Funding for four REGIONALE 2025 projects – funds provided by the State of NRW and the EU from the EFRE/JTF NRW programme
How can a regionally developed AI data platform help companies in South Westphalia become more independent? How can training in metal construction be modernised? Why do we need more circular economy approaches? Four newly awarded REGIONALE 2025 projects from South Westphalia provide answers to these questions. The projects can now be implemented. Funding totalling just over €12 million is available for this purpose from the EFRE/JTF NRW 2021–2027 programme. The funds come from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union.
“Once again, the project leaders have succeeded in addressing smart solutions to challenges faced by companies, but also by municipalities and apprentices. Their projects within REGIONALE 2025 are digital, sustainable and authentic – and so well thought out that additional funding is now flowing to South Westphalia,” emphasised Thomas Grosche, District Administrator of the Hochsauerland district and Chair of the REGIONALE 2025 Committee. In addition to the three-star projects from the fields of mobility, culture and urban development already communicated in December, four further projects were also awarded the third star by the committee. This means that they enjoy backing from the region as well as a clear funding and financing perspective.
Just over €12 million from funds of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the EU are available for projects from the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a digital, sustainable and authentic future in South Westphalia” for which the ERDF assessment committee has issued a funding recommendation.
3rd Star: “AKIS – Adaptive AI Infrastructure for Innovation in South Westphalia” (Siegen / South Westphalia)
Artificial intelligence is transforming work, education and innovation in South Westphalia as well. With the project “AKIS – Adaptive AI Infrastructure for Innovation in South Westphalia”, a versatile platform is to be created as part of REGIONALE 2025 that connects research and industry and provides small and medium-sized enterprises with low-threshold access to modern AI technologies. The University of Siegen and numerous companies aim to bring artificial intelligence from theory into practice with “AKIS”. The goal is to establish a flexible and adaptable AI research infrastructure in South Westphalia that goes beyond the offerings of traditional cloud providers or models such as ChatGPT. It is intended to enable research, SMEs and industry alike to use AI independently, securely and sustainably.
Funding: The project “AKIS” is expected to receive €5.8 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia via the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a digital, sustainable and authentic future in South Westphalia”.
Link to the project press release
3rd Star: “Meisterstück DIGITAL” (Lippstadt / South Westphalia)
Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences and many partners aim to modernise training in metal construction. Within REGIONALE 2025, they have developed the project “Meisterstück DIGITAL”. The aim is to create a practice-oriented learning and assistance platform from which companies and apprentices alike will benefit, making training more digital, resource-efficient and attractive. The platform will be accessible via PC and app. It will bundle various learning locations such as vocational schools, companies and intercompany training centres and integrate existing technologies such as augmented reality and AI, as well as existing knowledge, into a single application.
Funding: The project “Meisterstück DIGITAL” is expected to receive €1.44 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia via the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a digital, sustainable and authentic future in South Westphalia”.
Link to the project press release
3rd Star: “ReCirclE” (Attendorn / South Westphalia)
The project “ReCirclE” aims to establish an open transfer platform for the circular economy in Attendorn. The goal is to help companies develop methods that already take automated disassembly and recycling of materials into account during the design of products or tools and integrate these aspects into production processes from the outset. The project aims to create modular, cost-effective solutions that help companies save resources, reduce CO₂ emissions and open up new business models. The project is to be implemented at the Automotive Center South Westphalia (ACS) – a project of REGIONALE 2013 – by the University of Siegen, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences and ACS.
Funding: The REGIONALE 2025 project “ReCirclE” is expected to receive €3.6 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia via the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a digital, sustainable and authentic future in South Westphalia”.
Link to the project press release
3rd Star: “#wieneu Circular Economy Centre” (Arnsberg / South Westphalia)
The City of Arnsberg is establishing a municipal circular economy centre that brings together repair, reuse, exchange and lending systems for household and everyday products under one roof. Less throwing away, more repairing, passing on or refurbishing and reprocessing. The planned centre will offer space for workshops, advisory services and learning formats. These are intended to clearly demonstrate to society and the economy how the circular economy works in everyday life. Many companies from Arnsberg and the surrounding area support the project. They contribute their products, learn together and help further develop the circular economy locally.
Funding: The REGIONALE 2025 project “#wieneu Circular Economy Centre” is expected to receive €1.2 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia via the call “REGIONALE South Westphalia – Projects for a digital, sustainable and authentic future in South Westphalia”.
Link to the project press release
For forward-looking, sustainable and innovative projects in North Rhine-Westphalia, EU funds totalling €1.9 billion from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF) are available under the EFRE/JTF NRW 2021–2027 programme. This is supplemented by co-financing from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and project contributions. Projects are supported in the thematic areas of innovation, sustainability, SME support, quality of life, mobility, structural change in coal-phase-out regions, as well as strategic technologies and competitiveness. Further information is available at www.efre.nrw.
52 REGIONALE 2025 projects in South Westphalia already awarded the third star
With these four “new additions”, the number of projects with secured or prospective funding within REGIONALE 2025 rises to 52. “This is already a great success for the region. It means that, on 52 occasions, numerous stakeholders from districts, cities, villages, universities, associations, tourism, culture and business have come together and are jointly working on relevant solutions for the region,” said Dr Stephanie Arens and Hubertus Winterberg of Südwestfalen Agentur GmbH. The agency coordinates and supports REGIONALE 2025 in the region and, together with the project leaders and partners such as the Arnsberg District Government, seeks funding options. To date, around €125 million in funding has been secured for REGIONALE 2025 projects in South Westphalia. The final committee round of REGIONALE 2025 is scheduled for summer 2026.
An overview of all REGIONALE 2025 projects in South Westphalia can be found at www.regionale-suedwestfalen.com.
REGIONALE 2025 is a structural programme of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is supported by urban development funding from the German federal government and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Stephan Müller
PR Manager
REGIONALE 2025 / Regional Marketing
Südwestfalen Agentur GmbH
Martinstraße 15
57462 Olpe
Phone: +49 (0)2761 835 11-28
Mobile: +49 (0)151 2772 8001
Fax: +49 (0)2761 83511-29
Email: s.mueller@suedwestfalen.com