims to ensure that people with disabilities and employees returning after accidents or illness are more naturally included in the workforce, while also enabling companies to create barrier-free workplaces and thus retain and attract skilled workers.
Funding: The “KoWIMA” project of REGIONALE 2025 in South Westphalia is expected to receive approximately €1.012 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of NRW through the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a Digital, Sustainable, and Authentic Future in South Westphalia.”
Third Star: “MARS – Modeling Labor Market Shifts in South Westphalia” (Siegen / South Westphalia)
“MARS” investigates how the labor market in South Westphalia can be designed to be resilient, sustainable, and future-proof. The project by the University of Siegen and TU Chemnitz is supported by companies, institutions, and associations from the region. While the approach sounds theoretical, it has practical benefits for South Westphalia’s economy. Using modern network research methods, data is collected to understand how people, companies, and institutions collaborate and influence each other. From this, digital models will show how the labor market will evolve, considering real challenges companies face. Additionally, digital tools, personalized recommendations, and workshops will be developed to support companies, associations, and decision-makers from politics and society.
Funding: The “MARS” project of REGIONALE 2025 in South Westphalia is expected to receive approximately €1.42 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of NRW through the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a Digital, Sustainable, and Authentic Future in South Westphalia.”
Third Star: “RESILIENZWERK SWF” (Lüdenscheid / South Westphalia)
The core idea of the “RESILIENZWERK” project by Entwicklungs- und GründerCentrum Lüdenscheid GmbH (EGC) and the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences is to familiarize employers with topics like “Employer Branding” and “New Work,” making them more attractive to skilled workers and more resilient in their organizations. Previously called “Innovation Factory,” the project specifically targets small and medium-sized enterprises in South Westphalia, which often lack the time and personnel to address employer marketing and new work concepts. These topics are increasingly important for attracting skilled workers. In the “RESILIENZWERK” project, companies, universities, and start-ups come together to learn from each other and benefit from mutual exchange. Scientific expertise is combined with practical experience to create a network that especially benefits small and medium-sized companies in South Westphalia.
Funding: The “RESILIENZWERK SWF” project of REGIONALE 2025 in South Westphalia is expected to receive approximately €1.603 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of NRW through the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a Digital, Sustainable, and Authentic Future in South Westphalia.”
For forward-looking, sustainable, and innovative projects in North Rhine-Westphalia, EU funds totaling €1.9 billion from the EFRE/JTF NRW 2021–2027 program are available, coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF). This is supplemented by co-financing from the State of NRW and project own contributions. Projects in innovation, sustainability, SME promotion, quality of life, mobility, structural change in coal phase-out regions, strategic technologies, and competitiveness are supported.
43 REGIONALE 2025 Projects in South Westphalia Already Awarded the Third Star
In early June, nature and cultural projects from South Westphalia were already awarded the third star. In total, there are now 43 projects. “We are one big step closer to our goal ‘50 for 25’—to bring fifty projects to implementation by the end of REGIONALE 2025 in South Westphalia. This gives us momentum in the presentation year of REGIONALE 2025 in South Westphalia, which has just started and in which the region showcases the excellent solutions it has developed,” said Dr. Stephanie Arens and Hubertus Winterberg from Südwestfalen Agentur GmbH. The agency coordinates and supports REGIONALE 2025 in the region and works with project leaders and partners such as the Arnsberg Regional Government to find funding options. So far, about €100 million in funding has been secured for REGIONALE 2025 projects in South Westphalia.
An overview of all REGIONALE 2025 projects can be found here.
