Innovations on Lake Constance: W4 promotes research with 11.7 million euros!

Innovations on Lake Constance: W4 promotes research with 11.7 million euros!

Konstanz, Deutschland - The W4 science association has to report an exciting development for research in the Lake Constance Vierländer region. Current results of the balance sheet for 2024 show that 30 research projects were funded last year, the several thousand students in the region. In 2023 alone, impressive 540 students were able to benefit from the diverse courses. As Südkurier Register to overcome country borders in research and teaching.

W4, the science network founded in 2022, creates a platform with his offices in Constance and Kreuzlingen, which networked 25 universities from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Markus Rhomberg, the managing director of the W4, brings a breath of fresh air into the project with his extensive horizon of experience. He did his doctorate in political science and previously worked at the Zeppelin University and at the International Lake Constance University.

take space in the innovation laboratories!

In order to further strengthen the region's innovative strength, W4 launched three innovation laboratories, with a funding of 11.7 million euros. This is about forward -looking topics such as circular economy, mobility and the Internet of Things. A sample project is the collaboration with Freitag and the University of St. Gallen for recycling truck tarpaulins, which shows how practical solutions can be developed.

The concept of W4 not only provides for the promotion of projects, but also the targeted support of exchange and the development of joint courses. For example, students can take exams in seminars at other member universities, which intensifies international networking and cooperation.

international cooperation in the upswing

A current survey by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research shows that in 2023 there were over 18,000 international cooperation between more than 300 universities in Germany without taking into account the Erasmus exchange. This internationalization is viewed as the key to increasing the attractiveness and competitiveness of the university location in Germany. In the summer of 2024, a strategy for the internationalization of the universities was adopted, which has been committed to improving the integration of international students and the promotion of joint university offers, such as BMBF explained.

This measures not only promotes international cooperation. Local universities also benefit from the programs of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which are intended to strengthen the international networking of German institutions and to facilitate the exchange of students and researchers.

in Baden-Württemberg and beyond, the actors are now required to use the opportunities of international cooperation and to develop creative solutions for current and future challenges. If W4 remains so active, the Lake Constance region could soon be at the top of the map of the innovation locations!