© SOPRA

The debate about the Ruhr region is no longer just about ‘left-behind’ areas, but increasingly about its development into a knowledge-based region. Bochum illustrates what the implications may be: on the former Opel site – now known as Mark 51°7 – even more people are working there than before the factory closed. Is a strong higher education sector sufficient to achieve this? Or are new forms of collaboration needed between academia, business, start-ups and regional networks?

This will be discussed at the SOPRA event ‘Something New in the West?’ – Science Meets Business on 25 November 2026, featuring guests from academia, the professional world and the business sector.

Prof. Dr Manfred Wannöffel (Senior Professor at the Centre of Cooperation RUB/IGM) will deliver the keynote address “From ‘Coal and Steel’ to ‘Knowledge and Education’” together with Antonia Graf and Anna Mesenhöller. Dr habil. Fabian Hoose (Managing Director of the Centre of Cooperation RUB/IGM) will moderate the subsequent panel discussion.